After the rough weather, discouragement about health care reform, government in general and budget shortfalls, I find myself feeling hopeful.  It’s a good time for hope.  Last week I helped host Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Shultz at an event for GWEN (Get Women Elected Now).  She is smart, funny, down to earth and a breath of fresh air.  Lowell Feld put up several video clips on his blog, which you might enjoy.  I especially recommend the crayon story, which is the third clip. http://www.bluevirginia.us/2010/03/debbie-wasserman-schultz-health-care.html The congresswoman is a reminder that there are good, young leaders moving up in our Congress.  And some of them are women.

Then on Saturday, I attended one of the first Coffee Party parties in Shirlington.http://CoffeePartyUSA.com The Coffee Party was started by a young woman, Annabel Park, who was frustrated at the Tea Party movement and the lack of civil discourse in our public debates.  It turns out she’s not the only one and the Coffee Party is taking off.  About 50 people showed up at Busboys and Poets, until there was no room to sit.  There were a few activists and folks like me, but mostly it was a diverse group of people who simply believe government should work for people and that we need to be civil when we talk about how it should do that.  The preamble to the Constitution was read.  There was lots of discussion and an effort to put what we believe onto a few short slogans for signs.  I’m not sure where it will lead, but it was truly hopeful to see so people not only sincerely concerned about their democracy, but feeling there was a way they could help.

Here I’ll give a short rant about the press and democracy and Fox News.  Fox News especially seems to be increasingly willing to lie or bend the truth to advance an agenda that, to me, seems to be about anything but making our democracy stronger. I watched with dismay as it become increasingly popular.  It’s been heartening to watch Rachel Maddow call them on their work lately.  It was good to read Howell Raines in the Sunday Post on “Fox News: unfair, unbalanced, unchecked.”  I hope this is all a sign that there finally will be some significant pushback to Fox News and similar reporting that pretends to be unbiased and honest, but is misleading those who watch and listen.  Democracy depends on an informed, educated electorate.  

Closer to home, it looks like the Virginia budget cuts for K-12 will not be quite as bad as feared.  And my colleagues on the County Board are raising taxes in part to cover the increase in school population for Arlington.  While it looks like our per pupil cost will be back to about 2006 levels when we finish up our school budget in April, I think we will be able to maintain the quality we’ve all come to expect in our schools.

Closer yet to home, spring brings some family birthdays, including Owen who just turned 3.  It’s hard to stay discouraged when one has beautiful and thriving grandchildren.  And the first crocus has appeared by my front door.

I hope my readers also feel the change in the air and wish you all a good Saint Patrick’s Day.   Libby