MYRL THOMPSON/Valley Voices

May 27, 2007

While reading the words of a speech written by Peter Robinson a few decades back, I had a revelation. Not many of you may recognize the name of the writer, but almost everyone would remember the speech delivered by President Ronald Reagan. Standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate of the Berlin Wall, Reagan delivered the now famous, “Tear down this wall” speech. The words were meant for Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev and his secretive one-party state.

He ruled over a citizenry that had virtually no say in matters that deeply affected their lives. There was no freedom of information, no freedom to determine courses of action, only top down decisions that had to be abided by.

Reagan bravely challenged the secretary general to “open this gate” and “tear down this wall.” Who knows if those words struck the hearts of an entrenched and single-minded Soviet leadership or Reagan's words were just well-timed. But the ultimate outcome is well-known.

Maybe the Soviets' backward society and antiquated technology may have led to their downfall. Possibly the spirit of a people, longing for some real say in matters, helped propel the downfall of a corrupt party elite and their political cronies.

Everyone knows that history tends to repeat itself, especially if left unchecked. Even local events, then, can be a microcosm of past mistakes not learned.

My dad always used to say, if you learn by other's mistakes, you won't have to learn by so many of your own.

Now, let's put the current Matanuska Electric Association situation into perspective.

We have a small group of leaders from a single party who are ruling over a large group of citizens who have virtually no say in matters. The Soviet and the MEA systems both allow for choice, as long as it is the party's or Hobson's choice.

Remember Hobson's choice? You can have any horse in the stable, as long as it is the one in the first stall on the right.

The Soviet leadership had complete control of disseminated information. Rarely

did any of it trickle out to the public.

MEA surely would not operate in that manner, would they?

At least MEA member-owners can elect their representatives in a free and open election. Those Soviets, on the other hand, had a very questionable voting system, and many votes were not counted

at all.

MEA probably has a much more verifiable system, don't they?

Well, at least, MEA doesn't rely on antiquated technology, do they?

The Soviets never cared about the health of their people and would use environmentally abusive means to achieve a desired end. I'm glad MEA isn't like those Soviets were, wanting power at any cost.

However, there are a few similarities that are unquestionable between the two dictatorships. While the free press was constantly trying to shine the light on operations within the two closed societies, their leadership were always going after the messengers, accusing the press of lying about them.

The one-party dictatorships both used their own press to dispel any truths brought to light and replace it with their own propaganda. The Soviets had Pravda, and MEA has

Powerlines, its monthly newsletter included with

every bill.

The more I think about it, the more glad I am that I live in the good old US of A. Because I surely wouldn't want to be a part of any system that doesn't respect the folks that make it up.

And if the situation ever gets as bad here as it was in the late Soviet Union, we have Peter Robinson to rely on.

I can hear the speech already: “General Manager Carmony, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Matanuska Valley and MEA, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate, Mr. Carmony. Open this gate, Mr. Carmony, tear down this wall!

If only the Gipper were here to deliver it.

Valley resident Myrl Thompson is a free-lance journalist and former independent candidate for state House in District 15 whose Valley Voices column appears every four weeks. Contact him at myrl@ak.net.