When trying to keep up with two states with nearly polar opposite views on what is socially and politically acceptable to the majority of each state’s thinking and voting citizens, mainstream media in North Dakota and western Minnesota have more than a full-time job in just hitting the hi-lights of what should be front line news.
What has become more evident in the last three years is that the eastern side of North Dakota no longer “rules the roost” when it comes to headline news events. Albeit begrudgingly, Forum Communications’ many smaller papers across North Dakota, as well as its regional and largest newspaper in Fargo/Moorhead, a state-wide radio show, and a television station are all doing their best to bring what is happening across North Dakota to each and every ear and eye available. KFGO and its sister radio station in Bismarck are next in line with Joel Heitkamp and Mike McFeeley. Granted, there is a definite bias there for the Democrats, but when looking at what the majority of Republicans are doing in the North Dakota legislature, one can only hope the next election of state legislators will find both houses upside down, because the people throughout North Dakota have finally come to recognize that North Dakota has changed and so must their leaders. It’s either that, or western North Dakota will remain a place for the desperados seeking a refuge from whatever they ran away from to hide and make a quick buck before moving on or being imprisoned. In the meantime, what happens? Williston and Dickinson and their surrounding areas of small towns, many of which even long-lived native North Dakotans have never heard of before, will become the staging areas for more crime. The question begging to be asked is: why aren’t the main priorities of discussion and resolve in the state legislature dealing with issues such as housing, infrastructure, schools for incoming populations, and definitely more law enforcement? Instead, the ND Legislature in the last few weeks has feuded about making abortion illegal or as close to it as possible, finding a way to allow anyone wanting guns and ammunition to possess them everywhere, refusing to acknowledge the plain-as-the-noses-on-their-faces and bigotry in their hearts discriminatory laws toward anyone who doesn’t fit into their belief of who is deserving and who isn’t, and lowering the amount of tax to oil companies drilling North Dakota oil and gas.
One reason is the media. Headline and front page news, as well as topics for statewide talk radio shows day after day, are rating hits, but do they actually speak to what the major problems are within western North Dakota? I’d have to say the radio talk shows do a much better job of at least trying to focus on what the people within western ND are up against every day than any print media I’ve read, and especially the television news media. Why does it matter to Fargo? Because whether anyone wants to admit it or not, Fargo is still the Golden Goose for North Dakota, with more agenda-driven representatives casting votes about issues they know or care little about, beyond how much oil drilled will bring into the state coffers.
I read the Dickinson Press a lot. I’ve read no stories about what the people out there are facing regarding their infrastructure, or how many people are needed on the police department to adequately secure the safety of their citizens. I haven’t seen one word written about the county jail system. It’s a privately owned jail and has its very own rules and regulations that would not be tolerated by the city police departments in Fargo or Grand Forks. It is also the reason why many people who should go to jail don’t, and the cause of a major breakdown within the judicial system of the entire county. Who are the legislators representing these people? Why aren’t the local media placing heat on them? It’s the same old story: “everyone knows everyone or is related to someone and no one dares rock the boat with complaints.” Again I ask: where are the media? They can ask the “who, what, how and why” questions that average citizens don’t dare ask.
Recently I had a conversation with someone from Fargo who is on a board in Fargo that is very concerned about human trafficking in the western part of the state. And yes, it is going on and yes, it is becoming a problem. The only other person I’ve heard even bring up the issue at all has been Chief Ebinger, of Moorhead. The Chief was more concerned about the corridor going east to west from Minneapolis, but at least he is aware of it and wants to stop it here whenever possible.
It is hard to imagine that anything of any major consequence can linger in darkness or remain secret in today’s world of mass communications including facebook, twitter, email and blogs. But it does. A person only has so much time in a day to devote to what does not affect them personally. My question to the authorities and the people who know what is happening is: why are you keeping it a secret? Beyond that, what is anyone doing about it?
Why not report whatever the issue is that needs fixing or replacing to the media, and to the county officials and city commissions who have the job of making things better? Pretending a problem doesn’t exist certainly does not solve anything. The media’s job is to inform. The representatives elected to positions of authority are elected because the people they represent believed they would do the job. It wasn’t a popularity contest. And the responsibility of the people is to not sit on your hands when you are aware something is wrong. Speak up. Go out on a limb. Be what you want everyone else to be — a concerned citizen with a mouth, who steps up when the time is needed.
Questions and comments regarding ROTE can be sent to: sooasheim@aol.com or by snail mail to SA, P.O. Box 123, Fargo, ND, 58107 or you can call 218-233-8604 and leave your name and a message or phone number.