Food for Thought Forum with Howard Dean 11/5/2019

Announcement on FPF by Barbara Thomke - 
Summary of the Event by Bernie Paquette
Former Governor Howard Dean on the 2020 Presidential Election Tuesday, November 5th, former Governor Howard Dean will [did] share his thoughts on the 2020 Presidential Election, and what priorities and challenges both the Democratic Party and the nation will need to address. His will be the third in a three-part series that also included Lisa Holmes, professor of Political science at the University of Vermont, and former Governor Jim Douglas. Food for Thought is co-sponsored by Mount Mansfield Union High School and the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, both in Jericho, Vermont, and held at the library of Mount Mansfield Union High School, 211 Browns Trace Road. The forum will begin at 6:30 pm with a pot-luck.


Here is my report from rough notes upon attending the talk and discussion.

First, I must give recognition to the MMU school administration, and the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church / Rev. Dr. Arnold Thomas for hosting the event. The attendance by Jericho and surrounding community members and many MMU students nearly filled the MMU library to capacity. The potluck gave testimony that folks came prepared for not only the  "Lets Talk" session but also ensured all were able to do so on a well-fed stomach. The food was bountiful and delicious - mostly home-cooked with a good diverse mix of main course and desserts.    

Dr. and former VT Governor Howard Dean sat down at the table I was at along with others and traded bits of family - spouses, children, grandchildren highlights, as we all enjoyed our meals.

Then Dean spoke for a few minutes followed by a question and answer session lasting till about 9pm.

Here are a few highlights of notes that I captured from the "Let's Talk"  session.
DISCLAIMER
These are my interpretations and understandings of what I heard, not direct quotes.  My apologies in advance if I misconstrued or misrepresented Dean's discourse or comments or thoughts expressed by him or the audience. 

To the youth in the audience, Dean offered that he expected many might be impatient even angry about some of the directions the country is set upon, but if they put in the time, kept working at it, they could influence policies and directions.

Youth are infiltrating the political structure. The average age in Congress has dropped perhaps 10 years in recent elections.

The Democratic party is moving to the center - 35 to 40 of the newest members of congress are centrist.  Amongst voters, there is large support for Medicare for all if private insurance is kept in the optional mix. Youth in particular are interested in civility, human rights, and climate change.

Politics is a substitute for war; resource allocation and succession.

The overall trajectory more than the daily sensationalism news is the barometer to keep an eye on. Major power shifts happening. Look back just twenty years ago, what could not be openly discussed is now mainstreamed - think civil unions and other changes.

Note similarities in Europe Brexit vote (compared to U.S.) - people afraid of being left behind. Brexit targeted Poles (immigrants) who helped the economy but were seen as displacing some older established residents. Trump likewise brought in the disenfranchised that even the democrats had forgotten to some degree. Some people are afraid of change.

MMU students asked questions like, "How do we keep working at it?" Answer: Work in campaigns, and in organized collective actions. Stand by your principles. Some things do not offer themselves up for compromise. (Human rights, civility....)

We need institutions and norms - expectations of equal justice under the law. Racism is unacceptable.  

Party Data collection: Republicans work from top-down. Large money apparatus in a few hands driving down the political machine. Democrats work from bottom-up; messy, less funds, lacking in single-source data collection. Answer: Working to create an exchange of data over many large groups and getting them to talk to each other to form data exchange for political campaign data collection.

Appreciate Vermont - visit any other state for about three weeks, then come back to Vermont and realize how much we have going for us here. 

Press and news play an important role, however unedited for truth and facts social media platform is of concern. Yet this must be 'edited' to reduce falsehoods by the commercial sector, not the government. Think FB, Google.... 

Democratic candidate: Radical changes or moderate? People tend to vote not so much based on policy as for "which candidate cares for a person like me?" Core values / emotions vs policy.  Who will best appeal to people emotionally? That is the best candidate.

The Supreme court has lost its legitimacy or so maybe the belief of many people particularly those under the age of 35. Perhaps a rotation somehow managed outside of the partisan realm might be developed.

Electoral college - no longer serving a useful purpose. Needs to be progress made towards the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, whereby states would agree to award all their electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the overall popular vote. 

What is one of the core values that all or at least most of Americans share? Most Americans will help each other when in need. 

Corrections or additional comments by attendees are welcome.

Jericho Vermont

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