Living in Wisconsin, I've gotten accustomed to having easy access to Senator Feingold at least once each year. He made a pledge in his first campaign to have a Listening Session in every county in the state each year. It's not always easy to go, as the sessions are often held on weekdays during business hours. But I always find a way to go, and I often go to sessions in other nearby counties. I don't always speak at the sessions, but it's so interesting to me to hear what's on the mind of my neighbors. Usually there's a mix of topics, with a few that are ever-present, like health care, Veteran's affairs, No Child Left Behind, abortion, and Iraq and Afghanistan. Generally, there's a mix of people, supporters, opponents, and people on a mission to deliver a message about their specific concern. But it's always been civil, and I leave with a good feeling about the state of our democracy. Until yesterday.
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