Two Days At Capitol Made Trip Worthwhile

Because of my reputation as a social anarchist, some eyebrows were raised at school when I turned in my application for Boys State.

During the interview with the American Legionnaires, when asked why I was applying, I replied: “It looks good on a college resume.” But I honestly was interested in learning more about our government and what different officials had to say about contemporary issues.

Besides, how bad could it be? Arriving at Gowen Field was a real eye-opener. The MP in charge of the gate was really nice when he let us in, holding his gun at ready.

After getting our three T-shirts that were to be all we wore during the camp (three shirts, five days - do the math), we were shown to our barracks. These were buildings no longer used by the military on the base because they were using buildings that met Idaho health codes.

One of the first things we had to do was turn over the mattresses to cover up the stains of unknown liquids, and then mop the floors to get rid of the dust that had been left from last year’s Boys State. I then checked out the restroom facilities. Three toilets, one urinal, and a communal shower for the building that held 49 campers, two counselors, two Legionnaires, and two military advisers. It just kept getting better and better.

I then lay down carefully on my sleeping bag, and read the propaganda that all of the delegates had received during check-in.

One of these books was the American Legion handbook. (Motto: “To foster and indoctrin … no, perpetuate 100 percent Americanism.”) It tells of the Legion-sponsored magazine “Firing Line” which is given to all people with the title “Counter-subversive Directors,” whose job it is to “counter subversion from foreign ideologies.” God Bless America.

Considering the fact that Boys State was started to counter a similar program run by the Nazis in the 1930s, fascist statements like that astounded me. I strongly suggest getting your hands on one of these fun little pamphlets.

For dinner we were told that we as a “city” needed to come up with a cheer. We didn’t put much effort into it because we all believed it was just one of the motions that we had to go through. But no. This cheer determined who got to eat first.

And as we found out later, the meal times were short enough that the city that ate last got the scraps, no drinks except water, and about five minutes to scarf it down before the after-meal assembly started which, if you were late to, you were punished.

After five days of this routine, which started at 6 a.m. and didn’t stop until 11 p.m., eating the food served by Boise’s juvenile delinquents who needed community service hours, and just generally enjoying the sweltering heat of the Boise desert in the long pants that you are required to wear all day, two days are spent at the Idaho State Capitol.

And in all seriousness, it almost made up for the rest of it. Almost.

Most of the kids who are elected to positions actually get to use their official’s offices. (Although since Gov. Kempthorne was in Hawaii, Gov. Ted Tieken, myself, and the rest of his staff were led to a large conference room.)

During those two days, bills are debated, amendments issued, and the actual governmental veto stamp is used (quite frequently). Being the governor’s personal assistant, I was busy addressing the House and Senate on why the governor’s office was vetoing their bills.

The Boys State program has definite weaknesses that can be fixed but it also has some great benefits.

Almost every major state official addresses the delegates and there’s almost always time to ask questions.

Lt. Gov. Butch Otter was on hand at the Capitol, touring around asking delegates if they had any questions or problems. All of the office staff is extremely helpful with legal and operational inquiries.

While Boys State is definitely not the place for anyone who can’t handle militaristic surroundings and the threat of being shot if you are somewhere you aren’t supposed to be (which we were reminded of frequently), there is a lot of knowledge to be gleaned.

That is, as long as you can survive the food.