VIEWPOINT | Embrace the normal

Guest column by Dan Kippley and Dean Karsky

A VIEWPOINT piece that ran in The Dakota Scout back in April derided the concept of “normies,” slang for normal people. Normal citizens are those busy with jobs, families, activities in their schools, churches and other civic institutions. Basically, these are the vast majority of our friends and neighbors who don’t spend all day online, watching cable news and going down the rabbit holes of never-ending conspiracy theories. 

As primary election day approaches, we are happy to accept the framing of choices before voters as a set of candidates who are “normal” and those that actively embrace being “abnormal.” Our political culture has turned toxic at the national level, and this has even seeped into our state and local politics. It is harder than ever to recruit “normal” people to get involved, and institutions like the political parties no longer act as gatekeepers to ensure good candidates represent their brand. 

VIEWPOINT | A snake in the garden