The emperor has no clothes

Well, here we are approaching another Republican primary in North Idaho on May 21.

Albeit some months off, I have been carefully watching our current freshman District 1 senator in hopes he would faithfully act as our representative on issues that matter to District 1 citizens. To my dismay, Mr. Herndon acts as if none of our issues (education and infrastructure to name a few) matter, but acts as if he is the savior of us from ourselves (self-serving raw milk sales, frivolous gender issues) and that we are foolish if we don’t conform to his brand of “Republican” politics.

He reminds me of the Hans Christian Andersen tale of the emperor who believes he is wearing the “fabric of dreams” sold to him by dishonest tailors. The tailors tell him that only the unfit or hopelessly stupid cannot see the finest suit he has on, even though he cannot see the suit himself. Some in the community, who also cannot see the wonderful suit he is supposedly wearing, continue to praise his attire for fear of the power the emperor holds over them.

Based on what I have seen of our emperor’s actions in the Senate, it is high time that we stand up and use our power of the vote to tell Mr. Herndon he has no clothes on. After all, there is an alternative to turn to who has no preconceived notion of being emperor — Jim Woodward.

BOB CLARK

Sagle