A Lesson From 1979

Truckers are flexing their muscles in Canada, and have inspired similar demonstrations in New Zealand and Europe.  There are rumors the U.S. will be next.

Forty-three years ago this month, the Washington, D.C., political establishment was faced with a different grassroots revolt.  Angry famers, being driven out of business by Jimmy Carter's lousy economy, were convinced that no one in Washington understood their plight or cared about their families. 

So, they decided to drive their tractors to D.C. to make their case to Congress and the White House.

In early February, after weeks on the road in the middle of winter, an "army" of 5,000 farmers and their supporters arrived in the nation's capital.  They camped at a Civil War battlefield over the weekend, and then headed into D.C. on Monday morning during rush hour.  Every bridge was blocked and government buildings were encircled.

Members of Congress were astonished by the sight.  Many came out of the Capitol to talk to the farmers and learn about their concerns.  It was as if 5,000 "Mr. Smiths" had gone to Washington.

Years later, one of the farmers was asked by a historian what motivated the men and women like him to brave freezing temperatures to travel for days to "physically petition" their government.  He said:

"The real story is not about me, money or my farm.  It's about doing something when you're a nobody.  Farming was dying. . . I couldn't sit back and let it happen.  At some point in life, everyone answers a question, 'What are you willing to say or do?'"

It is a question all of us will have to answer.