Letter: Elect those raised to respect small-town America values

In 1954, Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote to his brother, “Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear from that party again, in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. … Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”

His words are not twisted by me, to prophetically fit our time and circumstance.

It was all too true then as it is now. Ike was referring to H.L. Hunt, Texas oil magnate, in the 1954 letter. Hunt spearheaded a movement that would eliminate social programs and government subsidies to certain industries, including agriculture.

This, under the guise of Red Scare, socialism, and communism fear-mongering.

Although Eisenhower was a Republican dedicated to a smaller-government philosophy, he was also a pragmatist.

He knew, as a military leader turned politician, that compromise and tactical retreat were part and parcel of the presidency.

Nearly 60 years later, we are in the same jaded battles with monied splinter groups. Only two things have changed — the political affiliation of the president and shadow groups. They funnel dark money into local campaigns, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision.

The tea party, a splinter group backed by the Koch Brothers, is trying to accomplish what H.L. Hunt attempted all those years back.

Rick Berg and Kevin Cramer are, quite frankly, walking in lockstep with the marching orders of this extremist faction. These two are all for the elimination of government programs for those in need.

Programs that provide state-of-the-art health care, nutrition for mothers, infants and children, education, protection of vulnerable women and income stability for ranchers and farmers during tough economic times. They work with Paul Ryan, from the distance of Washington, D.C.

They are funded by unknown entities that reveal nothing of themselves and care little, if anything, for the people of North Dakota.

Eisenhower also said, “It looks mighty easy to be a farmer, when your plow is a pencil, and you are a thousand miles away from the corn field.”

Do we want people representing us that are doing the bidding of people from thousands of miles away?

We should elect three people born and raised to respect the value of small-town America. Support Heidi Heitkamp for Senate, Pam Gulleson for the House and Ryan Taylor for governor.

Kent Rogne, Dickinson

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