North Dakota's Democrats
by Josette Jack

Midway along the border between the United States and Canada lies the plain state of North Dakota. It is situated in the middle of North America, the North Central region of the United States. Bismarck, the capital, is the second largest city. This land had been the buffalo hunting grounds of many tribes of Native Americans. As the Indian peoples were pushed further West and ranchers replaced fur hunters, agriculture became the main economic activity. It ranks 17th among the states in area but only 47th in population. It was one of the last regions of the Americas frontier to be settled. Dakota, the name of a Native American confederacy, is an Indian word that means “allies” or “friends." North Dakota has a dry, continental climate with four seasons. Its basic natural resource is its soil. The population is 641,364. Many of North Dakota’s early white settlers came from Northern Europe, Germany, and Canada. Today the state has about 15,000 residents of foreign birth. North Dakota has approximately 2,500 African Americans. It is the home to seven different Indian tribes that make up the state’s largest minority. The majority  of the 20,000 Native Americans in North Dakota live on the reservation of  Standing Rock that is located partly in South Dakota.            The only political party that is historically tied to North Dakota, is called the Democratic-Nonpartisan League (Democratic-NPL) the “People Party” because of the core beliefs about helping people. Angered by the practices in the grain trade, North Dakota farmers organized the Nonpartisan League in 1915. The league won control of the state government by the end of the following year. Led by governor Lynn J. Frazier, the legislative establish a state-owned mill and elevator, a state bank, and----unique to North Dakota----hail insurance. The legislature exempted from taxation any improvements on farmland and taxed unused lands heavily to force them into productive use. This program was one of the most far-reaching adopted by any state. Frazier was removed in 1921 under a new recall amendment. The NPL declined somewhat in importance during the 1920s and finally, in1952, part of the league joined the democratic party.            The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party realizes that adversity can happen to anyone. Unfortunately, recipients of welfare are stigmatized and stereotyped by society and, consequently, by the government society create. The TEEM(Training, Employment, Education, and Management Project) and TANIF(Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) programs, slated to replace current welfare programs, have some promising elements.            The TANIF program appears to be a significant attempt to support family efforts to become self-sufficient. The element that allows for reduced  services during transitions from independence to self-sufficiency is a big step forward. Employment is a key element of TANIF and the private sector needs to do their part. If communities are serious about welcoming welfare reform, then they need to help create meaningful jobs -- quality jobs that pay a living wage and provide benefits, particularly health care. If the private sector does not help with a solution to job availability, the state could face penalties for not meeting work requirements of the program. The resulting loss of funds must then be replaced from the general fund.               Research has shown that college graduates get the good jobs, and have a higher standard of living. Colleges and universities produce graduates that pay more taxes, spend more money in the community and contribute to the creation of wealth  in the area. The  party can  elect leaders who value education and make it a priority to the state . They can provide for the future of the young people and the retraining of the work force. They can use the University System as a tool to stimulate economic development, and  advance welfare reform through educational opportunities.              Farmers and ranchers represent just 7% of the population. They paid 31% of the property taxes collected in 1996 and the land owners paid 48% of the property taxes. For every $1 collected in income taxes, North Dakota collects $3 in property taxes. Sales taxes total just 54% of property tax amounts. The goal of the Democratic-NPL is to equalize the tax burden, by reducing education’s dependence on property taxes. The parties want to promote economic development for better jobs for North Dakota, provide tax incentives to companies that pay a living wage and penalize companies that take tax exemptions and then leave the state. The party also wants to provide security for citizens of all ages and income levels, provide affordable health care to all North Dakotans. The Democratic-NPL also wants to increase spendable income by increasing the minimum wage.            The state plan for agriculture was to provide Property Tax Relief. The most significant action the state legislature can take to help farmers and ranchers was to reduce the state dependence on property taxes. Premium wheat alliance was another plan, North Dakota premium wheat can vie for high value markets domestically, and command a premium return for  farmers. Defend  family farming laws was also an essential part of the agricultural plan. The future of North Dakota agriculture should be based on family farms, not corporation farm. New tools to build processing plants are essential and legislation will be reintroduced to provide state tax incentives to farmers who invest in new processing cooperatives.            Members of the Democratic-NPL believe that every person deserves the opportunity to acquire adequate food, shelter, health care and education, as well as job that provides a living wage. They are know as the Party that look out for the vulnerable in  society and strive for equality and support diversity.