[Summit] Politics on the list

[Bob Trudeau]

Hi all:
Here's a message in FAVOR of politics on the list, which is what we  
do on this list anyhow.

Aristotle is often cited as noting that what makes us human is the  
ability to form groups to improve our society, to pursue the common  
good in more modern parlance.  I see this list doing exactly that in  
most of its messages: some people want to improve the community by  
allowing all night parking, some want to improve it by banning same.   
Both are being political in the broad sense of the word.  And that's  
exactly what we should do, as long as it's civil.  Some want to  
prevent this or that, I want to somehow get people to not block their  
sidewalks with snow, thick hedges, piles of dirt, etc.  All of these  
sentiments presume that at some point a community is going to make a  
decision that will bind on all of us -- that's politics, and that's  
what we're doing, in the best sense of the word.

Many folks unfortunately equate "politics" not with what I've noted  
above but with partisanship and political parties.  I'm arguing for a  
broader definition above, and I'm arguing that we should welcome this  
opportunity to use the list to improve the community.  But even if  
it's partisan politics.  So what?  That's part of improving  
communities, even when we disagree about parties and candidates.    
It's often been said that our modern society isolates us -- remember  
Pursuit of Loneliness? -- and when that happens we have too few  
opportunities to communicate about things that matter.  Candidates  
and elections matter, and we're often, unless you try very hard, the  
prisoner of a few media outlets and slick consultants when it comes  
to learning about issues and candidates.  Iowa's caucuses are  
interesting because people actually meet and talk with each other.  
Neat.  So if this list can help us exchange views on candidates and  
issues, I'm all for it, even if we cross over a line into (gasp)  
partisanship.

Gather ye signatures while ye may!  Let the list flourish!

Bob Trudeau