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Dear Cheyenne,
Jared Gendron’s article (3 Sept.) about the sex-offender who is running for Laramie County Community College trustee is a perfect example of the Shiny-Object Politics that is the favorite-play of Wyoming’s Republican Party. They hold up a shiny-object with one hand, and point to it with the other hand, while shouting “Look! Look! Look at this!” Thus they draw public attention away from the truly-important issues Republicans block from even being debated.
According to an article on this topic published in Cowboy State Daily: “Laramie County GOP Chairman Taft Love said it’s simply a matter of protecting children. ‘Children are our most precious resource,’ he said. ‘If we can’t protect them, we’ve failed as a society.’”
Set aside for a moment that “trustee” is an administrative position, which probably involves no student contact. Set aside that no “‘children” attend community college. Set aside that the offender’s offenses occurred 22 years ago. Set aside that he has no chance to win election to the office.
In the 22 years since the conviction, there have been approximately 1,000 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in the United States, resulting in over 300 deaths and hundreds more injured. Why aren’t we talking about protecting children from that?
Shiny-Object Politics is why. I don’t have to list the shiny objects. You all know what they are. But do you know what real, important, vital issues are not being covered as news. Probably not. By design.
Gina Douglas
Casper
