Personal Safety Nets

"What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful" - Mother Teresa -- You'd think she knew of Personal Safety Nets!

In the Seattle area, where I live, ballots for our fall elections have dropped into mail boxes. Here's a suggestion for how to be a more informed, connected voter: invite people you know to gather for a "ballot party". Ask that they bring ballots, ideas, information, questions, opinions, and good civic manners. There can be a potluck dinner or what have you, but not any or much alcohol. If there are many who come -- and people with differing ideas, along with first-time-voters, are definitely welcome -- divide into groups of a dozen or so, with an identified "moderator." Too many in a room cuts into the chance for everyone to be heard. The moderator's job is to keep the group on task, going down the ballot, item by item, no one trying to change anyone else's view, but sharing respectfully. There is no goal of reaching consensus. When all ballot issues have been discussed, thank everyone and post those ballots.