Finding Hope in Vegas

A number of bloggers have been posting about YearlyKos, including many who were there, and even some who were not. I wrote on Friday evening about some of the science discussions, but didn't really get into my impressions of the political atmosphere. This shouldn't surprise any of my old readers--I typically avoid the subject like the plague. Something about this weekend changed that, whether it was being encouraged by speakers such as Howard Dean or Harry "Give 'em Hell" Reid, or just encountering hundreds of intelligent individuals willing to discuss politics AND think for themselves.

Since I've never really discussed my views on my blog, outside of scowling at any official who stands in the way of the scientific process, I'll start with a little background. I was raised in a house full of loyal Democrats who discussed current events at the dinner table every night. Those dinners are some of my most valuable memories--the worst was when I got in trouble and had to eat in my room. They taught me to listen carefully to the views of others, to come to my own conclusions, and to be prepared to defend them with sensible logic.

Later, when I moved out, I started drifting away from the political discussions and became more of a philosophic hermit. (I kept listening, though.) Some years ago, I realized that I was having trouble fitting within party lines. While I was deeply concerned about the state of the environment and the advancement of science, I found that I didn't always agree with the Democrats. In fact, not many of them seemed to even want to talk about science. (Thank goodness this is changing.) So, I began to search for my own political stand.

I listened to neighbors, friends, and even the godawful TV. I read books, by authors such as Robert Heinlein, Dominique de Villepin, and Ayn Rand. (My husband scowls when I mention the latter.) I listened to both my logic and my emotions (which are hard to neglect as a parent.) In the end, I found that I had strong libertarian leanings. That is, I believe in the personal freedom of every individual to do as they wish, as long as they don't infringe on someone else's freedom.

I also believe that if we cannot provide health care and education for everyone in our country, we will diminish the freedom of our country as a whole. If our country is overrun by plagues and Walmarts, rather than gardens and technology centers, we've asked for it by neglecting health and education. I tend to cringe when I hear other libertarians say "screw public education" or "who needs a universal health care plan?" To me, it is as if they assume other people want to be uneducated and disease ridden. No one wants that.

Still, finding someone in politics who seemed willing to even listen to anything other than the standard line seemed near impossible. I was so disenchanted during the last election that I ended up voting for the lead singer of the Dead Kennedys. (Ok, so, a little part of me will always be a rebellious punk kid... that hair dye sinks deep.) I kept thinking of their song "Anarchy For Sale" in which Jello shouts "SHEEP UNITE!" (I sort of prefer the term "lemmings" myself.) Yes, I threw my vote away. (I won't do it again.) Of course, change was on the winds... it just took awhile.

That's where I stood as I arrived at YearlyKos. I was concerned about the Bush administration's attack on personal freedom, and the overall neglect of our country for science--whether through education, health care, or dealing with climate change. At the same time, I was afraid we might see more politicians from the left side who were unwilling to make a firm stand and even less willing to discuss science and technology.

Thankfully, it didn't turn out that way. The people at the convention were bright and independent--if there were sheep or lemmings around, they were in hiding. This rang true for bloggers, lurkers, and even politicians. Some of the candidates I met were listening in a way I'd never seen. Sometimes, their surprise at our unconventional approach was amusing.

For instance, we were at a small dinner with a local (Colorado) congressional candidate. (I'm not going to mention names.) He'd already discovered that renting a giant Hummer wasn't getting a pleasant reaction, when his assistant began giving us the standard speech. "Now, who in here has 10 friends?" he asked.

Dead silence.

There were 15 or so of us in the room, and not a one of us raised our hand. The candidate and his entourage were taken aback. They did realize, eventually, that we, as bloggers, have more readers than friends and changed their approach altogether. (I believe all of us probably had at least 10 friends, we just weren't going to solicit them for campaign funds.)

The biggest feeling I caught this weekend was this: The game is changing. Those who run for office in upcoming elections may find an increasing number of voters who expect to communicate directly with a candidate via the web. They'll find themselves being forced to think, by real people, asking real questions, with real concerns about the world they live in. Some already are. Politicians are starting blogs and answering comments. Perhaps someday they all will.

In a day and age where we are busier than ever, trying to make the best use of our talents and technologies, we don't have as much time for the same rhetorical crap as we used to. Is it too much to dream of a healthy, well-educated society, in which individuals remain independent, yet united through complex adapting networks, like the internet and the blogosphere? That's my idea of the perfect chaotic utopia.