What’s happened to Bismarck? When did it become a city that
makes our state look idiotic to the nation? When did it become OK to treat
people this way?
That one is easy to answer. It happened when a Mayor was
elected and a Governor feared him.
Steve Bakken was elected Mayor by simply pointing out who to
hate. He stood on the steps of his Civic Center, calling out a group of
students that came to talk. Students that had seen their school attacked and
their classmates massacred. But, then again, I guess those students don’t vote
here.
Then the Mayor took his supporters to the Burleigh County
Commission. It was time to attack New Americans. Or, at least people
trying
to be Americans. Never mind the fact that his city needs workers, and that
these people are human beings. I guess they don’t vote here either.
So why not take that power out for another walk? Why not use
that base to embarrass your city and our state one
more
time? Don’t worry that one of your property owners recognized the art of a
nationally honored artist, and don’t worry that the artist is from
your
city and owns a business there. Your base just didn’t like the art and they
know how to make a threat. And of course, they vote.
So what do the actions of our Capital City do to our state?
Other than drawing
national
attention from the nation. And in a
bad
way, I might add. I’ll tell you
what it does. It causes us to lose jobs.
Only one google search can show an out of state CEO that
their business doesn’t belong here. Those businesses have to compete globally
and why would they want to be linked to hate? The type of hate so vicious an
entire nation recognizes it.
Governor Burgum can fix this. He can step in and point out
that companies like the one he started are diverse. So diverse that they know
where they can succeed and be proud to call home.
Instead, the Governor will claim victory on the few that do
start up. Never mentioning those that rejected us. Burgum will claim it’s not
his fault. That these are local decisions made by local government.
Of course, I’d believe Burgum if he hadn’t used his energy
on the
very
pressing issue stopping cities from banning plastic bags.
Good riding with you.
(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on Twitter @JoelKFGO.)
