Selecting six songs to take along if stranded on an island might save family gatherings

David Webber, Columbia MISSOURIAN, November 18, 2022

Aaron Krawitz, local actor and retired MU professor, opened a door of opportunity for me with his invitation to be a castaway on his monthly KOPN program “Marooned.” The central premise of the program is that you are stranded alone on a desert island for the rest of your life when all you can take are six pieces of music. I could handle that solitude for a while, but not forever.

KOPN’s “Marooned” is modeled after a popular BBC radio broadcast called “Desert Island Discs,” which first aired in January 1942 and continues to this day. Krawitz first heard the BBC program as a graduate student in England in the 1960s. To date, there have been more than 3,000 guests on the popular BBC show including the individual Beatles, many American and British celebrities, doctors, sport stars, business officials, some common people, and lots of unknowns. A recent guest on BBC was American musician John Legend.

Krawitz has recorded 21 ”Marooned” programs with Columbians since his first interview with David Wilson in 2021. The local castaways include a radio personality, at least four guests with MU connections, several local public officials, a couple musicians and authors and a few entrepreneurs. In total, they selected about 120 songs of wide diversity. Of the 20 interviews, almost all of them included at least one piece of classical music; most had songs that were very popular, and a few included religious songs. I was surprised that the Beatles, Elton John, Bob Dylan, or Elvis Presley did not dominate and in fact were seldom mentioned. Listening to “Marooned” introduced me to some new music, but more importantly re-acquainted me with music, like that of Aaron Copland and some show tunes, I had forgotten.

My approach was not methodical. I just made a list of songs I like, probably because they are comforting in some way. Looking back, I see that I have several genres covered, but it was not by design. It was rather easy to make an initial list of about 20 songs, but trimming my song list to six songs was challenging. It must be like dieting — the closer you get to your goal, the tougher it gets.

I finally decided on nine songs that included three pairs of songs from which I would select one each to get me to six. I arranged them, mostly in the chronological order with which I had become familiar with them.

First is “This Land is your Land,” written by Woody Guthrie, but I selected the popular version song by Peter, Paul, and Mary. It is an anthem from the folk era that reminds me that we all must contribute to creating a community and keeping a beautiful nation.

Next was Simon and Garfunkel’s “Homeward Bound,” because it reminds me of my wandering by hitchhiking in the late 1960s and early 1970s and captures the solitary excitement of the adventure with the security of knowing I had someplace to return to.

My third selection is Sam Cooke’s, “A Change is Gonna Come,” which I remember from the radio in 1964 to 1965, the key years of the civil rights movement. The song provoked a lot of family and school discussion about social change. Now, I like it because of its hope and optimism that emanates from hard times.

Fourth is Steve Winwood’s “While you See a Chance” that was popular in 1981, probably the key year of my graduate education journey to becoming a professor. I may have rewound this song on my car’s tape cassette more than any other song. It was while I was writing my dissertation, a notoriously solitary undertaking. I must have found the directive “it depends on you” to be very encouraging.

I could have chosen any of at least a dozen Bruce Springsteen songs, but his “Land of Hopes and Dreams” is my No. 5. It is the story of a train going across our land picking up all kinds of people who jump on board. Springsteen says it is about the journey to heaven. I like the power of the music and the unifying theme.

No. 6 is the “Hallelujah Chorus” from the “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel, first performed in 1741. It was written for Easter but now is a popular song for choruses during the Christmas season. Now it is almost a secular tradition. For me, it competes with Beethoven’s ninth “Ode to Joy” in capturing what I hope is a triumphant journey of humanity.

I thought hard about moving up my No. 7 selection “Streets of London” by Ralph McTell that captures my observations and feelings about homeless men and women. I finally decided I preferred a more uplifting, and less sentimental, song if it was to be one of six songs I would be limited to the rest of my life.

For reassurance, and out of curiosity, I asked my six siblings and a couple friends what songs they would select. While they reinforced my selection of several artists from our generation, what I noticed was their enthusiasm for the challenge and how accepting we were for each other’s selection.

After much thought, I cannot identify another theme or topic, except perhaps choice of ice cream, about which we are so accepting of individual preferences. Instead of the stereotypic family arguments that disrupt Thanksgiving dinner maybe we should play “Marooned” and all compose lists of six songs we would like to hear the rest of our lives. We would find we have more in common than we expect and that most differences are interesting and perfectly acceptable. Regardless, we all would respect each other’s choices.

---

David Webber joined the MU Political Science Department in 1986 and wrote his first column for the Missourian in 1994. webberd@missoui.edu

2022 elections were good for America

David Webber, Columbia MISSOURIAN, November 11,2022

The 2022 elections were not a “red wave” or a “blue wave” but a red, white, and blue wave that will prove to be good for America.

The Senate majority will likely be decided in another Georgia runoff on Dec. 6, and the House of Representatives almost certainly will flip to the Republicans, albeit with a slim margin.

Now for a third midterm election (2006 and 2018), the president’s party suffered minimal seats lost. Only in 2010, when President Obama’s party lost 64 seats did the recent midterm loss reach flood proportions. Since 1946, the president’s party typically loses 26 seats in the House. Many election observers anticipated Republicans would pick up 30 to 40 House seats. It’s likely the increase in Republican seats will be 10 or less.

Election outcomes are due to a combination of candidate, party and external factors. Voter surveys suggest that inflation, abortion and protecting democracy were three significant influences on how voters decided.

Compared with the 1994 midterm, which I wrote about last week, the congressional races did not seem to be “nationalized,” rather they were decided one district — and one state in the case of the Senate — at a time.

As the late Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil once observed, “All politics is local.” This seems to be the case in 2022.

In some states, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York, for example, abortion activists claim to have contributed substantially to Democratic success. Additionally, young voter turnout was more than 30% compared with the historical expectation of 20%. Researchers say the 2022 election had second highest young voter turnout in last 30 years. Overall, turnout is estimated to have been 46.2% of voting-aged population, down slightly from 2018, but higher in so-called battleground states. 

There were lots of close races, and some not so close. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how Republican Florida has become with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Marco Rubio soundly defeating two quality Democratic opponents 20 points and 15 points, respectively. The opposite result was Pennsylvania, where Democrats Josh Shapiro and John Fetterman were elected first term governor and senators respectively, in races not as close as expected. In Ohio, Republican J.D. Vance won election to the Senate handily, in what was expected to be a nail-biter.

Missouri had no big surprises. Boone County is solidly Democrat with Kip Kendrick winning he top prize, Boone County presiding commissioner, by more than 10 points. Missouri is solidly Republican with Republican Eric Schmidt defeating Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine by 15 points. This may have been the least surprising election result in 2022. It is just not realistic for a newcomer to enter a race rather late and defeat a statewide officeholder of the better organized party.

Democrats picked up four seats in the state House, but are still locked into the minority. While fortunes can change quickly in politics, Missouri Democrats do not seem to have a bright future. Republicans have all the statewide offices, both Senate seats, six of eight House seats. Missouri is no longer a bellwether, or purple, state. Democrats need young leaders in a well-funded organization who can recruit quality candidates in 114 counties.

American politics has been stalled, watching and waiting, for several years due to the heavy impact of Roe v. Wade and the shadow of Donald Trump. Regardless of personal preferences, it is good that states are considering abortion resolutions so that we settle this issue and move on. Three states, California, Michigan and Vermont, enacted abortion protections and two states — Kentucky and Montana — defeated anti-abortion measures.

Across the nation, many Trump-endorsed candidates and highly visible election deniers, were defeated. While it’s impossible to predict Trump’s individual behavior, it seems likely that his hopes of being the Republican nominee again in 2024 will not be realized. It’s time for a change.

Another transition set in motion by the 2022 election will be the House Democratic leadership. It’s about time. With the Democrats being in the minority, it’s likely that current speaker Nancy Pelosi, and perhaps Majority leader Steny Hoyer, both over 80, will step down.

Republican congressional House and Senate leadership will be a challenging place to be. Reportedly Sen. Josh Hawley will not support Mitch McConnell as Republican Senate leader, putting newcomer Sen.-elect Eric Schmitt right into the fire. Likewise, with the House Republicans having the slimmest of majorities, the speaker will constantly be in the hot seat. It remains to be seen if the House Republicans are cooperative or confrontational with the Biden administration.

So far, the 2022 elections appear to have been conducted without controversy. There were long lines and broken equipment in several states, but no polling place blockades or cries of voter fraud. Let’s hope the newly-elected officials take their jobs seriously and focus on governing.

webberd@missouri.edu

Midterm elections are usually about change, but not legitimacy

David Webber ,Columbia MISSOURIAN , November 6, 2022

The 1994 midterm congressional elections were the subject of my first opinion column in the Missourian. The 2022 congressional elections might be as significant and as historic, but for different reasons.

1994 was the year Newt Gingrich led the revolution in which Republicans became the majority in the House of Representatives for the first time since 1953-55 — that was during the Eisenhower Administration. The 2022 midterms are taking place with pandemic fatigue, mixed economic signs and divisive “stop the steal” campaign rallies.

Looking back, 1994 was the beginning of the present era of increased partisanship, the nationalization of congressional elections, and prominence of misinformation campaigns. But it was not considered a threat to democracy, rather it was viewed as naïve, impractical and not all that important. The “Contract for America,” the keystone idea for nationalizing the congressional election, was not viewed as a threat to the political system but as a one-election marketing idea to tell voters what the GOP would do, if elected. There were “Gingrich critics” and “Newt loyalists” but not election deniers.

Congressional midterm elections always result in a loss of seats for the president’s party. It is one of the few certainties in political science. The current Democratic House majority is five seats — a tiny margin with which to govern. It is likely that a red wave of Republicans victories on Election Day will result in both a Republican House and Republican Senate, although the latter might be a bit closer.

While re-reading my 1994 writing makes me squirm, the similarities with 2022 are eye-catching. Seven factors that I identified in 1994 are relevant again this year. They are:

Election fundamentals, e.g., there are more Republican states than Democratic states with more congressional Democratic retirements than Democrats.

Continuing trend toward Republican candidates, e.g., Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina are still firmly Republican. Hispanic voters in Southern states seem to be shifting Republican.

Sustained distrust in government generally and in Congress, and now in the Supreme Court; more than two-thirds of respondents say the country is “on the wrong track” and less than one-third saying “right track.”

More effective Republican campaign organization: Republicans have the advantage on three of four standard issues. GOP is better on immigration, the economy, and crime, lagging the Democrats slightly on abortion.

Dissatisfaction with President Clinton, now Biden; both were in the low 40% approval.

Concern about the economy; nearly always a perennial issue, despite strong economic growth rates, the fear of inflation overshadows Democratic economic success.

The Republican campaign. In 1994 it was the “Contract with America” that was a list of 10 items, such as welfare reform and a balanced budget amendment; in 2022 the Republican campaign has focused on doubts about election integrity.

In a democracy, there is an inherent tension between campaigning and governing, but the 1994 Republicans look like policy wonks compared to 2022. The primary difference, of course, from other midterm elections is the presence of Donald Trump resulting in Republican congressional and gubernatorial candidates following the “stolen election” rhetoric.

There are several lingering and mishandled slogans and issues that have aided the Republicans in 2022. The first is the slogan “defund the police” pushed by progressive activists. With even the slightest thought this slogan activates the caution instincts of most citizens. At its best, it was a call for reallocating traditional funds to more social service functions within police departments.

The domestic issue that is pulling down the Democrats is their slow and weak response to concerns about inflation. While supply chain problems, and the pandemic-induced extraordinary spending and supply shortages certainly contributed to inflationary pressures, pumping too much newly-created money into a recovering economy simply must be factor — and Washington Democrats seemed unable to address these concerns. Gas prices more than $4 are etched in the minds of many voters, who are already critical of the party.

Finally, the Democrats’ expectation that public response to June’s Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson that overturned Roe v. Wade would be the basis for Democratic 2022 electoral success proved off base. Perhaps it is the federalism of abortion, the complexity of individual cases, or the increasing availability of medical alternatives, but abortion apparently faded as a pivotal issue.

Missouri is out of the American political spotlight because we offer no major competitive elections. The U.S. Senate race between Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Democratic newcomer Trudy Busch Valentine never drew much attention. It’s possible Schmitt will garner 60% of the vote. Last summer, it appeared for a week or two that Missouri could start a national political revolution by electing an independent Republican Senate candidate, John Wood. But, Wood withdrew before he got much of a start, apparently because political polling showed he had little support. The result is one avenue of political change not taken.

 Download PDFPDF of print edition, 1994 column by David WebberDavid Webber

The single biggest difference between 1994 and 2022 is Donald Trump. It is likely that the Democrats would have lost the majority in the House and the Senate anyway based merely on historical tendencies, but then 2023 would begin with a new Republican Congress butting heads with Democratic President Joe Biden. The difference in 2022’s election is that there will be little ordinary policymaking in Washington, in states, and in local government, but rather Trump’s legions of loyalists will be a single political force across all levels of government. The checks and balances that have served us so well, so long, may be mothballed.

---

About opinions in the Missourian: The Missourian’s Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form.

---

David Webber joined the MU Political Science Department in 1986 and wrote his first column for the Missourian in 1994.

City Council leadership needed to prevent homeless shelter disaster

David Webber, Columbia MISSOURIAN, October 30, 2022

Fred Parry’s “Good Intentions, Poor Planning” commentary in the current issue of Inside Columbia magazine was sure to stir a reaction from homeless activists. Indeed it did. I share the group of advocates’ conclusion that rather than fear those needing services, Columbia should aspire to earn a reputation for helping those less fortunate. Accountable and effective local governance can ensure that happens.

I appreciate all citizens who step up and share their views. I agree with Parry that there has been scarce media coverage of the development of the proposed Opportunity Center, which he refers to as a “a 100-bed homeless shelter.” I also agree the current plan has been developed “by a handful of well-intentioned folks.” Well-intentioned is not a substitute for widespread public reaction and input. More public attention educates policymakers and citizens and defines public expectations. Among the questions members of the public would have asked is what are the anticipated results of a 24/7 shelter?

I am a homeless volunteer who advocates for individual homeless people, but I am not an activist for or against any specific policy proposals. I am counting on our elected City Council members and County Commissioners to make decisions benefiting all local residents not a narrow set of interests, even if they are well-intentioned homeless service providers. The immediate push for the 24/7 year-round homeless shelter is the $25 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that local governments received from the feds .

The step up from seasonal Room at the Inn to a permanent homeless shelter is a big jump. It’s sort of like going from the old Schwinn bicycle to a big Harley-Davidson.

The City Council and City Manager De’Carlon Seawood made a good decision in purchasing the VFW Post 280 building on the Business Loop to be used for a more permanent shelter staffed by Room at the Inn. The city will own the building for RATI’s use. The city council should also be applauded for contracting with Turning Point, located at Wilkes Boulevard Methodist Church, to serve as a temporary shelter on extremely cold nights, replacing Wabash Station.

Parry goes overboard in basing much of his criticisms on a Netflix documentary “Seattle is Dying.” Homelessness in every West Coast major city has exploded, resulting in nearly uninhabitable downtowns. The natural environment and mass transportation, are two major reasons that the West Coast has become a magnet for homeless folks, but so has lax law enforcement. Columbia and Boone County officials can ensure this does not happen by monitoring the local homeless situation.

Parry exaggerates, writing that “almost 100 percent of housing-challenged individuals have some sort of substance abuse issue, ” by which he primarily means drugs. Many nationwide studies estimate drug abuse among homeless to be around 40% with slightly less alcohol consumers.

In the past year, I’ve become more aware of what is often referred to as the “mentally ill.” Several of these people have brain injuries due to accidents. I can name two guys who were hit by moving vehicles and now face mental disabilities. They have been unable to hire legal services because it’s unlikely the offending drivers had much money to sue for.

Likewise, in the past year, I’ve learned of several previously sheltered people who have lost their housing because of rent increases, which is approaching an epidemic nationwide. The 13th Circuit Court has a steady stream of eviction cases, most for nonpayment of increasing rent.

Parry mentions but does not develop, that many of “housing-challenged individuals” have no connection to Columbia. My experience has been that this is truer of panhandlers than of the Room at the Inn or Loaves and Fishes guests. Last summer’s Point in Time Count identified 174 individuals who were unsheltered. I would wager that Boone County is their home. However, there are rumors that surrounding police departments direct, and even deliver, so-called “undesirables” to Columbia.

Homeless advocates and volunteers too quickly reject the concern that the Opportunity Center will result in additional homeless people in Columbia. I expect homelessness will increase across America due to stagnant wages and dislocation due to COVID-19. From 2007 to 2016 homelessness had been decreasing but has since started increasing. Without any new facility, I predict more unsheltered people in Columbia in 2032 than today.

Moreover, a first-class facility will attract unsettled travelers. Cell phones and social media will see to this. We are, after all, located along one of the nation’s busiest interstate highways. While Opportunity Center proponents use the term “low barrier” shelter, the composition of shelter guests needs to be monitored and requirements may need to be adjusted.

An additional unknown is the impact of Missouri House Bill 1606 which bans homeless camping on state property and seeks to affect local government’s provision of shelters and housing. The new law goes into effect Jan. 1 amid great uncertainty as to its intent and likely impact.

Nonprofit organizations, and profit-making treatment services, are essential components of the homeless care network but they will not maintain comprehensive monitoring of services provided; they have organizational self-interests they must protect.

Ideally, the entirely publicly-funded homeless service maze would be under a city-appointed board of commission, like the Daniel Boone Public Library or the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department. Such a public board would monitor the homeless situation, with an eye on the mobility patterns of newly homeless people; it would contract with nonprofit organizations for services with specific performance goals and measures, and it would assess the performance and needs of the wide variety of voluntary and nonprofit contributors toward improving the lives of the homeless population.