A little camaraderie, a lot of information

By C.T. BOWEN Editor of Editorials
Published October 19, 2007

Thirty-five people shared cake and coffee, but the meat and potatoes was about to come.

They sang the HaTikvah and The Star-Spangled Banner and recognized a few guests and associates.

Associate, it turned out, was a husband.

"I'm not an associate," whispered Fred Cohen. "I'm only here to hear what people have to say."

Ditto.

This was the monthly meeting of the Pasco chapter of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, at the Jewish Community Center in Port Richey. It resembled many a civic group in west Pasco. The membership was nearly all seniors. They sold raffle tickets for a door prize. They announced the birthdays for October and said hello to a new member.

"Did we give you a job yet?" asked the leader, Roberta Karp.

The newbie received a one-month reprieve, but then the duties will be assigned.

They battled microphone feedback. Much of the talk centered on fundraising. Lots of opportunities here.

But, no worries about traffic-calming devices, a neighbor's unkempt lawn, or fining people $1 for getting their name in the paper. The topic of the day was much meatier: Government. All levels, in fact.

Wednesday afternoon, the group culled together a county commissioner and aides to state and U.S. senators for a political forum. The group is proud to be ahead of the curve.

At a recently completed regional meeting, Hadassah chapters were encouraged to, in their words, engage influentials at home. Ours is already scheduled, one member said.

It is grass roots democracy. No scientific polling, direct-mail advertising or mass e-mailing. It is not even a representative focus group since so many of the participants hail from the same demographic and share the same political leanings. The audience included Democratic Party activists and members of the National Organization for Women.

It is a thoughtful, intimate town-hall-like session - no empty seats, no shouting and the pols had to pour their own coffee -that brings government to the people.

Greg Giordano, state Sen. Mike Fasano's longtime aide, led off and received an immediate reminder that he was indeed addressing a west Pasco audience.

"Would you speak up?" several people asked.

Before he finished, Giordano attempted to answer inquiries about property taxes, tax relief for seniors, homeowners insurance, illegal immigration and attempts in Florida to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

Pasco Commissioner Michael Cox compared governing at the county level with his tenure in Port Richey where he had served as council member and mayor.

"Everything in the county has three or six additional zeros behind it," Cox said.

In other words, similar issues but a bigger budget. I wonder if you add still more zeros if you're qualified to legislate on the federal level.

The Hadassah members were too polite to ask. They wanted information on recycling and spending on law enforcement.

A World War II veteran asked Shara Anderson, aide to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, if the senator favored bringing troops home from Iraq as soon as possible.

Absolutely, said Anderson, except the date and deadline remain uncertain.

Okay, nobody said all the answers would be definitive.

Group members also asked why Florida's waters should be exempt from oil drilling if reducing the dependency on foreign oil is an imperative. Why not drill in the Arctic? Will the senator visit Israel? What about Florida Democrats being frozen out of the presidential primary process?

They heard about such diverse topics as the county's comprehensive land use plan to nuclear proliferation in Iran.

And before the start of the Q and A, the invited guests heard, as they likely had before, why such sessions remain a benefit to us all.

"We have members in every Congressional district," boasted Hadassah member Joan Levinson, "and everyone who is in this room votes every time."

"Right on," a voice added.

The rest applauded.

Ahead of the curve, indeed. If only they could bring the nonvoters along for the ride.

[Last modified October 18, 2007, 23:32:18]