Joe Gunns
January 14, 2003, 01:26 PM
Once again the NRA election ish of the RIFLEMAN has arrived and I am trying to do the impossible, which is make at least a couple of intelligent choices. WHile I am an endowment member, I am just a casual member, with no involvement in or sense of organizational politics.
To me, these elections seem like those I imagine occured in the former Soviet Union. I am given this slate of pre-approved candidates, all with glowing bios. Some names I recognize, like Cooper, Hornady, etc., and after I read the bios the rest all seem like wonderful folk, too. All but a handful of them will be elected anyway since there are 26 slots and 31 candidates.
So, does it make any difference who I vote for, or, in the real-world of NRA governance are all equally satisfactory? Or, has the one effect of the Knox War been that no-one outside of a governing elite ever really has the opportunity to make a difference?
Is there someone who is really not a good choice: who, while his past exploits are prodigious and meaningful is into his or her dotage?
For the longer term, it would be very useful see someone who knows what is going on, provide a regular, "non-partisan" report on the mating of the elephants in NRA governance.
Added later: I just realized one of the candidates recently died; Joe Foss former AFL commissioner, etc. He was 87. Is the NRA board a sinecere (sp?) for nice old guys to serve out their days feeling useful?
To me, these elections seem like those I imagine occured in the former Soviet Union. I am given this slate of pre-approved candidates, all with glowing bios. Some names I recognize, like Cooper, Hornady, etc., and after I read the bios the rest all seem like wonderful folk, too. All but a handful of them will be elected anyway since there are 26 slots and 31 candidates.
So, does it make any difference who I vote for, or, in the real-world of NRA governance are all equally satisfactory? Or, has the one effect of the Knox War been that no-one outside of a governing elite ever really has the opportunity to make a difference?
Is there someone who is really not a good choice: who, while his past exploits are prodigious and meaningful is into his or her dotage?
For the longer term, it would be very useful see someone who knows what is going on, provide a regular, "non-partisan" report on the mating of the elephants in NRA governance.
Added later: I just realized one of the candidates recently died; Joe Foss former AFL commissioner, etc. He was 87. Is the NRA board a sinecere (sp?) for nice old guys to serve out their days feeling useful?
