Populist blends savvy and intellect
Sam Kenyon
Communicator

Jim Hightower, America’s number one populist, visited Spokane to encourage citizens to “be disobedient.”

The author and national columnist spoke to a crowd of hundreds at Lewis and Clark high school Monday, April 28. Spokane was one of the stops along his 40-city book tour promoting his latest work, Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go With the Flow.

“It’s about the plucky spirit of the American people. Folks defying the corporate order, living their progressive values,” said Hightower.

KYRS Thin Air Community Radio sponsored the event, with all proceeds going toward the local station.

Travis Coletti, a freelance promoter for KYRS, introduced Hightower and spoke about the mission of Thin Air Radio.

“You can’t have community radio without the community, it just doesn’t work,” said Coletti. “The airwaves belong to us. They don’t belong to the FCC, they don’t belong to corporate radio, they belong to the American people.”

With his trademark cowboy hat and soft, Texas accent, Hightower focused on the grassroots level change that is happening all around the country.

“America is made up of mutts and mavericks who are bucking the system,” he said. “They are rebels in the great American tradition of rebellion.”

Hightower repeatedly spoke about the rebellion he says is going on, and how it’s happening at the grassroots level.

“Folks are searching and yearning for real change.”

Hightower is a progressive populist who advocates economic fairness, social justice, and equality for all. In his mind, the biggest two issues facing America today are the destruction of the middle class, and the occupation of Iraq. His solution to the occupation is straightforward.

“Get out. Roads and boats, that’s how we got in,” he said. “We can’t be the solution militarily, our problem is political.”

Hightower spoke about how he has been impressed by the youth movement in the current presidential election, but shows little tolerance for the apathy associated with young people.

“If you’re not paying attention, goodbye and good luck, you’re doomed.”

One of the main themes of his speech was that change can happen at the local level, as long as people are willing to reject the current system, and put in place something better.

“That is our goal, to govern progressively,” said Hightower. “Corporation is not synonymous with business. It’s a form of business, and it happens to be the most constrictive and constipated form of business.”

That is also the main theme of his book.

“Ordinary folks making a difference, taking charge of their politics. It can happen.”

The anecdote that got the biggest laugh from the audience was about an aunt of his who told him why the tap water in her house was so dirty, which he has turned into a metaphor for the political landscape.

You can contact the writer at staffwriter@spokanefalls.edu