Our Town – September 6, 2012

The Soupster and his friend Greta sat face-to-face on two hemlock stumps, chomping on jars of her latest batch of smoked sockeye and shooting the breeze.

“So you didn’t vote in the primary,” Greta said accusingly.

“I forgot,” sighed a sheepish Soupster. He chewed his fish silently. “It’s sometimes hard to remember that politics matters.”

“Oh, politics matters, all right,” Greta said. “What if I was to tell you that your vote could affect that very fish you are eating right this second?”

“I would say `how?’” said the Soupster.

“Glad you asked me that,” Greta said, standing, stretching her arms and cracking her knuckles.

“Now, I’m not going to use any names, in order to protect the innocent, but see if you can follow me,” she said, settling back on her stump.

“All right,” said the Soupster.

“Okay,” Greta started. “Say there was a guy running for the US Senate from Missouri who made some very unfortunate comments about pregnancy that got him in a big heap of bear scat.”

“I think I know who you mean,” said the Soupster.

“Well,” continued Greta. “His opponent in that race, the incumbent, is a big critic of some special breaks Uncle Ted got for Alaska Native corporations that have allowed them to score lucrative government contracts.”

“Okay,” said the Soupster.

“Now the sockeye you’re scarfing comes from a bay that a Natïve corporation is asking Congress for,” said Greta.

“But they say they’ll always allow public access,” said the Soupster.

“I’m sure they want to keep the public access – they understand the value people give to harvesting their own food,” said Greta. “But let’s say the lucrative federal contracts dry up and they start hurting for money.”

“Just then some gazillionaire comes forward and offers to buy a piece of land that the corporation wants even more than your favorite sockeye bay – in exchange for your favorite sockeye bay …”

“You make good sockeye,” said the Soupster, lifting a jar. “But your fish tales stink.”

“It’s no tale,” said Greta. “At least, it’s not impossible.”

“So if I wanted to keep eating this fish, how should I vote?” asked the Soupster.

“You can figure it out,” said Greta. “You’re the Soupster!”“