Goodbye, Wokeville. Hello, MAGA Country.
When I tell people that we are moving from Madison to Minocqua in 2024, I get two types of responses.
Generally, I receive congratulations. This is because northern Wisconsin is truly beautiful, filled with wood and water and the wonder of nature.
Specifically, I receive a reaction of caution. “How will you cope with people so different from us here in Madison?”
I always wonder who “us” is. I think I know, but nevertheless think the person wrong to frame things so, as people are more or less the same everywhere. I think it can be easy to deal with other people, if you choose to do so.
Do unto others, you know?
My answer to that annoying question is this essay. Its snarky title is a response to the specific question and reflects both its complexity and simplicity. In addition to being an announcement, the title is also an oversimplification and a description.
The title is an oversimplification, because sometimes words do not convey the entirety of circumstance.
The title is a description, because sometimes simplifications contain the essence of truth.
And, of course, the title is an announcement, because we ARE moving from Madison to Minocqua in 2024.
I am on the cusp of retirement. I can see retirement in the near future. I am being proactive and setting myself up to be ready in 2-5 years.
I am in the fortunate position of being able to work remotely. I do not believe many in my knowledge worker class understand what a privilege it is to be able to work from anywhere, but it is. This will increase in the future, of course, but right now it is still special. I thank God or The Universe for my good fortune that, if one travels back in time to the requisite reality fork, I was smart enough or lucky enough or both to find my chosen career path affording me this flexibility now as I enter old age. I guarantee you no planning was involved whatsoever.
Speaking of old age, last November I announced to my friends on Facebook that I had entered “my 60th year.” This was a smart ass comment, as I can be an ass and like to think I’m smart. Of course, applying logic one understands that I turned 59 in 2023 and was now in my 60th year, which ends on my 60th birthday.
I have no children but Jane does; moving to where family lives makes sense as one ages. Few will love you better. People decry northern Wisconsin and say, “The weather is cold…” to which I reply, “…but family is near.” Now it’s warm enough.
I will retire in the next 5 years. I can work remotely. I’m older. Family lives in “The Northwoods.” Why not move now and set myself up before retirement?
So much for the announcement. Now on to oversimplification and description.
Goodbye, Wokeville. Hello, MAGA Country.
By evoking Woke and MAGA in this manner I am, of course, highlighting political differences.
The title is an oversimplification, because sometimes words do not convey the entirety of circumstance. “Wokeville” is an overly simplistic name for Madison, and “MAGA Country” is an overly simplistic name for North Central Wisconsin. Not everyone in Madison is an identity-focused egalitarian Progressive nor is everyone in rural Northern Wisconsin a populism-focused traditionalist Conservative.
The title is a description, because sometimes simplifications contain the essence of truth. Madison IS Wokeville, and North Central Wisconsin IS MAGA Country. Critical Race Theory was created at a workshop in Madison in 1989,1 and President Trump won Oneida County with almost 60% of the votes in 2020.2 If that isn’t Woke and MAGA, I don’t know what is.
This is interesting to me right now because we are moving from Madison to North Central Wisconsin in the middle of a presidential election year.
Making this more interesting is the fact that in this election, Wisconsin is “Ground Zero.”34
Making ALL of this even more interesting is the fact that I’m not a Conservative nor a Progressive. I’m a Liberal, and that’s different.56
Hence there are aspects to my political policy positions that find a home on the political Right or Left or, more infrequently, both. I don’t believe in private health insurance, so that puts me on the Left. I believe Capitalism is the world’s greatest antipoverty program, so that puts me on the Right. I believe in a progressive tax structure, so that puts me on the Left. I oppose corporate taxation, so that puts me on the Right. I support the right to same-sex marriage, so that puts me on the Left. I want the US to have the world’s strongest military and am a patriot, so that puts me on the Right.7
In other words, in politics I have enough in common with people in Northern Wisconsin to have pleasant conversations at Happy’s Pub in Woodruff,8 just as I have enough in common with people in Madison to have pleasant conversations at Crystal Corner Bar on Willy Street.9
I know some of my friends disagree, but I have no political test for friendship.
If I only ever talk with people with whom I agree, how will I know when I’m wrong?
This is why, aside from wood and water and the wonder of nature, life in North Central Wisconsin WILL BE wonderful. I get to enjoy nature, spoil my stepchildren, explore Hodag Country and Waaswaaganing, and celebrate meat at Beef-A-Rama.101112
This is why life in Madison IS wonderful. I get to enjoy The Willy Street Co-op, Euchre tournaments at The Shamrock, and favorite festivals like La Fête De Marquette.131415
In other words, living in Madison or Minocqua sounds great to me.
So my answer to the question, “How will you cope with people so different from us here in Madison?” is this:
No problem.
People are people. If you look for difference, you will find difference. If you look for things in common, you will find things in common.
All of this has implications for our politics, of course. I know that US political polarization is already at an all-time high.16 It may be true that the 2-party structure of our political system exacerbates this polarization.17 Certainly social media is not known for creating social cohesion, rather fragmentation and anxiety.18
But if you want “the system” to work it is necessary to talk with people that you do not like and that disagree with you.19
If we talk to one another, that will be picked up via social osmosis by our dedicated public servants. We get the politicians we deserve.
The alternative is to continue on our current trajectory. Despite protestations to the contrary, we have a pretty decent system, and we are pretty decent people. But some on both the Left and Right have taken things to extremes. If you want me to provide examples of extremes so you know what “side” I am on, you are part of the problem.
That’s my point. If you think “your side” need not talk to the other, you are part of the problem. If you don’t want to hear what the “other side” says, you are part of the problem. If you personalize a politician and see insults against them as insults against you, you are part of the problem. Knowing people identify with people, if you attack politicians instead of policy, you are part of the problem.
If we only ever talk with people with whom we agree, how will we know when we’re wrong?
We get the politicians we deserve. Do unto others, you know?
I cannot make political predictions. I have friends who want this essay title to be a forecast, and others who do not. Either outcome is possible.202122 Either way conversation is still important. Not talking to each other seems to be a low utility action. That has led us here.
If we are as polarized as people say we are, perhaps the best thing to do is to treat everyone as one would treat oneself. Do not treat others as inherently different. That has led us here.
Let us judge each other based on the content of our character. Dr. King would approve.23
As I said, I can’t predict politics, but I can make one totally accurate personal prediction.
We’re moving.
Goodbye, Wokeville. Hello, MAGA Country.
Ibid.