It was the usual cast of characters: child care providers who want to organize, advocates for and clients of social services, activists for healthcare and other civil rights, senior citizens, and the occasional quasi-libertarian crank and vitriolioc public access show host.  All braved the “sudden” spring snow storm (one we'd expected that seemed to be vaporware until just before the event) to participate in a town meeting on the economy with Senator Bernie Sanders.

Ericka and Sam were there to show support for the Healthcare is a Human RIght campaign.  I was there for the free dinner.  Ironically, I didn't get any dinner because I was too busy working the crowd with my friend KC, asking folks to participate in the our photo petition.

I don't have anything to share about the post-dinner town meeting part because of probably the most important detail from my POV: the turnout was way heavier than expected to the point that the fire marshal required a significant number of folks to leave.  We volunteered to go because the large, noisy crowd was starting to wear on Sam–he's always extremely well-behaved and has been to myriad campaign events, but never quite like this.

It's okay that we couldn't stay because you already pretty much know the script anyway.  That's not to dismiss the value of such interactions, just that after you attend a few of these things it gets a bit predictable.  We go to show solidarity, do a little work and try to get other people engaged.

My only disappointment was that we couldn't see any fireworks from some segments of the crowd I knew were there to harangue our dangerous socialist senator.  You know who I'm talking about, in general if not the particular: the type who accosts, say…a nice write-in candidate for high baliff at the polls on election day, the type who thinks they deserve what they get and everything else is theft, the type who makes a show of carrying around a copy of the Constitution but is taken aback when you quote a clause that's contrary to their cries of unconstitutionality.

Anyway, Bernie's staff was mortified that the venue they chose–the St Albans Historical Museum–was not adequate for the crowd.  To me, though, that was the biggest takeaway from the event.  So many people, mostly from St A and Georgia judging from our petitioners, were willing to come out in dreadful weather because they're concerned about the state of our economy and to interact with their elected employee.

It was a little disappointing to see so few of our local pols there.  Senator Sara Kittell was moving about–she always makes an effort to get out and talk to people.  I also saw former Rep Jeff Young but didn't get a chance to chat with him, and we sat with one of Sam's favorite candidates, Progressive-Democrat Cindy Weed from Enosburg.  Dick Howrigan gets a pass because I've been talking to him regularly on the phone and he's a bit under the weather.  

No Dickinson or Brock?  Well, of course not.  They would have to talk to people who actually want to preserve the safety net and even raise taxes on their base!  The horror.

As I said, there were a few people I knew aren't on board with any progressive agenda, which is great.  I think these sorts of gatherings tend to be self-selecting–we only had one Republican participate in a candidate forum on healthcare and other issues last fall, for example–so I applaud the folks who come out when they know they'll be in the minority.  Would that more voters engage in between elections.

Most of the people we talked to were eager not only to get more info about H.202, but also to have their photos taken for the petition and learn how else they might be able to help move the bill along–even with details still to be hammered out, they were very supportive of universal healthcare and want to be part of the process.  A few were not sure about things and just asked for literature.  We've been doing a lot of outreach, of course, and providing people with raw data, analysis, etc, but if you aren't following this closely and see mostly GOP claims about “unknowns” and “socialism” and little about the benefits to you and your community, then it's not surprising if you're a little leery of reform.

And that's pretty much it for me.  I'm sure other people will write up stuff about the town meeting portion. And I hope everybody drove safely afterward–we saw two accidents between St A and Fairfax on our way home.

ntodd