North Dakota GOP Takes Us Back To The '90s, The 1890s

Let’s visit the great state of North Dakota where Republican control of the governor’s mansion and the state house is providing a harbinger of what’s to come for the rest of the country. Based on their recent actions, it appears that the ND GOP wants to take us back to the ’90s – the 1890s that is.

Since ND is a right to work state, they don’t have much to worry about from those pesky unions. It is a quasi-open carry state as it allows you openly carry a weapon with a proper permit. So everything should be under control. But, despite over 150 years of oppression, they still are having trouble with Native Americans. The protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), a project whose investors include Donald Trump and Rick Perry by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has caused heartburn for the ND GOP who are expected to keep their oil and gas benefactors happy, in this case the builder of the pipeline, Energy Transfer Partners (ETP).

In September, ETP decided they had to take matters into their own hands and took their cue from Andrew Carnegie. Back in 1892, Carnegie decided to break the Homestead strike by hiring the private security firm Pinkerton to go and break the strike by force. ETP hired private security guards to attack the DAPL protesters with pepper spray and guard dogs. As it turned out, some of the security guards did not have proper licenses to work in North Dakota, not that it would make any difference. When that did not stop the protests, it was time for the state to use its own police power to enforce the will of a private company, which led to the protesters being pepper sprayed and bean-bagged in mass arrests in late October. Those arrested were then strip-searched, numbered, and held in fenced in “dog kennels”.  In late November, the ND authorities use concussion grenades, tear gas, and water cannons on more protesters in below freezing temperatures. While the state claims that the protesters were on private land, the reality is that the land was stolen from the Sioux in direct violation of the Treaty of Fort Laramie of 1851. None of that matters to the ND GOP.

But, apparently, even the full weight of ND law enforcement is not enough for Republicans in the state. Some new bills proposed in the legislature have some interesting features. One bill would exempt the drive of a vehicle who “accidently” hits a pedestrian. The bill would shift the burden of proof from the driver of the vehicle to the pedestrian. That might be a little difficult for the pedestrian if he is dead. The author of the bill makes it clear that it directed at DAPL protesters, saying, “They’re intentionally putting themselves in danger.” He also admits that the bill would also apply where protesters were not involved. I’m pretty sure the people run down by terrorists in trucks in Germany and France would think this bill may not be the best idea. Another bill would prohibit adults from wearing masks, putting a real crimp in Halloween. Another would allow the state to sue the federal government for extra police costs. Maybe they can get Bill de Blasio to join them in that suit.

Republicans in Kansas have shown the economic future that GOP policies will bring the country. North Dakota may be showing us the Republican future of how law enforcement will deal with civil disobedience.