I can’t help but wonder if Forrest Gump’s mother had the Freedom Caucus in mind when she said “stupid is as stupid does.”
Opinion
I have to give the Freedom Caucus credit for its success in promoting the idea that Republicans are either true conservatives, as its members claim to be, or RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). But just because people are parroting Freedom Caucus messaging doesn’t mean they are good ideas.
If I had to simplify Wyoming politics, I would suggest there are two types of conservatives: 1) thoughtful conservatives willing to change with the times and 2) rigid, shortsighted conservatives as represented by the Freedom Caucus.
Greek philosopher Heraclitus said some 2,500 years ago, “There is nothing permanent except change.” This is just as applicable today as it was back then, except that unlike in the time of Heraclitus, change is taking place at warp speed. The late English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking said “intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”
Our challenge, as conservatives, is to intelligently adapt to a changing world while conserving what is worth conserving. I wasn’t born in Wyoming, but I have made it my home for over half a century, and I want to intelligently conserve the good things that have kept me in Wyoming for all of my adult life. Shortsighted, rigid opposition to change isn’t the way to do it. Thoughtful adaptability is.
In an example of rigid shortsightedness, the Legislature recently decided to defund diversity at the University of Wyoming. I’m guessing a lot of the Freedom Caucus refugees who have recently moved here from other states aren’t aware of the Black 14 incident in the late 60s that crippled the University of Wyoming football program for decades. Recruiting the caliber of players that can enable Wyoming to field a competitive football team is a challenge under the best of circumstances. Does the Freedom Caucus really think the university can effectively recruit a talented roster of players while being aggressively hostile to diversity? In case the Freedom Caucus hasn’t noticed, the University of Wyoming football team wouldn’t even come close to being competitive without its current diverse roster.
Before the Legislature gets too aggressive in purging UW of diversity efforts, it might want to check out the diversity and inclusivity statement on the Athletics website. “The University of Wyoming Athletic Department is committed to diversity and inclusion to achieve and sustain excellence,” it reads. “We believe we can promote excellence by recruiting and retaining diverse student-athletes, coaches and staff, and by creating a respectful climate that supports their industry.” Is the athletics department going to be the next one on the legislative chopping block? I can’t wait to see how that plays out.
Abortion is another favorite issue for the Freedom Caucus. Members argue having one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion policies is a good idea for Wyoming. Their rigid and shortsighted efforts ignore the fact that the abortion issue doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Wyoming is one of the worst states in the country in terms of providing OB-GYN services. Believe it or not, such services depend upon being able to attract OB-GYN doctors to the state.
Natalie Eggleston, who grew up in Jackson and who attended medical school under the WWAMI program, is an excellent example of this problem. In a December article she told WyoFile, “To imagine myself coming back to a place where I would have to basically put my own security and my job potentially ahead of what I know to be the right type of care to offer patients … it kind of seemed like an impossible place to put myself in so early in my career.” As a result, she is willing to pass up about $250,000 in loan repayments by not practicing in Wyoming.
An additional consequence of this policy is its impact on economic development. Wyoming has long lamented the challenge of keeping our youth in the state. If you were a young person thinking about starting a family, how interested would you really be in taking a job in a state that is an OB-GYN desert? Maybe, but less likely. Thoughtful policy? I don’t think so.
The Freedom Caucus appears to want to follow the policies pursued by former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. In case you have forgotten, when he first came into office, he signed a large tax cut. This caused state revenues to decline by hundreds of millions of dollars. This then led to cuts in education and transportation. I don’t know about you, but this sounds like the Freedom Caucus playbook, other than the fact that Kansas didn’t have the mineral revenues and investment income Wyoming has to fall back on. In the end, the legislature there reversed the tax cuts and overrode Brownback’s veto, and he left office with one of the worst approval ratings for a governor in the country. Kansas recently re-elected its Democrat governor.
During the most recent legislative session, House Bill 2 – Nonresident fishing license fee increase would have bumped single-day out-of-state fishing licenses by $2 and annual out-of-state fishing licenses by $10 so that we could get Coloradans, among others, to help pay to conserve the quality of fishing we enjoy in Wyoming. But because Freedom Caucus members think this could be akin to a tax increase, using their rigid, shortsighted thinking, they opposed it. Smart governing? I think not. It appears to be more of stupid is as stupid does.
I want to conserve the quality of our roads and conserve the quality of our snow removal in the winter. The cost of construction and repairs for our highways, and the cost of being able to pay snowplow drivers a competitive wage, increases over time. What makes the Freedom Caucus think revenues don’t need to keep pace with costs? A true conservative would be willing to adjust the gas tax periodically to generate the revenue needed to pay the bills.
There are many more examples of the inflexible Freedom Caucus thinking that would make Forrest Gump’s mother proud.
If one truly wants to conserve what we like about living in Wyoming, we should be willing to balance the cost of the services we want and need with the cost of providing them. This does not mean blindly spending money willy-nilly. It does mean thoughtfully considering the services we want and then being willing to generate the revenue needed to pay for them. That is conservative.
If you’re going to write your opinion, as you did, and bang on the freedom caucus as out of touch and out of state (both assertions demonstrably false), why do you choose to hang onto the title of conservative (trying to hijack definition of conservative) by using the words ‘open to change’? Sounds like O’bummer and that’s exactly what you’ll get. RINO at best- you and your article, including most of the comments, are gobbling the progressive narrative and are enemies of The Constitution as written. And I didn’t think that could happen here in Wyoming, but here we are. Absolute fools. I’ll debate/ dialogue that all day long.
Christian Nationalist and Christian Zionist ( your words/assumptions)- that will get you crying. I want to be a state and a nation that has The Lords Blessing. We are losing that rapidly and you don’t why. “It’s that dangerous Freedom Caucus”. Right
Kim I totally agree with you as well as the majority of responses. I would like to add one thought.Wyoming is one of only five states that have not accepted increase medicaid program to make insurance affordable. Really family’s keep falling behind because they can’t afford health insurance but their families get sick just like those of us fortunate enough to have health insurance.
Thank you for this conversation I hope the freedom caucus read it.
The classic book “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds” by Charles Mackay reviews centuries of historical follies masquerading as the wisdom of their time. The USA is teetering on the brink of collapse, with the willfully blind leading the charge.
Will we make it? Without “Roevember” I doubt it. Wyoming’s male dominated mythology is leading the charge right over the carnival barker’s chosen cliff. Hang on to your wallets!
Kim – I’ve always respected you and your thoughts on our state. I appreciate your willingness to step up and write this. Very perceptive. If I may be so presumptuous, I’ll sum up the Freedom Caucus in my own words: anti-democratic and Christian nationalist. They yearn for a theocracy ruled by their “religious” beliefs (ex: abortion is literally never mentioned in the bible; and what happened to Jesus’ “love thy neighbor”?) and seek to impose a patriarchy run by, yes, Euro-ethnic culture. They yell “freedom” but only accept that freedom for those who agree with their narrow world view, and while they hate government (no new taxes), they are willing to use it to impose their narrow world view on others (public tax money for private and religious schools). So “others” can’t choose the books they want to read, the life they want to live, who they want to marry, the history they can learn, what can be taught, etc. They are even working to make it more difficult for people to exercise their ultimate right in a democracy, the right to vote. Far from being “conservative” (as you’ve well put it), they are radical. Oh yeah, and while many of us came from somewhere else to live in WY (me 35 years ago), many of them are very new transplants from elsewhere who came with a purpose.
Although I didn’t coin the term, I think WINO (Wyomingites in name only) fits these Freedom Caucus people well. And they sure do whine alot!
“As the twig is bent, so shall the tree grow”. Should not the understanding of and the behavior that follows of “diversity” and “equality” not be nurtured from childhood by good parenting? And, ideally, should these not be the founding principles of our lives? And should not our qualifications and “the content of our character” carry equal weight? Do we need an academic department to monitor this? How many football players of the writer’s acquaintance are somehow not aware of the diversity in their sport and have chosen that aspect over the quality of the program itself? As for abortion, it should be safe (why not mandate the surgical aspect of it be performed by a qualified individual in a safe surgical environment?), legal (I understand it still is) and rare (exceptions clearly exist). Are not members of our legislature chosen by a vote of their constituents; are they carrying out those wishes — if so, should the constituents be criticized, or if not is the remedy at the ballot box? It would seem hopeful for our “young” to remain or return, but could we expect this if based on the availability of good jobs and other amenities in a largely rural state? Points to ponder.
Well said Kim. I might add that members FC are neither conservatives nor Republicans. They simply parrot talking points hawked by out of state grifters and either don’t understand how boiler plate legislation from Beltway think tanks will impact Wyoming, or they just don’t care. If one looks closely at the votes on amendments to the budget bill they will see that most of the so called conservative of the FC voted for bigger government, more regulation and more spending (especially in their own district). Then they vote against the budget bill so they can go home and beat their chests. A true Wyomingite know, understands and follows the “Live and Let Live” philosophy that made Wyoming great. The FC doesn’t
Well written article. Freedom Caucus ignores the outcome of their desired policies and you gave a good example with Kansas. They seem to want to go isolationist as well, which has it’s own demise as history shows us. Not moving forward with the times and adaptability would mean an economic crash separate and compounded compared to a nationwide downturn. Also lost on FC is additional social cost on abortion policy including OB-GYN you mention would be escalating medical, delivery and post-natal cost of force-births which will be born by state, insurance, hospital write-offs and onto individuals, jails for men who can’t or won’t pay for their off-spring, orphanages and life-time care for people who can’t care for themselves/disability, prison time for mothers on drugs, etc. I can see increased risk of suicide for these circumstances as well. It seems FC wants laws passed even if they are unconstitutional and don’t care that taxpayers have to cough up for court challenges. They are playing whack-a-mole politics.
I like Steve Ainslie’s comment about “whack job” conservatives. He hit that nail on the head. Freedom Caucus isn’t free, it’s more about taking away our freedoms. Wyoming isn’t a very good place for women unless you want to be barefoot, pregnant and cowed by misogynistic men.
Thank you for so eloquently pointing out the rotten elephant in the room. I hope your piece gets wide distribution!
Kim,
Please run this opinion in the Cowboy State Daily and every newspaper in the state. People need to begin realizing how misguided the Freedom Caucus is and the damage it could do to the future of our great state if it gained control of the legislature and/or, the executive branch.
I am a lifelong Republican and am embarrased by many of the actions of the FC and the legislators aligned with its doctrine of “no compromise”.
One of my sons was the recipient of the Trustees scholarship at UW. As was one of his friends. My two kids were both outstanding students as were most of their friends. Almost all of them were engineering majors. They’ve all, every single one, left the state to live somewhere else. Not just because there are much better opportunities elsewhere, because there are, but because Wyoming is unwelcoming to people that believe change is sometimes a good thing.
The self righteous unfreedom caucus is the enemy of the people, especially against your Mother, Wife, Sister and daughter. We need to vote them out of office. Stop letting out-of-staters rule your life. Shameful.
Hope your fellow conservatives listen to you, Kim. Thanks for this.
Enrollment decline at UW is a huge issue. Love’s op-ed lays out some reasons 18 year old traditional students will leave Wyoming and out-of-staters stay away.
Wyoming does not appear very welcoming to out-of-state 18 year olds.
Persons who identify as LGBTQ know the prevailing ethos in the State. Intolerance of difference is a turnoff.
If you are caught with even a little bit of pot you enter the criminal justice system. Who in their right mind would want to live in a place where an act that is legal 30 miles from Laramie can earn you a fine or land you in jail.
While the UW brand extolls the Cowboy image, the actual cowboy reality in the state is too often perceived as paternalistic, sexist and violent. What an 18 year old sees is organized adults trying to ban books from libraries, pushing Christian nationalism, promoting the view that a woman’s body is subject to State control through laws banning abortion.
When a State legislator wears a firearm to a meeting on the UW campus, and gets away with it, how does an 18 year old out-of-state potential student feel about their own safety? Wyoming per capita has the highest suicide rate in the nation. One in five Wyoming women report being stalked at some point in their lives. High school students know this stuff.
Combining these perceptions presents a bleak picture of Wyoming’s culture to 18 year olds. The University tries to balance this picture with recruitment efforts. It’s academic programs are top notch. Wyoming’s natural beauty is a draw. Laramie’s small town atmosphere is attractive.
However, as Love illuminates, the Freedom Caucus and larger Legislature’s positions and attitudes serve as a deterrent to effective recruitment of both in-state and out-of-state students. Sadly, I don’t think they “get it.” And even if they do, it doesn’t seem Legislators care. Their small-minded agendas triumph concern for Wyoming’s citizens and out future.
Thank you for the excellent article, Kim Love. If I may again reference Forrest Gump; “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you”re going to get.” I suspect some voters are now realizing they don’t like the Freedom Caucus chocolates they bought. My advise to those voters is don’t buy that box of chocolates again come this November.
I am not affiliated, nor would I be if I were in the Legislature, the Freedom Caucus, but I take issue with Mr. Love’s declaration, “the Legislature recently decided to defund diversity at the University of Wyoming.”
No, the Legislature did NOT vote to defund diversity. They voted to defund the DEI department at UW.
No one is against Diversity (or Inclusion for that matter). What they’re against is this notion that an institution like UW can somehow render justice (Equity) when they are not equipped to do so, nor is that their mission.
Prosecutors and Plaintiff’s lawyers in courts of law are supposed to render justice, not an administrator in some university office in the basement of the Old Main building.
I’m having a problem understanding how the Athletic Department is equipped to render justice (i.e. promote diversity) but the University as a whole isn’t. Again, the Athletic web site says “The University of Wyoming Athletic Department is committed to diversity and inclusion…”
As I said, there’s nothing wrong with Diversity and Inclusion. It’s the notion that institutions besides the Courts can render Justice (Equity).
So you’re saying you’re 66% in favor of DEI? That’s enough to get you into first ballot baseball hall of fame, but not enough to be considered an upstanding member of the new gullible ol’ party. But yet, you keep defending their ideology?
Also, equity is determined by parents of multiple children everyday.
Should parents seek the courts opinion when they try to be fair and equitable with how they treat their oldest compared to their youngest?
I’m sure Mr. Love doesn’t read these comments, however, he should look into what “diversity” REALLY means today. It has nothing to do with black student athletes, as he suggests. It has to do with biological males being in female sports, furries, x number of “genders”, and on and on without regard to actual qualifications.
Second, abortion is used to kill innocent babies in almost all instances. If this prevents an ob-gyn from coming to the state, who wants them? They are sworn to uphold the health of women. After the fact birth control isn’t protecting health, it’s murder for a poor choice in almost all cases.
Harold,
I believe you are wrong on all counts.
First, I do read the comments.
Second, I don’t think one can reasonably reconcile your view of what diversity means with the statement on the UW Athletic web site, “The University of Wyoming Athletic Department is committed to diversity…” I really doubt they are talking about males being in female sports, furries, etc.
Third, if you believe making Wyoming even more of an OB-GYN desert than it already is, were just going to have to disagree.
Harold,
I think you are wrong on all counts.
First, I do read the comments.
Second, I just quoted the language on the University of Wyoming Athletic web site. “The University of Wyoming Athletic Department is committed to diversity and inclusion…” I really doubt they are expressing their support for “biological males being in female sports, furries…”
Third, if you think making Wyoming more of an OB-GYN desert than it is already is good for Wyoming’s future, we’re just going to have to disagree.
Thank you for this column. I have lived in Wyoming for just one year and I love the place and its people. The Freedom Caucus is a cancer on Wyoming’s ability to grow. The brain drain will continue as long as the Freedom Caucus remains prominent politically.
In order to govern and legislate effectively, reasonable Conservatives are needed, not bomb-throwers.
Well said Ed.
Robert Keefe
This article is well-written and thought out. Your example of the Freedom Caucus being against nonresident fishing license increases shows how twisted their thinking is. Fishing license fees are not taxes and are not paid for by Wyoming residents. Nonresident anglers support local businesses when they travel to Wyoming. The higher nonresident fees pay for fish stocking and management. Don’t deter their visits with higher fees. Those are rational reasons for opposing the fee increases. Their bizarre reason for their opposition demonstrates extreme cultism taken to extremes and self-inflicted harm.
Excellent article, there is nothing free about the freedom caucus they are actually taking your freedoms away . They should change their name to the Dictator Caucus .
I agree with Kim Love. I came to Wyoming in 1983 and I am never going to leave. About 10 years ago, I got an email from an out of state friend who asked me if it was hard living in such a conservative state. I replied at the time that I knew Wyoming was a conservative state with conservative politics but I said it wasn’t “whack job” conservative. Alas, I feel I can no longer say that.