🚀 go-pugleaf

>Mike Weber wrote: 

>>  I am a NATIVE Californian who has recently returned from 16 years in
>>Washington DC as a citizen activist.  I have worked in government as well,
>>and I know that experience is generally held against a person nowadays,
>>but what the hell, I have been there, done that, and you haven't.
>>  Please turn down the volume and the certainty in your voice.  There may
>>just be things that you don't understand and can learn from others.  These
>>are difficult issues, especially where it involves politicians of ANY ilk,
>>including your heroes perhaps.
>>
>>Mike Weber
>> <snip the usual angry reply from Andy Russell>

Mike-

I missed your first post, but want to warn you: 16 years of work in DC 
cannot prepare you for Andy's venom. Don't take him on, but thanks for 
your feedback. And yes, these are difficult issues

I was in DC in early January, and met with Cong. Bilbray's staff to 
discuss issues of local concern. On Friday, Jan. 26, I was invited to 
meet with the Congressman in San Diego re:generating support for his 
efforts to get funding for a wastewater clean-up project at the US Mexico 
border. In short-- despite our differences (and my website) we maintain a 
cordial, working relationship and a committment to clean up the problems 
here in San Diego, though our philosophies are obviously very far apart.

On the other hand, there are many people more committed to spouting off 
on-line (e.g.: those in the "Watch out: I've got a modem and I'm not 
afraid to use it" camp) than to working on the problems. They are more 
interested in maintaining the divide than in engaging in dialog and 
solving the problem. 

I suspect these folks are frustrated because they are not effective in 
activism, have short fuses and easily become quite angry. Ironically, 
this anger is part of what makes them ineffective. Sort of an infinite 
loop of breakdown/anger.

It sounds like you are one of the people committed to working things out, 
and breaking this cycle, and I thank you for that. 

FYI: the website that has Andy so hot around the collar is at:
http://www.netconnection.com/~lsaldana/

Brian's response is at: 
http://www.house.gov/bilbray/unauthorized_bilbray.html

Thanks for the support-- but keep your head down! Mr. Russell loves to 
get nasty on the 'net.

Lori
-- 
Lori Saldana (lsaldana@netconnection.com)
The Internet Connection-
On-line, on-site training for the information age
http://www.netconnection.com/lori/