Bryce Healy gets more support

You may have heard of Bryce Healy, who's running for Commissioner of Schools and public lands. He's the incumbent and is doing a great job. I met him at the PenDem Oktoberfest this year and he's a really good guy that we really need to re-elect. Of course we need to also bring in Steve Kolbeck and Ron Volesky so he won't be quite so isolated in a sea of Republicans!! (I haven't met Ron, but I have met Steve Kolbeck. Kolbeck is an absolute live wire, passionate about both the technical and the public service aspects of the job, and I support him wholeheartedly.)


Bryce recently got a boost from an interesting group called The Campaign For a National Majority
Here is their press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Daniel Rosenthal
Phone: 404.274.0595
Email: Rosenthal@nationalmajority.org

Campaign for a National Majority Endorses Bryce Healy for Commissioner for School and Public Lands in the State of South Dakota

PIERRE (Sept. 28, 2006) ? As the highly contentious battle for control of Congress reaches its peak in the coming weeks, the futures of both parties are being decided to much less fanfare in smaller statewide executive races across the nation. In South Dakota, the race for Commissioner for School and Public Lands could very well produce the Democratic candidate for the 2010 gubernatorial election. Bryce Healy, the incumbent and a broadly popular Democrat in a very ?red? state, is seeking a second term managing the School Trust Fund that he grew over 11 percent during his first term and its 800,000+ acres of public land. On Monday, Campaign for a National Majority officially endorsed Mr. Healy in the 2006 South Dakota Commissioner for School and Public Lands race.

Referred Law 6 Info Meeting

The Radical was graciously given a pass from the dinner dishes today to go to a talk by Dr. Marv Buehner about the negative effects of Referred Law 6 (nee HB1215) on health care for women, and how it's absolutely unacceptable to him and the vast majority of medical professionals.

Everyone there was a hero/heroine in my book.

When I got there, I was first greeted by the smiling faces of some friendly folks. I'm really glad they were there, because it was going to a rough trip in there.



Arrayed in a long line in front of the front door to NAU, there were some angry bloody-sign carriers, who were yelling at me to put down my camera, and telling me I needed to read up more on the "truth." Of course, they had no compunction about videotaping me. As I've come to expect, here's a protester hiding behind her message and, symbolically, behind her 3 x 5 foot reproduction of Nordic Jesus.



It was a pretty ugly situation. As I entered the lecture hall with my camera, the Healthy Families folks were concerned I may be one of the bad guys trying to take pictures of individuals to incite violence etc. so they were a little nervous to see me taking pictures. I did ask verbal permission before I took a few pictures of the room.




Dr. Beuhner talked to the group about the realities of health care for women that HB1215. He described medical conditions that commonly require women to weight their health against continuing pregnancies, for example, a pregnant women diagnosed with cancer has to choose between abortion or postponing cancer treatment until after pregnancy. Continuing the pregnancy puts the life of the mom and baby at risk. And the mom may not be around for her baby and the rest of her family if she decides not to have an abortion. Dr. Beuhner also described the insulting process that doctors and patients have to go through now under current law, the 24-hour waiting period, the santimonious script the doctor has to read to the patient, the "investigation" by the state health department. This is government in our face, of the first order.

A brave woman, Kirsten, talked about her difficult pregnancy and how it came out okay but at no small sacrifice to herself and risk to her and her baby, but that it worked out, under Dr. Beuhner's compassionate care. Kirsten is diabetic and for her at this point, pregnancy would mean a choice between having an abortion or likely blindess, stroke, or kidney failure. She said she did not have the luxury of seeing the world in black and white. Her testimony had me in and many others in tears of frustration that the protesters outside did not have ears to hear her story.

One awful moment is when I asked who got the push-poll that we got at my house today that asked

Referred Law 6 has a provision for victims of rape
and incest. Knowing that there is such a provision, are you more likely to vote yes on Referred Law 6?

HALF the folks in the room had gotten the deliberately misleading push-poll call that day. SOMEONE *is* getting big bucks for this campaign, and it isn't Planned Parenthood.

On the plus side, Sen Tim Johnson has helped out SD Healthy Families in the No on 6 cause with a recorded phone call asking folks to vote against RL6. Good for you Sen. Johnson.

Dr. Beuhner took a few questions, but there honestly wasn't much to say, this is all very hard. We are worn down by the angry accusataions, when in reality we who are against RL6 all feel painfully aware of how awful abortion is, and how necessary it is that it remain a safe legal choice, especially in the first trimester. The government shouldn't have the right to take these hard decisions from women and their families. Standing up for the right to make our own tough decisions really takes a lot of energy in this hostile environment.

After the meeting I met filmmakers Renn Reed and Mark Barth. They are working on a video about the RL6 referendum controversy. Renn produced a video interviewing people in Spearfish about BH1215 is linked from her current.tv page:

This is sure a hard push, but hang in there everyone! As a note of encouragement, today, a vote was cast against RL6: mine! (My absentee ballot came in the mail today.)

About Rapid City's Biggest Baby Shower Movie

Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center held "Rapid City's biggest baby shower," tonight.

From Dakota Voice:

Special guest Joyce Zounis, presenting the premier of the documentary "I Was Wrong." From the award winning producers at EO International TV comes a stirring documentary that captures the changed hearts of two women forever altered by abortion. Featuring Norma McCorvey, the "Roe" in Roe v. Wade, and Joyce Zounis who suffered from horrific guilt and great pain after destroying seven children to abortion. The spilled blood of many and the faithful prayers of strangers led to the transformations of Norma and Joyce's hearts. Joyce is not ashamed to join Norma in saying, "I Was Wrong."

(emphasis mine)

Good Lord, SEVEN abortions? I sure hope she knows that was wrong, If money was the issue, the real shame is that she didn't have access to reproductive services (you know, like, uh, birth control) at the local Planned Parenthood. Or maybe she had been told lies, that PP was an organization of "evil baby-killers for hire," and not the truth: PP is a dedicated compassionate provider of reproductive health care to all women, including those that cannot afford it.

Planned Parenthood has prevented abortions by actually doing something about it. Instead of threatening violence or carrying bloody signs, or whining about sexual irresponsibility, PP has taken another path to prevent abortion. They, sometimes at risk their own safety, provide affordable women's health care, teach abstinence and sexual responsibility, and daily go to bat for women nationwide whenever their health is threatened by those that think they have the right to tell our spouses and daughters, and moms what to do.

I, and many others, am sick and tired of the lies and invective thrown at these brave folks from people who tell brazen lies about them. Some of the attackers of PP even try to avoid deserved criticism by shamefully hiding behind a Christian banner. Many Christians and others that practice real family values in SD are losing patience with this, which is why the RL6 referendum could go either way.

The Radical Responds to Bob Ellis

Bob Ellis said to me in a comment on my last post:

The arguments you referred to are completely false, and if anyone actually believes them, then they haven't done their homework.

I'm inspired to answer to some of his "facts," although it seems like he's been getting most of his from fair and balanced sources such as Fox News and the American Family Association. (He even googled the word "quasi-" for me. I think it's sweet).

Bob said: [Amendment C] will not hinder unmarried heterosexuals from caring for one another, or passing along inherited property.

This where the term "quasi-" comes in... Bob called me "ignorant" or "brazenly lying" for thinking it "vague". The problem is that "quasi-" is very broad legal term... used, like Elizabeth Kraus did, to paint with a very wide legal brush. If unmarried persons start stacking up through expensive legal effort a group of contracts that, as a whole, mirror the many rights and responsibilities that come for free with marriage, it would open the door legally for the argument that the agreements, and "style of life" add up to a quasi-marital relationship, and argue that as a group they are invalid because of Amendment C. I wouldn't put this past a conservative activist judge, of which there are many here.

It also won't affect domestic partner benefits that private companies choose to offer to their employees. A judge in Michigan ruled in 2005 that such benefits are benefits of employment, not benefits of marriage.

Yes, indeed, praise the Lord, they lost that one in Michigan. Must have been a "lib'ral activist judge." That's in blue/indigo Michigan though, in conservative SD, I'm not so sure it will come out the same way. Here's the full story from Michigan about what went down in that fine state:

In Michigan, Citizens for Protection of Marriage repeatedly stated in its literature and in press interviews that a ban on same-sex marriage would not affect domestic partnership benefits.

"This has nothing to do with taking benefits away," Marlene Elwell, campaign director, told USA Today on October 15, 2004. "This is about marriage between a man and a woman."

The campaign's communications director was equally adamant. The proposal would have no effect on gay couples, Kristina Hemphill told the Holland Sentinel. "This amendment has nothing to do with benefits," she said.

Yet shortly after Michigan's ban passed, Governor Jennifer Granholm pulled domestic partnership benefits from contracts being negotiated for state workers. And Attorney General Mike Cox issued an opinion stating that such benefits for municipal employees could not be renewed in future contracts.

Bob continues:

In Virginia, which has an upcoming vote on a marriage protection amendment, the state Attorney General did a legal review to determine what, if any impact their marriage protection amendment would have on the areas commonly cited. His findings: none whatsoever. You can read the advisory here.

A little bit about the messenger. Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell, is an extreme, conservative Republican, who is associated with the extremely Rev. Pat Robertson. (Fact: Robertson contributed $36,000 to McDonnell's election PAC).

I don't know why politicians of his bent seem to be obsessed with sex, but go figure. Here's a choice quote from this guy:

McDonnell said engaging in anal or oral sex could disqualify a person from being a judge because both activities are against the state's "crimes against nature" laws.

(He was actually talking at the time in the context of a HETEROSEXUAL relationship at the time.) Sorry Bob, I give McDonnell's opinion a weight of ... zero.

Back to Mr. Ellis:
The authors carefully crafted the language of the amendment.

They sure did, but they were politically careless. They overstepped their bounds, and that's why this political year is a watershed event. 2006 will be remembered as a major sea change in South Dakota politics, and maybe the whole nation.

The assertion that "quasi" is some sort of "vague" word that no one really understands is, depending on the level of knowledge of the person saying it, either a brazen lie or the height of ignorance.

You're showing your arrogance here. "Quasi" is a deliberately vague, meaning , being used by right-wing social engineers an attempt to nullify the irrefutable scientific facts and the real-world experience of compassionate people. "Quasi" means this law draws a tight circle around a group of families and says that society will support and protect those inside, but not others.

It's contrary to Christian values. Jesus said that to love your neighbor as yourself is the greatest commandment.

The simple fact is that there is no reason to oppose Amendment C...unless you want to make it easier for social architects and activist judges to force homosexual "marriage" on society and counterfeit the basic building block of order and stability in our civilization.

Social architects? Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and all the saints. That's exactly what Amendment C is: social engineering--an attempt to guide our personal relationships and family life with the steel reebar of constitutional law.

The "basic building block" marriage myth is just that: a myth. (By the way, this point came up in the discussion the Episcopal convention, by the way, and was respectfully corrected.) The institution of marriage as we know it is, depending on your definitions, 250 years old, give or take. I happen to think marriage is gradually getting better, and even participate myself in the institution. Much to your consternation, I'm sure, we owe no small thanks for this to your hero, Ronald Reagan, married twice himself, who brought us no-fault divorce and with it forced accountability and honesty in marital relationships across America. If you want to know what marriage has mostly been like for the last 6000 years, read the Old Testament, or watch The Piano. No thanks.

Good neighbors don't discriminate!! No on C!

Episcopal Church Speaks Against Amendment C

This weekend, I was very proud to be a Episcopalian person of faith in South Dakota. I sponsored the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the One Hundred Twenty-Second Convention of the Diocese of South Dakota urges Episcopalians, and all voters in the State of South Dakota, to consider rejecting Amendment C not only because it writes discrimination into the State Constitution, but also because its implementation may have many negative and unintended consequences that would harm children, elderly persons, and families across the state.

(The full text with explanation has been posted in the comments.)

It passed... four to one! Yowsa!

The faithful Christians of the Diocese clearly took a close, prayerful and honest look at Amendment C and found it wanting. Amendment C is intended to discriminate--to divide families into two groups: those worthy of support in our society and those that aren't. In the vote on Saturday, Episcopalians from across the State clearly said that Amendment C does not reflect our Christian values.

With this resolution, regional church bodies representing three of the major religious denominations in South Dakota have spoken against Amendment C: The United Methodist Church, the United Church Christ and now, the Episcopal Church. I think it is important to note that all three of these churches welcome and include people of faith who hold diverse points of view on the issues of sexuality, the role of Scripture, and even the role of the Church in the political process. All three of these regional church bodies chose to make time at their annual meetings, and all three found the common ground among their differences to speak clearly against Amendment C from a Christian perspective.

Mike Coats of South Dakotans Against Discrimination came to Convention to share information about Amendment C, and I hosted a table for IntegrityUSA, a group supporting GLBT persons in the Episcopal church.



I was very proud to follow the discussion at our Convention on Saturday, Amendment C was examined in light of what we practice and believe. This discussion included a priest, a lawyer and a psychiatrist all speaking to actual consequences to people's lives this Amendment will have if approved in November. Getting the facts on the table about the potential effects of Amendment C to our gathering of faithful Christians was my purpose in writing this resolution, so whether it passed or not, I would have been happy with the outcome. Of course, I am absolutely overjoyed that the resolution passed four to one!

It's important to keep in mind that the national Church passed a resolution this year against ANY "gay-marriage amendements, simply a restatement of the Church position chosen in 1994. But even in fairly conservative South Dakota, Amendment C was panned here-- this is a testament to how extreme it is and how dire the conseqences would be for real, not hypothetical, families if the thing passed.

The story about abortion you haven't heard

You may have noticed the full page ads (sponsored by Fischer Furniture) last week promoting a pro-life concert and rally to be held at the Open Bible Christian Center on Friday night. The speaker / musician / presenter at this event will be Gianna Jessen, well-known anti-choice activist.

A group of activists from Democracy in Action are going to hold a protest at this event:

As you may have read in advertisements paid for by Fischer Furniture in today's Rapid City Journal, Al Carlson and the Citizens for Life are sponsoring "Gianna Jessen: Abortion Survivor" this Friday, September 22nd at 6:30 pm at the Open Bible Christian Center 2225 E. St. Patrick.

We want to make sure people are given correct information about Referred Measure #6 and are educated about the current abortion laws in South Dakota which do not allow late term abortions.

Democracy in Action volunteers will be meeting at 4:00 pm at the Healthy Families campaign office (1305 West Main on the corner of West Street in the gap) to make signs and will be leaving to go to the church at 5:30pm. For more information, email Melanie.

Gianna Jessen's story is that her mother attempted an abortion, but she survived, and was adopted. She was born with disabilities related to her difficult birth, including cerebral palsy. This BBC news report (cited in the wikipedia article) is one of the few articles on the web that I have seen that gives a balanced view of the story.

In this example, the abortion Ms. Jessen's mother had elected was a VERY late-term abortion, especially for the procedure ("saline injection"). Honestly, I doubt anyone who has seriously considered this issue could ethically approve an abortion this late, at week 34. That late, the danger to the life of the mother and the viability of the fetus [actually a baby by anyones definition, especially today] makes making such a choice illegal seem reasonable to me. As a matter of fact such laws are allowed and even encouraged under the settled law of Roe V Wade. The abortion that Ms. Jensen's mother attempted (in 1977) would be illegal today in most states, (including SD) and these laws are constitutional under Roe.

I sure am impressed and inspired by Gianna Jessen's bravery in overcoming her disabilities and the tragic circumstances of her birth. However, I find it hard to see how her case is really relevant to Referred Law 6 (HB1215), an extreme law that aims to ask all South Dakotans to pay for a futile attempt to overturn Roe, settled law that many people just happen to agree with. RL6 is so extreme and Roe has been so solidly upheld, that the end result will be that Roe is likely to be upheld, even if we do get another "pro-life" Justice or two between now and then.

This rally is not likely to change any minds, just crank up the volume.

We know abortion is a bad thing, okay? Please stop saying that if we are against RL6 or support Planned Parenthood we are "participating in genocide." It just ain't true.

Again, I define myself as pro-life, but anti-RL6 AND supportive of Roe. I know that may be difficult for some people to understand, but that's where I is. And many other folks, apparently.

Who Schwiesow represents

South Dakota District 32 State Senate candidate Elli Schiesow's website was recently updated, so I took the opportunity to browse the conveniently posted letters to the editor. They say a lot about what Elli Schwiesow's candidacy is all about.

Just in case you've forgotten since June.


(Where is Elli, anyway?)


James M Monro
Elli has a long track record of collaborating with others in the party to get things done.
Reality: Elli has been part of a hostile takeover of the Republican party that has split the organization. The Republican party leadership has shown that they simply they do not tolerate dissent, either within the party or in the wider political debate. Under the current Republican leadership, I believe their Party and the State are actually less likely to get things done. I am not criticizing all Republicans--but under the current Republican leadership, the Legislature apparently is more interested in making points than debating (or even discussing) real solutions. The result: we have eleven ballot questions and more Democratic candidates statewide than we've had in years. To me, Schwiesow does not represent collaboration, she represents ideological warfare. Who, you may ask who I think DOES represent a spirit of collaboration to get things done? Schwiesow's opponent, Tom Katus, and the SD Democratic Party, of course.

Gwen Caldwell
I believe that if Elli is involved in extremist organizations that they should have a name and not just insinuation that cannot be verified to discredit her as a candidate.
Uh, how about the leadership of the South Dakota Republican Party? Have you read the 2006 SD GOP platform and especially their 2006 Convention Resolutions? Holy cow.

Craig Ericks
When you go to the poll, it will be like taking a test. You will have a choice of two answers. If you mark your ballot for Elli, you will be right. If you don't, you will fail to help elect the type of leadership that only people like Elli Schwiesow will provide.
That's right, a vote for Ms. Schwiesow is a vote for the type of leadership that only people like Elli Schwiesow will provide. The kind of leadership that says: if you're not with us, you're against us.

Bill Stone
I believe Elli Schwiesow recognizes that public policy supercedes individual wishes.
Mr. Stone, as usual, makes his point clearly! (Not exactly a traditional Republican view, is it?) If you don't think government, on principle, should trump your wishes, then, well, don't forget to vote. (In my humble opinion, a Democratic vote would support your views over Mr. Stone's, especially here in South Dakota -- and especially in District 32 -- this year. But please do inform yourself and vote for liberty, whoever you think will promote it!!)

If the above inspires you to help, here's a few things you can do:

1. Visit tomkatus.com, get informed, and sign up to help.
2. Visit pendem.org for events and come on out and be part of the growing voice for moderation! It's lots of fun.
3. Of course, you can sign up for absentee voting at the Penn County Courthouse or vote anytime after Sep. 26! Vote early.
4. Dems need money, and your time, so if you can, please help them out.

Stephanie toes the line

The Argus Leader has a story today on Rep. Herseth's tightrope walk, distancing herself from "liberal Democrats" demanding an "exit date" from Iraq? Who exactly was she talking about?

I have some huge disagreements with her, for example, she voted for Federal Marriage Amendment and even the craven Terry Schiavo legislation. But I can't say I'm dismayed she will be fighting for our ag issues, renewable energy, and veterans in the event we have a Democratic Congress.

Good luck, Rep. Herseth, I sure hope you can get on the right side of some issues in the new environment next year

Answer Me These Questions ... Eleven?

Okay here's the full @#$%&! menu to printed any day now in our ballot, which I eagerly await, with baited breath, at my plastic model-barn mailbox. (It came with the house. Really.)

As posted by SOS Chris Nelson, who, despite my cranky mood after browsing The Questions, I will give a pass to today, for he seems to be level-headed Republican (too rare these days) and went for paper trail tabulating machines, so he's okay with me today.

The Questions

It's a little embarassing isn't it:

Constitutional Amendments C D E F
Initiated Measures 2,3,4,5,7,8
Referred Law 6 (HB1215)

A full seven of these 11 votes are either corrections to outrageously misguided actions by the Legislature, or calls for needed action where the Legislature did nothing. Three of the four Constitutional amendments, C,D, and E, reflect the lack of political and moral leadership in our one-party state government, that anyone would even consider such bad constitutional changes. I think F is the only question that I'm proud to have on the ballot, as it considers some serious choices that are truly worth pondering.

I do believe the time has come to hire us some Democrats.

Don't just get a job, make a difference!

This just came over the wire. I hope they get some great applicants because the need is great. If you're a pro-lifer (like me) that thinks RM6 goes too far, I bet you'd be especially welcome.

Join Focus South Dakota in helping to repeal the most restrictive abortion law in the nation. Referred Measure 6 makes no exception for rape, incest or the health of women. Focus South Dakota is hiring articulate community grassroots campaign organizers to start immediately.

- Hours 3 to 9
- Flexible schedules, part time and weekend work available
- $12 an hour to start
- Paid training
- Call (605) 716-1607 to schedule an interview for a job that makes a difference!

Rounds oatmeal-speak

Garry Moore (D-Yankton):

I think he [Rounds] was waiting for [convicted murderer] Page to ask for a stay. Page didn't ask, and the governor was getting concerned. The governor blinks and calls a stay. I think a lot of this is tied to the abortion issue.

There was pressure from right-to-life groups. [The last minute stay] was an easy out, to not address it till after the November election.

Rounds responds:

There's simply no logic to what Mr. Moore is suggesting.

Uh huh.

Here's another one on the open-government issue:

Rounds said his approach to openness has been his Capitol For A Day program, where he and various officials from state government visit towns and cities and meet with local residents.

"We've done our best to get out and visit one-on-one, visit communities, talk with local newspaper officials. The intent being to focus on issues of interest in different parts of the state," Rounds said. Meeting the executives in state departments has encouraged more people to contact the state about problems, he said.

But the editors and publishers at the table wanted to talk about the right of citizens to attend government meetings and read government documents.

You mean, gosh, summer camp junkets for state officers is not enough? What, you want access to real documents and meetings where the decisions are made?

You just have to love this guy. I hear he used similarly effective rhetoric against Billion in the debate in Huron this weekend. At the least, if he keeps this up he will damage his chances in the 08 U.S. Senate race, a good thing--because Rounds would never stand up for this red state against the dominating Democratic majority we'll have after the 08 election.

Leadership.
Results.
Vision.
(Not.)

Farewell to the Radical's Mom

I have not been posting much recently because I lost my Mom last July.

She was a remarkable woman. In the interest of providing a more permanent link, I have included a news story from the (fine) South Whidbey Record below. (Sorry I couldn't just link them--they do not provide such a service.)

Aug 02 2006
Virginia Jones Price: A woman of substance

By JEFF VANDERFORD
Virginia Jones Price, who passed away July 21 at age 76, was a woman known for running a tight ship.

Case in point: A year ago she moderated a League of Women Voters forum for the Port of South Whidbey commissioners race. She carefully explained the format but when one of the candidates began to stray from his allotted time, she didn't hesitate to enforce the rules.

She treated everyone with respect, fairness and courtesy even as she gently admonished them. Jones Price was a woman of substance who could raise four children, run a business, facilitate a meeting, organize others for good causes and persuade the community to fight the good fight, said friends and family.

And she never wavered from the principles on which she lived her life.

Jones Price was born in Seattle on Oct. 24, 1929 and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in English literature in 1951. She then lived in New York City until 1965; her husband was a classmate of Christopher Reeves' father and Jones Price acted as godmother to the future actor.

Eventually Jones Price divorced and she moved her four children to Langley to join the business begun by her parents in 1956.

For the next 26 years—first with her mother, Matilda, then her daughter Helen—Jones Price outfitted a good many of Langley's citizens, including a future mayor.

"Jones Department Store was the place to head for baby, teen, men and women's clothing," Neil Colburn recalled. "She was a huge presence here in Langley, a real icon, tirelessly engaged in many aspects of island life."

Ever so slowly, we're losing our greatest generation and that's a sad thing," Colburn said.

Worked for ERA

Helen Price Johnson remembered her mother getting together with friends at a local tavern to rally support for the Equal Rights Amendment.

"There were a lot of female business owners at that time and they fervently believed in a woman's right to make her own decisions," Price Johnson said.

The Doghouse Women's Motorcycle Club for the ERA was a bit of a misnomer, as none of them knew much about motorcycles. But they made their point with grace and good humor.

Over time, Jones Price actively supported many school, civic, and professional organizations on South Whidbey. She was named the 1995 Woman of the Year by the South Whidbey Business and Professional Women and was elected first president of the League of Women Voters.

She also served as president of the Langley Chamber of Commerce, Maxwelton Community Club, Scatchet Head Community Club, South Whidbey PTSA, Music Boosters of South Whidbey, and the South Whidbey Historical Society.

In addition, she volunteered for the Langley United Methodist Church Council and South Whidbey Boy Scout Troop 57.

"You couldn't talk to her without being lobbied on behalf of a kids or community undertaking," Colburn said.

Her son Evan agreed.

"Our mother taught us to respect participatory democracy and the value of being true to oneself," he said.

Kitchen collection

Price Johnson recalled her mother had a predilection for kitchen gadgets.

"She collected them, as well as recipes and cookbooks. Frankly, she was better at collecting than cooking," she noted with a smile.

Jones Price enjoyed being self-sufficient and was fairly handy around the house, but there were limits.

"As she got older, she sometimes would ask me for help," Price Johnson recalled. "One day she came to my house with a pair of problems. Her videocassette recorder was jammed and her windshield wipers wouldn't work. She brought in her VCR with a tape jammed in it, and a how-to book for us to follow as we fixed it. Though we went step by step through the instructions, we were unable to make the machine work."

"Frustrated, we turned to the car and boldly unscrewed parts and tried to dismantle the wiper mechanism to get to the problem. Carefully removing the housing, we knew we were in trouble when the tiny bushing springs popped loose. Try as we might, we couldn't put them back where they belonged," she added.

Price Johnson's husband David came home, laughed and went into the kitchen to get the VW manual, only to find the counter covered by the dismantled VCR machine parts.

"That wasn't our best day as home repairmen," Price Johnson noted.

Jones Price was the kind of person who did the The New York Times crossword puzzle every day—with a pen.

Granddaughter Lauren Johnson said her grandmother was both supportive and non-judgemental of all the family.

"She was a great resource for homework—you could ask her anything," she said. "She either knew the answer or where to find it."

Though she held certain political beliefs, Jones Price was a proponent of League of Women Voter forums.

"She took her non-partisan role seriously," her daughter said. "People argued their case over any issue, but were always able to put the chairs back amicably. She believed that civility in politics was possible and taught us that, for government to work, citizens must be involved."

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or e-mail jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.

© Copyright 2005 South Whidbey Record

You can read more here in her legacy.com guestbook.

My mother followed and enjoyed this blog, and we loved to discuss the political landscape in South Dakota and around the country. She felt that the tide was indeed turning, and sooner than any of us had expected.

Fare thee well, Mom. You are and inspire the best.