The company we keep
Barton Howe
Posted: 05.05.2008 / 9:38 AM EDT
It’s been a while since I posted and even longer since I stuck my nose out into the greater Lincoln City community. (The fact that I can call a region of 10,000 people spread out over 20 miles, “greater,” gives you some idea of where my head is.) Between nine days in California and producing a high school musical, I’ve been in school about 15 hours a day since the beginning of April.
Even so, when I occasionally do come up for air in the supermarket and other places where humans gather, I do hear two things popping up now and again. The first is Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I can’t tell you every word they say about him, because you can only get away with so much eavesdropping.
I could make assumptions; Lincoln City has a tiny African-American population, so perhaps people hate him. We are also fairly liberal when it comes to equal rights, so maybe we don’t. And maybe they’re just mentioning him in the context of the political race. Hard to say — and I have to wonder why it matters at all.
Honestly, why are we talking about this? Consumer confidence is at its lowest since 1982, gas prices are at their highest ever, food prices are rapidly moving into that category and the money supply for potential borrowers in so tight people worry that they might never get a loan again. Which is the second thing, (and third, and fourth, and…) everyone is talking about.
I’ve mentioned several times that Lincoln City sometimes seems disengaged from the national debate. But even from my high-school created coccoon I know people are worried about what’s coming this summer. Restaurants are getting killed by high food prices and people pinching pennies. The incredible rise in gas prices means every car that does make it to the coast has about $12 less to spend on t-shirts and trinkets — assuming they keep coming at all.
Is this old news? I suppose, but Lincoln City has always been somewhat resistant to the boom and bust cycle of the economy, particularly where Portland is concerned. No matter how up or down their economy is, ours seems to keep going with only a little up, a little down.
But somehow this is different. The tourism engine that keeps this town going seems to be under assualt from all sides. Even in a non-tourism industry like teaching, I worry. How many of my students’ parents might be forced to move if business crashes? I’ve already talked to one of my students about it.
And so forgive me if Barack Obama’s association with his former pastor isn’t foremost on my mind. I’m not saying it doesn’t matter, but it seems to me all the questions have been asked and answered. (Indeed, if there is one human on this earth that can explain every nuance of their relationship with the people they are closest to, they should be president.)
Hillary & McCain’s gas-tax holiday, Obama’s proposal not to have one: tell us how those are going to affect us. Will more people come here because gas is cheap? Or will they just pocket the savings to help out with the cost of milk? Is it really worth it to turn corn into fuel, and if it is, how do we help the small restaurant owner stay in business?
I’ve thought for a while that the 2008 election would be the biggest in years. Whether we elect Hillary, Obama or McCain, it seems a major, perhaps historical, change is in order. But in the last few months — weeks, even? — it seems this election has become critical on every level that matters: economy, foreign policy, social policy, you name it. It is terrifying, exciting, nerve-wracking and wonderful all at the same time.
You’d think that would be enough to talk about, wouldn’t you?
