This was published in the Post Register

“You’re not one of those liberals, are you?”

The other patrons of the winery were talking amongst themselves and got to the “where are you from” stage of the conversations.

One of them said he was from California, but made it clear he wasn’t a liberal. He came because he wanted to be a “real” Idahoan.

The response?

“Well, we should be able to shoot liberals who aren’t real Idahoans.”

This got me thinking.

Whether or not the “consequence” of being “liberal” in Idaho was said in jest or not, what stood out to me was the idea of what makes some a “real” Idahoan.

In Idaho, we have a strong tradition of “purpleness.” Prior to extremists coming into Idaho from other states, it was not uncommon for Democrats and Republicans to have closer-to-equal numbers in the legislature. It was not uncommon to see Democratic governors like Cecil Andrus or be represented in Congress by well-respected (on all sides) Democrats like Frank Church.

Somehow, though, in the last few years, these extremist transplants have convinced too many people that “real” Idahoans align with their very narrow beliefs.

I keep getting told to “go back where I came from,” but, unlike many of these extremists, I did grow up here. What am I supposed to do? Move back to the west side? Because I graduated from Skyline High School.

Both Democrats and Republicans represent real Idaho values. Both Democrats and Republicans are real Idahoans. Transplants are even real Idahoans.

For decades, real Idahoans have valued education. For decades, real Idahoans have prioritized helping their neighbors. We had a huge outpouring of support from real Idahoans for Medicaid Expansion when our legislature refused. Real Idahoans want to invest in our communities by expanding access to opportunities for affordable housing and protecting the most vulnerable among us.

Yet, somehow, extremists have taken hold of the narrative of what a “real” Idahoan is — and it’s ugly.

In their minds, librarians should be jailed for doing their jobs. They think teachers deserve retaliation for telling the truth. And if you disagree, you’re some sort of leftie who doesn’t belong in Idaho.

But our traditions say otherwise. Here in Idaho Falls, we have a long tradition of strong women who founded our libraries and built our parks. These are women the extremists would deride as “too liberal” and “not real Idahoans.”

How did we get here? Why do these extremists who came here looking for redoubt paradise get to tell me, someone who grew up here with Idaho values, that I’m not a real Idahoan and I should leave?

It’s time to take our state back from the vocal extremist minority that has scared our elected officials into passing and signing bills they know are harmful. These extremists and their enablers are cooking up more bad policies for problems that don’t exist while ignoring the real Idaho values that would have us invest in our people, family and communities.

Miranda Marquit, Master of Business Administration, is a nationally recognized personal finance expert, speaker, writer and podcaster.  She is the Chair of the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee and candidate for state legislature.