On Thursday, the Board of Supervisors in Santa Clara County met, and national health care reform was on the agenda. Loins were girded. Songs were composed. We even brought notes that said "Talk, don't Shout", so we could confront any angry people who might have attended gracefully.

And there were none.


And that is why there was no mention of that
meeting in the news whatsoever.

We must start thinking about the reality of this debate. If you are willing to scream and threaten people, you are rewarded with national and local news coverage. Even if you say stuff that makes no sense, you will have the ear of the nation.


If you wait your turn and speak in a civilized manner... you are easy to ignore.

I wish I could make some other conclusions. But in the meantime, I think that fact explains much about our national discourse.

But! I do have some encouraging news to report. I went to a book signing yesterday afternoon for Barbara Boxer, because I had heard that there would be another Tea Party. I'd also gotten an invitation from MoveOn, who were (for some reason that escapes me) encouraging support of green jobs and clean energy. And sure enough, when I pulled into the parking lot at Barnes and Noble, the sidewalk was already lined with a sea of grey hair and Gadsden flags. And unlike the last time we crossed paths, everybody was pretty civil. Someone must have given the tpers a stern talkin' to, because absolutely no one threatened to shoot me this time.

And I have to say, I love these things. I really dig most any protest, but the Tea Partiers have really started to indulge their artistic sides. They're like arts and crafts extravaganzas. With a smattering of uh... Hitler.


Unfortunately, I still wasn't able to get many of them to talk to me. A few did, and I would like to sincerely thank all of the people who are willing to share their views with their fellow citizens. Just holding up a sign has never been enough to enact change. You have to be willing to generate support for your ideas and explain them as many times as it takes. You have to rally the majority to your side. That stuff is boring and far less satisfying than wielding a colorful sign and screaming into traffic with some friends.

At least, that's my hope. If our country actually reacts to the whims of tiny, yet vocal and scary minorities, then we're really not much of a democracy. I was struck on Thursday by the fearfulness I saw in the board of supervisors. You could sense their relief when they realized no one was there to yell at them. But, there were few there in the hall with us that day, to hear the various reasons and statistics that were presented in favor of health care reform. At Boxer's book signing, many people complained about feeling ignored by the Senator. One woman told me despairingly about how she was frustrated by being unable to meet the Senator, face to face, to tell her how she felt. When I pointed out that I bought a book, only so Barnes and Noble would let me in to meet her in the store, she seemed offended by the suggestion. Shoot, I'd buy Ann Coulter's book just for the sheer joy of telling her what a destructive bitch I think she is. Then I'd relish shredding it page by page. You can't be choosy about these opportunities if you truly want to be heard.

That's why I keep going to these things. I try to keep abreast of all the facts and "facts" that might come up at these things, but that is a very tall order. At this particular event, I met a man who volunteered at the Ted Talks, but still worried that the country was screwed. He was worried that the government was being too intrusive and controlling with health care reform... but was basically comfortable with the notion that we could hold people with no charges and torture them for years. One guy just kept calling me stupid, and a very chivalrous teenage boy tried to rescue me. Another man was really intent on discussing evolution and "the myth of peak oil". He wrote some resources on the back of my sign for my education, and it will be interesting to see if we can continue the conversation.

But I have to confess, my favorite moment from yesterday, was when I waited at a crosswalk with a man who had plenty of tea bags dangling off a cowboy hat. We commented together on how comparatively few people were willing to come out and try to make themselves heard on a hot Saturday afternoon in the baking sun. And he hung some teabags on my Woodstock. And for just a few hours yesterday, it was kind of nice to be among people who while not exactly like-minded, were at least likable.