But That Happened in a Dream, and Dreams Don’t Count

I changed the layout again. I think this is the one that is going to stick. I'm also going to try and update more frequently (the goal being once a week) while my zizster is in Egypt.

So my first week of work. It was interesting....I think later I will write a little something something about health care reform as that was the majority of the calls/letters/faxes that I fielded today had to do with that issue and misconceptions around that. (And I'll probably write some more stuff about my ongoing saga to get an apartment).

I feel so strange to be there. The other interns have worked on a bunch of campaigns including Hilary's bid for presidency (oops!). And everyone else in the office is like something out of the west wing full of a seemingly endless supply of witty comebacks and super serious about their jobs. Now, don't get me wrong, I take it seriously but....I have about 2 or 3 good comebacks every two weeks (i'm being generous) so I just feel like most of the time, I'm just smiling and nodding. After work today, I was walking to meet my dad and I was passing the Capitol building- which just to demonstrate how informed about our political system i am, i thought was the White House until two summers ago- and I passed these random European tourists (I would say French but they seemed too friendly for that). I was trying to squeeze through this like barricade thing so I didn't have to walk around and basically ran into one of them. And then he was like "hey!" and I was like "hello" and we had a really random conversation. And I kept on my way and I thought of what a strange person I am (the interaction was A LOT odder in person) to be doing what I am. I feel like I am too big for my body.

On Thursday, this woman called in to complain about Health Care Reform and refused to leave her name or to let me get a single word in edgewise. I only mention it because she read what must have been a poem of some kind. I could definitely tell that she was reading something and she kept repeating the refrain "the people of this nation are standing on their rooftops, they will not stand for this rookie." When I hung up at first I laughed. a lot. But then I realized that I really respect all of these crazy, über conservative constituents that call and complain. I even respect the conservatives who are not crazy but are actually well-informed and proactive in letting their voices be heard. It's so easy for people on either side to just chalk up differences in policies or positions as demonstrative of moral and/or intellectual shortcomings. I think everyone wants good and affordable health care in the United States but as the debate that has arisen from these attempts at reform have shown achieving this goal means different things to different people. I think this is the case for almost any issue. For example, two people could oppose abortions and for one person that could mean working to overturn Roe v. Wade and for another that could mean working to increase the resources available to unwed mothers. Both could theoretically eliminate abortion. The main difference is in symbolic value. One thing that has surprised me is the degree to which people develop their political ideas from a wide range of symbols that they gather from the media. A lot of folks will write in or call and specifically refer to something they read in the NY Times or saw on Fox News (oh Fox News...). I feel like this is where the real power to shape political decisions comes from. By symbols, I mean these media outlets are were people fuse political actions with their emotional connection to their country. For example, for a lot of people making health care available to more people means making the country more socialist or more European and thus a serious threat to their personal identity. But I digress..... basically I think that it is great that their are so many different opinions out there and I hope that we as a nation can continue to move towards seeing such differences as an asset rather than the product of morally or intellectually inferior citizens.

These are not well-formed thoughts but it is past my bedtime.


“You had no idea that the world is a dirty place,” said Lituma. “Where have you been all your life, Tomasito?”