A Conversation with a Candidate

“What do I think of Western civilization? I think it would be a very good idea.” –Gandhi

We had an interesting afternoon down here last week. Chris Dudley, former Portland Trailblazer and now candidate for governor, stopped by for a Meet and Greet event on the last day before the primary election. When the Chamber of Commerce asked us to host this event, one of my first questions was, “How does this fit with who we want to be here at Green Plow?”

I think it does fit… not because we necessarily agree with what Mr. Dudley has to say or disagree with what any other candidates have to say, but because we believe that politics, like most of life, should involve more conversation and dialogue, and less shouting to get your point across. Sometimes it seems that we are in a bit of a rut, politically. We have the majority party and we have the opposition party, and the opposition party’s job is simply to vote against whatever the other party wants to do, no questions asked. But maybe politics should be more about asking questions, and brainstorming answers, and working things out together, and being willing to give a little here and there to come up with a solution that, while it may not be perfect, is still workable for everyone involved.

We want Green Plow to be a place where conversations like that can begin. So opening our doors for people to meet a candidate face to face, hear a little of what he or she has to say, even ask some questions (we had time for two), fits very well with who we want to be. So Mr. Kitzhaber, or any other candidate, for that matter, if you get wind of this somehow, we want you to know that you are welcome here at Green Plow, too.