Red to Blue in the West?

Americans are used to seeing a broad, red swath in the Rocky Mountain West on election night. But this year, after some significant victories in 2004, there's likely to be some blue too -- at the top of the ticket and on down the line. Some find this surprising. But the reality is, if you dig into the history of voting in the West, there's a long, proud tradition of independent-minded voters who elect both Democrats and Republicans to office. Surprised? Read on.

In fact, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana and Nevada each have a strong history of electing one Senator of each party to the Senate. Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana and Nevada have all elected more Democrats to the Governorship in their 140-year histories than Republicans. Who would have thought that in New Mexico and Montana, the long-term statewide voting history is actually more Democratic than Republican?  Read here for more about voting trends in the West.

So what’s really at play here? Are we seeing a serious red to blue shift in the West? We won't know for years. My suspicion? The region is just swinging a bit toward blue as it re-sets to its long-term tendency: purple.

Children, Nature and Freedom

Nature. Freedom. Exploration.  Powerful words.  Powerful, western ideas.

I  grew up running free around lakes and fields in my native Midwest, and I am passionate about giving kids today that experience and joy in nature.  I am a soldier in the children and nature movement. 

So I was thrilled and fascinated to see an emerging parallel effort that hits similar freedom and exploration themes.

New York Sun columnist Lenore Skenazy created a stir when she wrote about allowing her 9-yr. old son to ride the subway home alone in New York City. Think what you want about whether 9 is the right age for this kind of freedom, but give Skenazy credit for launching a spirited dialogue on the state of childhood in America.   Her column led to Skenazy appearances on the Today Show, NPR and Dr. Phil, stories in Newsweek and Slate and creation of a new blog on the topic of giving kids a little more latitude to explore Free Range Kids.  

Food for thought:  wouldn't it be powerful if the nascent Children and Nature and Free Range Kids movements started working together to promote the need for kids to have a little freedom to explore?

Check out MJ on the topic of children and nature on this Travelocity Window Seat podcast.

Welcome to Park Street Journal

I am a westerner -- born in South Dakota, raised in the Midwest, and I call Colorado home. Politics and the way they inter-play with the persona of the region fascinate me.  So do the wide open spaces, the blue skies, the majestic mountains and the compelling characters the region produces.  It's a unique place that in many ways defines America.  This Journal serves two purposes:  to share ideas and observations about the region -- the long-term trends, the changing economics, the draw and impact of public lands, the politics and the people and prose; and to engage a dialogue about how public spaces shape and color our world.  I call it Park Street Journal because it is written, longingly, from an apartment across the street from a park in Boston.  It is literally my park street journal.  I hope you enjoy it.