How should I respond to FPF?
2023-09-22
Dear friend,
Happy Friday! What's up for you this weekend?
I'll be back soon with Part 2 on Vermont's prisons, following the intro, Inside Vermont’s prison for women.
In the meantime, here's something that made me go "hmmmm."
Please delete if you read these for news/legislative content. Today's issue is simply a commentary on the quality of our civic conversations.
***
I've been asked a lot what the toxicity in politics is like from the inside. Being an optimist, I often think about the civil, respectful conversations I've had talking on the porch with voters.
The older voter who accused me of supporting "contract killing" because I voted "Yes" for women's reproductive rights? Even he smiled and shook my hand after I heard him out and described my position.
Email, on the other hand -- what is it about typing words on a screen that unleashes someone's inner name-caller? (See Am I “lonely”?)
And then, today, there's Front Porch Forum (FPF). FPF is the invaluable, Vermont-based social networking tool. It's a for-profit that feels like a social service. FPF often fills me with warm fuzzies when someone's dog is found, or you strike gold with that $75 Les Paul when a neighbor cleans their garage.
But it's not all warm fuzzies. I like a little spice in life, and every time I open FPF, I look forward to those times there's something toxic inside for me, the Dread Pirate, I mean, State Representative Roberts.
As background to this story, Laurel Copeland posted on FPF that she and I are organizing a Halifax Democratic Town Meeting meeting this Sunday, Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. at the Halifax Community Hall.
In response, a resident posted the following:
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
I laugh because it's somehow considered dangerous that I have questions about Biden's cognitive decline? I think we all ought to.
And what's wrong with appreciating that Trump managed to not get the U.S. in any new wars? (The only President since Carter with that record.)
I cry because -- the idea of a packed room for a local political event? I wish.
I laugh because I sometimes am barely able to get in a word edgewise in a Selectboard meeting with only 6 people in the room. (And in fairness, sometimes they can barely get in edgewise with me.)
But the idea that I could singlehandedly quash a mutiny of Democrats excited for a different candidate with my sheer presence in the room is... flattering, I guess?
The Dread Pirate Roberts from "The Princess Bride"
But this person so doesn't get me.
To the voters who voted me in last November by a 1,203 to 658 margin (See We won!) -- I have some news to break to you.
I've been trying to replace myself from the moment I was elected.
Here's a quote about leadership I read a long time ago:
"Great leaders create more leaders, not followers. Great leaders have vision, share vision, and inspire others to create their own.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Having had the privilege of being an elected leader on the Selectboard and then in the Vermont House, it's part of my job and my duty as a citizen to make leadership as accessible as possible. I actively encourage anyone who wants to run for any local, state, or federal office to do so. I'm often recruiting for vacancies like the auditor position in Halifax, and encouraging people who like service to put themselves forward.
If I run next year and someone wants to run against me, I not only welcome it -- I've offered to mentor anyone considering it. (See A challenge and an offer.)
But what this is really about is Democrats in Halifax having their legal opportunity to organize as a committee and have a voice.
I'm proud to live in a state that allows me to be a lifelong registered independent voter and win the Democratic nomination, as I did in last August's primary.
That, in turn, gave me the gas to serve in the House as an "unapologetic Independent" (the horrors!) for our district and fully support our House Democratic caucus in passing life-saving healthcare bills like this one.
And that's exactly the kind of group the Halifax Democratic Committee, and, I'm sure every town Democratic Committee will be. We are welcoming of every voice and encouraging of service.
If that's the kind of group you want to be a part of -- come out this Sunday the 24th, 3 p.m. at the Halifax Community Hall.
And by the way -- I assume the Republican committees are great, too.
***
Anyway, that's what I wanted to say to this person on FPF, but maybe I'm overreacting. What would you say?
I can't respond to every post on FPF, but I was motivated to write back to this one.
Maybe it's the same in every generation, but it seems especially hard today to convince people to get involved. And from what a lot of Vermonters tell me, their lack of interest is closely connected to the toxicity problem.
Recruiting someone to serve as Auditor was hard. We had to twist some skeleton arms to fill the Cemetery Commission. And not only do we need audited books and operating cemeteries, but we also need to get individuals involved in service in any way. It worked for me this way and it works for a lot of people -- you get an interest in service by serving, and then some of those people go on to run for Selectboard, School Board, and State Rep.
Public servants in every single position in Vermont are told we have to put up with toxic crap. Every now and then I like to pause and call it out.
Social media is full of people badmouthing the potluck instead of bringing a dish. And while I will fight for your right to badmouth the Democratic potluck, I will also tell you that you're driving down participation in our democracy.
If you believe in democracy, as I do, let's fight back together!
***
What have you been up to? Email back with a photo! (Or text 802-275-2881.)
I'm starting to paddle -- the Legislature goes back in session January 3, 2024.
Exploring Lake Raponda on Sunday