Wiger defends support of Communitarian platform

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--House District 21B candidate Mark Wiger, a Democrat, is defending his support of the Communitarians' platform as the campaign draws to a close.

In recent days, letters to the editor warn hunters and gun-lovers in general about a plank in the platform which advocates "domestic disarmament."

Its platform states: "We join with those who read the Second Amendment the way it was written, as a communitarian clause, calling for community militias, not individual gun slingers."

While the platform in general paints an almost nirvana-style society where everyone is kind to and supportive of each other and the community controls its own fate through democratic action.

"Although it may seem utopian, we believe that in the multiplication of strongly democratic communities around the world lies our best hope for the emergence of a global community that can deal concertedly with matters of concern to our species as a whole: with war and strife, with violations of basic rights, with environmental degradation, and with the extreme material deprivation that stunts the bodies, minds, and spirits of children. Our communitarian concern may begin with ourselves and our families, but it rises inexorably to the long-imagined community of mankind."

The dictionary offers a somewhat different view of communitarians, defining them as "a member or advocate of a communistic or communalistic community."

It further defines communalism as "a theory or system of government in which communes or local communities, sometimes on an ethnic or religious basis, have virtual autonomy within a federated state ... loosely, socialism."

Wiger said, in signing off on the platform, he's not advocating taking guns away from hunters.

"As you know, I support the gun rights and interests of my son, my friends, my neighbors, and other constituents throughout District 21B. I also understand the economic benefits and enjoyment hunting provides," Wiger said.

He feels the whole situation came about as a result of a web surfer's visit to a Communitarian website. He then spoke of what attracted his interest and support.

"In a sentence, it has to do with my belief that we could reduce spending on welfare, health costs, law enforcement and corrections if we took greater responsibility and showed greater concern as individuals, families and communities."

Wiger who identified himself as a school board member in signing said he felt "my signature was in support of an approach that would continue to evolve. Not cast in stone and poised for fighting aggressively for their way or no way! The invitation is to become active in seeking 'to reinvigorate the moral and social order ... and .... to deal better with many of our community's problems while reducing our reliance on governmental regulation, controls and force.'"