I was just about to bury the lead with this interesting little story about being heard, respected, and represented when I was reminded that many of us have a date with representation next Tuesday. It’s Election Day with many school-saving levies on the ballot. If you’re anything like me you’ve socked that ballot away somewhere safe where you’ll remember to get to it later. Here’s a little public service announcement: NOW IS LATER!! Drag out that ballot and do what needs doing. Kids are counting on all of us in next Tuesday’s election. It doesn’t take a minute. But it could last a lifetime. VOTE.
On with our regularly scheduled program. So I had this interesting exchange of political ideas with my nephew the other day on Facebook. He is a young lad and his political views are evolving as is his confidence in expressing them. He was telling me in earnest about his take on something the president had done and me being the cagey, old, political wonk that I am, set him straight. Or so I thought. What I actually did was shut him down. Expressing yourself to someone who thinks they’ve heard it all, seen it all, and is doing something so much more important than what you’re talking about is a recipe for shutting you up. Which shuts you down, which shuts you out. You’d think that after 8 years of a president I didn’t agree with and many years of state and local policy makers I couldn’t persuade to bend my way, I’d understand that notion of being heard. One embarrassed mea culpa later, I can say I’m trying.
I wish all of our elected officials could say the same thing. You ever get the feeling that your pleas to Olympia (or D.C. or local sewerage district) go unheard? Ever been told that your story doesn’t fit in this debate? That you don’t understand “how politics works?” That it’s too late in the season to wear white pants? I feel you. Where do you take all that outrage, those good ideas, that energy? The gym? Freezer? To the garden? Don’t let others’ apathy or ignorant bliss drive you away from the movement. Put your energy to work – like some have done in their local levies – and then tell us your story. Our new site, www.areyourepresented.org gives you a place to tell us – and them – your story. Check out the awesome work going on to pass local levies. These hard working folks likely aren’t on anyone’s speed dial in Olympia – but they are working hard to make sure that they – and our kids – are represented in their local elections
Are you represented? Tell us about it.
