Every year, Senator Russ Feingold holds listening sessions in each of Wisconsin's counties. This is the real thing. If you get a chance to see Russ, do it! Here's an account of my experience.
Star Prairie is typical of communities in Northwestern Wisconsin. The population is around 3000. There are a few small businesses in the village, such as the Antique Shop/Café/Cofeeshop kitty corner from the Community Center. The village is ringed by farms. Most people are of Scandinavian or Germanic heritage. The prevailing attitude is stoicism. Complaining is not encouraged, and innovation is not the order of the day. Other than the availability of trendy consumer goods, and an increase in population, not much has changed in this area since I was growing up in nearby Hudson.
I was in Star Prairie to attend Senator Russ Feingold's 2005 St Croix County Listening session. I arrived early, unsure what to expect in terms of turnout. The meeting was scheduled to start at noon, and by 11:45 there was quite a crowd. The only cars that I saw with Feingold stickers, or any political stickers, belonged to me and my husband. Like most gatherings around here, the seats filled from the back, so we had no problem snagging a spot in the front row. At 46, we were well below the average age in the room, by a good twenty years. Looking around the room, I expected that the Senator, often characterized in the media as a maverick and raving leftist, would be facing a lot of tough questions and challenges to some of his more progressive positions. There were many VFW and American Legion hats. These looked like the people who, when I was growing up, were the main reason that I felt I needed to leave the area at the first available opportunity. Not that they were bad people, but they seemed to be too content, too willing to buy into the prevailing opinions, rather than to open their minds and see possibilities in new ideas. I had two brothers who returned from Viet Nam when I was in grade school. I became interested in politics then, as an opponent of the war. This was not a popular opinion then, and opposition to the Iraq war is not a popular view in the township where I live now.
I have heard a lot of speculation that these listening sessions, which Senator Feingold has held in each of the state's counties every year since he was elected, are a gimmick or a publicity stunt. I doubt that many people who have attended these sessions would agree. When the Senator and his three staffers arrived, one began handing out slips of paper to everyone. You were asked for your name and address, and provided with a space to describe the topic you wanted to speak on, or the question you wanted to ask. As this was going on, Senator Feingold made some very brief remarks, then started the "Listening" part of the session. The slips were handed to him, and he started at the top, calling out the name of the person and inviting them to speak.
As the session progressed, I was surprised by many of the comments and concerns. The most electrifying moment was when a pastor spoke of his opposition to the war in Iraq. He was quite eloquent, and clearly hit a nerve. What really resonated for me were his comments on his attitude toward the president. He said that he couldn't bear to look at his face or hear his voice on the TV or radio anymore. Many people assume this kind of attitude comes from an unreasoning, irrational hatred of George Bush. I think that for most of us, this is an attitude that developed over time, for eminently rational reasons. I feel so betrayed by this president, for the lies he used to get us into Iraq, for his unwillingness to admit any mistakes, for the crimes committed in our name in the illegal war he insisted on waging, and for the continuing arrogance he shows in not holding himself, or anyone in his administration, accountable for their actions. What was striking was the pastor's passion, his very real outrage, and this was echoed in the applause and comments from others. Several others also used their time to thank the Senator for his opposition to the war, and for his recent proposal to establish a timetable for withdrawing troops.
Many World War II and Viet Nam veterans were there to talk about the need to support benefits for veterans, especially medical. The nearest VA clinic is over 50 miles away. Some vets were concerned about what will be needed by soldiers returning from Iraq.
A woman involved with MADAM (Moms and Dads Against Meth) presented the senator with a t-shirt and literature about their efforts to gain control over the methamphetamine problem in the county. St Croix County is somewhat unique, in that it is both rural enough to contain a lot of territory that is difficult to patrol, and also has easy access to the Minneapolis/St Paul Metro area via Interstate 94. A few other speakers were also there to raise concerns about meth as both a law enforcement and public health issue.
A man who had suffered a disabling injury described his four year ordeal trying to obtain disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Senator Feingold mentioned that his office had been looking into another related problem, and asked the speaker to expect a call from his staff so they could get details to help them decide on a course of action.
A mother with a disabled daughter spoke about the importance of the Medicare program, and asked for support in expanding rather than cutting the program. She mentioned the lack of care available for the adult disabled.
It took over half an hour for the topic of high gas prices to be raised, but it was clear that most everyone agreed it was an important problem. It was suggested that the oil companies are exploiting the situation and making even larger profits than usual.
An elderly gentleman read a statement linking abortion and the war on Iraq. This gentlemen has been coming to Listening Sessions for twelve years, always to speak out against abortion. Senator Feingold is Pro-Choice. He admitted he didn't quite get the linkage between the war and abortion, and that while he couldn't agree with the gentleman, he certainly admired his persistence and thanked him for coming.
I have to admit, while this man was speaking, I started to fidget, sigh, and roll my eyes. My 19 year old daughter was sitting next to me, and she reprimanded me, reminding me that he had a right to his opinion, and to express it, which I of course agree with. (She also pointed out that I should listen respectfully, proving that it is possible to raise children who are morally superior to oneself.)
Other topics raised included the irresponsibility of the media in providing cover for the administration's lies and distortions, depleted uranium, the disastrous Farm Bill, the loss of manufacturing jobs due to trade agreements, the recently passed Energy Bill (which did nothing to address the most important energy issues of the day), Social Security privatization, (still a bad idea), electronic voting and the need for an audit trail, the environment; the wall the Israelis are building between Israel and Palestine, taxation, OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion), excessive money in lobbying, McCain-Feingold campaign reform, road building in National Forests, opposition to the Patriot Act, and use of Homeland Security funds. The Senator listened carefully to each speaker, stated his position on the topic clearly and concisely, described what efforts he was involved in related to the topic, and thanked them for their contribution. In some cases, he requested more information on the speaker's views, or promised to look into a situation and get back to the individual. He didn't always agree with the speaker's position, but was unfailingly respectful and clear about his own position. It was refreshing and impressive to hear a politician speak plainly, knowledgably and unapologetically about such a wide variety of topics.
As I left the meeting, I was thinking how mistaken I had been about the crowd. The sense I was walking out with was that these people were not buying into the lies and distortions spread through outlets like Fox News. They may have a preference for the status quo, and for not rocking the boat. But their patience and tolerance are not endless, and they really resent being lied to and told that what they can clearly see for themselves, is not true. They have never had a problem facing reality, or with making difficult choices. When things go wrong, you find a way to fix them, and get on with it. Common sense is actually common here, and doesn't match up well with the actions they see our government taking.
Senator Feingold mentioned in closing that the turnout was impressive, and that he had rarely heard such a wide variety of concerns. As people were leaving, there were lots of comments about how great it was that there was no screening, for admittance or for what people had to say, and also how much they appreciated the chance to have a conversation with a politician without having to pay for it. There was a satisfied feeling in the air. We were glad to have been heard, and to have had a direct response from our elected representative.
Russ in 08