As most readers probably know, in November in the United States there will be important elections around the country. Will the Republicans, led by Trump, hold the House and Senate, or will the Democrats take control? (Because the United States has a two-party system, it always comes down to one party or the other in control, even though there is a sprinkling of independent candidates in Congress.)
I come from a long line of working-class Democrats and registered as a Democrat as soon as I could vote. Do I get disgusted with the party, especially on the national level? You bet. But here I am. With the Republicans, stretching from Regan and leading to Trump, there hasn’t been much of a choice in my voting life. At least as I see it. I guess the best way to describe me is that I am an old-fashioned FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) Democrat who believes that government can and should be a force of good to help people lead decent lives.
In preparation for the upcoming election, on a hot, humid Saturday, Dee, Clif, and I went to a meet and greet for two Democratic candidates.
We met Tavis Hasenfus, candidate for Maine State Representative,
and Matt Dunlap, candidate for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House.
The meet and greet was held in a beautiful old white farmhouse just down the road from us. By the house, there is a broad sweep of lawn leading to trees and then to the Upper Narrows Pond, which is big enough to be considered a lake. Truly, this spot is one of the loveliest places in town.
I’m always interested in learning what people read, and the first question I asked both candidates was “what are you reading?”
Matt replied, “The Great War in Modern Memory by Paul Fussell, The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett, and Stolen Pride by Arli Hoschschild.
From Tavis: The Federalist Papers and Invisible Rivals: How We Evolved to Compete in a Cooperative World by Jonathan R. Goodman. Then, somewhat puckishly, he added that Go, Dog. Go! by P. D. Eastman was his favorite children’s book.
Go, Dog. Go!? That was a favorite of our youngest daughter, Shannon. After all, who could forget these punchy lines between two dogs, one with a hat and one without?
“Do you like my hat?”
“I do not .”
“Good-by!”
“Good-by!”
But I digress. Outside on the patio, everyone chatted casually for a while, and Tavis told us that if he won, this was going to be his last term as a state representative, and he was thinking of running for state senator. Then we went inside for a more organized Q&A. Unfortunately, Tavis had to leave early, and Matt Dunlap had the floor to himself.
Dunlap noted that these are uncertain times, and we can do better than we are doing now. Repeatedly, he spoke of the notion that government should help people, with services such as health care and childcare. Music to my ears, of course. When I asked him if he would be in favor of a public option for childcare, he said he would.
Good. What a huge benefit this would be to single mothers and to families on a tight budget. Somehow, most of the industrialized world has managed to offer subsidized childcare to its citizens.
Dunlap went on to talk about open borders. He emphasized that without borders, there are no nations, but we need laws that make sense. Right now, ours are too complicated. And law enforcement needs to be held accountable. (No small thing, as recently in Maine, an agent murdered a twenty-five-year-old man, who turned out not to be the target of the investigation.)
Dunlap insisted that taking care of people should be our priority rather than worrying about labels such as socialist, communist, or radical. He praised young people for being more engaged than they ever have been. And he maintained that a lot of people are homeless because they simply can’t afford homes.
He spoke easily and well about many other issues and about his own career, but I think I have summed up the essence of his values. Of course, if Dunlap wins, he will be one of many in the House, and as a new representative, he will not be setting the agenda. However, it’s nice to know that Dunlap’s inclinations will at least be heading in the right direction, one that will benefit everyday people rather than those at the top, the way it is now.
And come November, I will without hesitation be casting my vote for both Tavis Hasenfus and Matt Dunlap.
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Listening
NPR Tiny Desk Concert: Shaboozey
To balance a rather heavy post, here is some music that will make you tap your feet. I love Shaboozey’s easy charm and rich voice. Lately, I have been listening to this Tiny Desk Concert as I begin my writing work. What a great way to start the day.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Thanks for sharing about your local candidates Meet & Greet! “What are you reading?” is such a great question. I may steal that, if I get the chance.
Thanks, Mary! Hope you get a chance to ask the question.
Nice that you got a chance to meet and greet and ask questions. Informed voting is so important…
Absolutely!
I love that you asked the candidates what they are reading! It’s fun to ask friends that question, as it leads to good conversation and perhaps better understanding. I read (yet another) article lately about the problems with AI in education and how high school students often do not read whole books anymore. Rather, books are read aloud to them in class. The author warned that while high schoolers have always been able to “cliff note write” an essay on a Melville book without really completely reading it, this is the first time in our history that they might not be able to read back that essay they just wrote with AI help!
All a long-winded way to wonder: would a young person running for office be able to answer about the books they are reading? I hope so. And I truly hope that more young people are engaged.
Go, Dog, Go was such a good start for kids learning to read! How to we continue that love of books in an age of twitter?
Here endeth my sermonette! ;- )
Darn good question and one I hadn’t thought of. Somehow, I just took it for granted that they would both be reading something interesting. And they were. Oh nerdy me!
We have a general election coming up this year….and we are all already bored with the posturing going on. It will end in another coalition, but which parties? That is the issue.
Different from how our government works (or doesn’t!). I am thinking your system is probably better.
We have an opportunity to turn deep red-meat Texas blue! There is so much corruption and dissatisfaction, and our Democratic Senate candidate, James Talarico (he was the one CBS wouldn’t let Stephen Colbert’s interview air so Colbert YouTubed it), is running against a creepy, corrupt, horrible state attorney general. My granddaughter, who missed the last election by turning 18 the dater *after,* is excited about voting this time. I do think Gen Z is going to change things. We can only hope (and VOTE)!
Fingers, toes, and everything else crossed for your state!
I’ve been following Talarico since I heard him on the Joe Rogan podcast, even before he announced his candidacy. I’m also one of the thousands who’ve been chipping in our $10 or $25 from time to time. It’s possible that some change can come, this time.
I sure hope so!
It is very good to be taking an active part in democracy at work and not just to be standing on the sidelines criticizing.
Yes, even if it’s in a small way.
As Barbara has already said, we’re also going to the polls so Im investing a lot of brain processing capacity into weighing it all up. I’m a flippy-floppy voter. Ill be watching you guys with…I was going to say interest but its more like hope.
We need all the hope we can get!
Hugely interesting to read your local comments from across the Pond. In Australia we naturally have compulsory voting with considerable fines if one misses out. Also, our basic two-party system has been largely influenced by Independents all along the line . . . at the moment our Liberal (Republican) Party has largely lost support and two other parties in addition to Labor (Democrat) are drawing the masses away to achieve more the kind of life they see promised. Two highly educated female Independents (originally Liberal/Republican) have even begun a totally new Party . . . it does give people more of a say and choice . . . we’ll see how we go . . .
Best of luck! Thanks for explaining how your elections work.
I do hope you get the results you need and deserve
We have local elections in November too: it is absolutely crucial to cast one’s vote!
It certainly is! And who wins makes a big difference.
“Taking care of people should be our priority.” Well said Matt Dunlap, you’d get my vote.
I couldn’t help being impressed that your candidates could name some books. I dealt with a few politicians during my working life, many of whom probably never picked up a single book in their adult lives (“You mean to say people read for the pleasure of reading? Are you sure mate? You do too, you say? Really? You should go and see a doctor before your condition gets any worse” 😂😂😂 )
“…promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty…”
I think it’s always good to meet candidates in person if you can..
Yes, indeed!
I too, agree that asking “What are you reading?” Is a great, possibly revealing question. I was not raised Democrat, but as a college sophomore in a social work program, I figured out which party was going to support my social work values. I started my social work career under the Reagan administration, working in a Family Planning Clinic (who did not provide abortions onsite). He cut the Family Planning budget ten percent to try to limit abortions. Instead he limited funds for birth control. My job was also cut ten percent. It was an uphill climb, for the rest of my social work career. I am often relieved I am not “in the trenches” anymore.
Thanks, Lorna. A very sobering story! Sad how we got to this point.
Yes. Heather Cox Richardson is brilliant about putting it all in context. When I read one of her pieces a few years ago, how Reaganomics is still impacting us, it helped me understand my social work career.
Meanwhile, back in the UK, a man who dresses like a dustbin ran an excellent campaign and secured over 9,000 votes in a by election called by a political chancer trying to avoid trouble over being given £5 million by a businessman who lives in Thailand, made his fortune through cryptocurrency and was once linked to the Conservative Party. This sounds unwholesome to me, but I’m just a voter so what do I know?
I love your question about the books candidates are reading. I will remember that one! Such a good way to discover what interests them and one they are unlikely to have rehearsed so probably you get a true answer.
Thanks so much! Yes, no rehearsal about that question.
I’m going to steal that question from you (“What are you reading?”). It’s great, and can tell you a lot about a candidate/person.
Steal away!
It’s awesome that you make such efforts to be an informed voter! And I love the question you ask. It’s a question I nearly always ask people I meet, but I never thought to ask a candidate. You must feel comfortable in public settings like that.
I was very comfortable. I knew many of the people who were there. A very casual event.
What a great question to ask the candidates! Hooray for the Sarah Orne Jewett fan- and many thanks for linking to my piece, that’s very kind of you!
I love that you asked them what they are reading! In my opinion that says a lot about a person, and if they aren’t reading at all…geeez that is not a person to be trusted.
Hmm. You put me into thinking if we ask the same question to Indian politicians, what would be the answer. Who know if they really read anything worth. Sigh!
Laurie, I’m so glad you could meet these candidates face-to-face. It makes such a difference. I love that you asked them what they were reading. That’s an insightful question. 76 days to go. I’m so ready.
It sounds like it was a great meet Laurie and we shall be rooting for Tavis and Matt at the elections 🍀🙏 Thank you so much for sharing the Shaboozey concert too, absolutely marvellous! 💛🎶 xxx