Dear editor:
The results of the 2024 primary election in Wyoming made me think of the English expression, “May you live in interesting times,“ claimed to be a translation of a traditional Chinese curse.
The actual Chinese source has never been produced.
In any case, “interesting” times are usually times of trouble. I believe the success of the Freedom Caucus in the elections, particularly in races for the House of Representatives, which will allow the Freedom Caucus to control the selection of leaders, foreshadows times of trouble for the State of Wyoming.
The views of the of the Freedom Caucus are a smorgasbord of ideas which, if in some cases are only enacted in part and in other cases precluded from action, will harm the State of Wyoming for as far into the future as one can see.
For example, Freedom Caucus members support allowing child marriages; have voted to gut funding for the University of Wyoming and community colleges; have pushed to end funding for Wyoming’s 988 suicide hotline; have opposed economic development in local communities; and some of their supporters think dog feces is an acceptable form of freedom of speech.
Say what?
Preferring a more reasonable form of Wyoming conservatism and exercising my right to free political expression I put up signs for three candidates: Barry Crago, Gail Symons and John Heyneman.
When I got to my office on Monday morning, August 19, the day before the primary, I discovered someone had taken down the three signs, laid them flat on the ground and put a pile of dog feces in the middle of each sign.
At the very least, I was very disappointed someone supporting Freedom Caucus candidates would do something such as this.
Given the fact the three candidates I was supporting were opposed by three other candidates strongly supported by the Freedom Caucus - Mark Jennings, Tom Kelly, and Holly Jennings - it isn’t much of a leap of faith to believe the person who put the dog feces on the signs was a Freedom Caucus supporter.
Now, I know there will be those who will say it is unfair to relate the despicable actions of a single individual to these candidates, but they would be wrong.
Let’s see if any members of the Freedom Caucus will condemn this outrageous action on behalf of one of their followers.
In 2015, SF 115, which was legislation to strengthen the state’s non-discrimination act, was defeated in the House of Representatives because of the opposition of the Freedom Caucus.
At the time it was being considered, the Wyoming Department of Workforce services indicated recent cases filed included human excrement placed in an employee’s work locker and lunch box.
The legislature under the Freedom Caucus probably won’t totally defund local schools, the University of Wyoming, and community colleges, but with their newly enhanced influence over the state budget, I don’t believe it is the least bit far fetched to think their budgets will suffer from crippling cuts.
Will legislation dealing with child marriages, suicide hotlines, local economic development, etc. ever see the light of the legislative day? I am willing to bet all comers they won’t.
As I said at the beginning of this letter, I am afraid we’re facing some interesting times.
A favorite expression of mine I think is apt. “Those that the gods will punish, they will grant them their wishes.” You want a state run by the Freedom Caucus, well, you’ve got it.
Sincerely,
Kim Love
Sheridan
