Perennial Populist Optimist and Texas Inspiration, Jim Hightower, Wins the BuzzFlash Wings of Justice Award

JIM HIGHTOWER

Jim Hightower is a Texas populist who is keeping the concept of the common good for the common people alive and hopeful at a time when the shadow of oligarchical rule falls over America.

Hightower began his populism at a time when Texas was still a "Yellow Dog Democratic" state, and became known for "agitating" for those left behind and struggling to get by. He worked for some politicians before becoming the Agrictultural Commissioner of the Lone Star State, doing great things, and then getting defeated by some dirty tricks by Karl Rove. 

As editor of the Texas Observer, he became a part of the golden era of Texas journalists, including his close colleague, the late Molly Ivins. Now, he has a radio program that that takes folksy shots at the ruling elite, and a newsletter, "The Hightower Lowdown," that attacks the enemies of democracy with wit and common sense.

If you ever have the good fortune to hear Hightower speak, it's a comic tour de force of down home Texas expressions, anecdotes, and compassionate appeal.

Since the top 1 percent of Americans have nearly most of the wealth, you'd think this would be a nation fertile for the appeal of a tirelessly optimistic spokesman like Jim Hightower.  But we've been numbed, it seems, by the ceaseless distractions of endless entertainment and television news misinformation. 

Hightower reminds us of our great populist heritage and right to a nation of the people, by the people and for the people.

He's never given up on America. He's never given up on the ability of people to reclaim their rights. He's never lost hope of what a group of committted agitators can accomplish.

For his inspiration and unstinting drive to expose the hypocrites and corruption in our government, Jim Hightower more than merits the BuzzFlash Wings of Justice Award.