[Dialogue] "One never know, do one?"

[David & Lin Zahrt]

Bill,

I appreciate your contribution. I'm inviting everyone in our precinct 
to an Evening Dessert (Democrat Dessert!).

I'm working on an icebreaker. People either don't think of themselves 
as a part of a precinct. They seem to fear vocalizing their 
ambivalence toward, serious questions about, or objections to the 
current national policy.

I want to hand out something on paper that would be an icebreaker--an 
individual exercise about which we could begin some dialogue.

At the moment I thought of a series of slogan/bumper stickers e.g.
SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT--PLANT A BUSH BACK IN TEXAS
NO TREES LEFT BEHIND
GOD BLESS AMERICA--IT SURELY NEEDS IT (or it needs all the blessing it can get)
ALLAH BLESS AMERICA--IT SURELY NEEDS IT
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS--GET THEM HOME IMMEDIATELY etc.
that I would ask people to rate--good/so-so/bad
	(If you have some more please let me know)

Then have some open ended sentences about
the use of military intervention
the alternative outcomes of Social Security as is and privatized
tax cuts for the rich and dissolution of social and educational services
mortgaging the future leaving our children and grandchildren with an 
enormous debt.
etc.
	(If you have some more please let me know)

Brainstorm of the number of topics about which we could write editorials i.e.
projection of return of Social Security for person 40 years old with 
x amount of income comparing the conventional return and the 
privatized return
etc.
	(If you have some more please let me know)

ending with an openness--i.e. What do you think? Which outcome would 
you prefer?

>Jim said, "Nevertheless, Bush is over extended.  Public opinion is shifting
>against him some.  But the faithful are still cheering him on.  What we need
>is to find equally skillful ways to counteract his demagoguery and encourage
>thougtful dissent."
>
>FWIW those who would counteract the current focus on individualism,
>self-protection and 'traditional social values' have no consistent image
>pulling them together beyond opposition.  There are those who focus on the
>social compact of mutual responsibility, those who focus on their personal
>reluctance to be part of the military and security costs, and those who want
>more individual freedom in social choices than they see in the
>administration.  Those are the primary focus groups I see.  Their own
>internal opposition becomes clear when Jim Wallis is followed by the NOW
>folk who argue against his vision as well as the conservative evangelicals.
>
>This dis-array of alternative consensus models leaves the still-cohesive
>stream supporting the administration with its strength intact.  There may be
>some internal frictions (specifically around Gonzales and immigration), but
>those are relatively minor in the face of the lack of an alternative
>consensus.
>
>We need to rebuild common images -- and that's even hard on this listserve.
>
>Bill Schlesinger
>Project Vida
>3607 Rivera Ave
>El Paso, TX 79905
>(915) 533-7057 x 207
>(915) 490-6148 mobile
>(915) 533-7158 fax
>pvida at sbcglobal.net
>


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| David and Lin Zahrt  
| Country Homestead Bed and Breakfast 
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| Turin, IA 51040     <mailto:zahrt at country-homestead.com>
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