Lessons From Meeting Barney Frank

Barney Frank announced today that he will be retiring at the end of this term. He was my Congressman for a couple years when I lived in Southeastern Massachusetts out of college, and I met him at a couple volunteer events. And I have to say about the time I spoke with him: he really wasn't very pleasant. Most people are fully aware that Frank is often crabby with right-wing conspiracy theorists and with the press, but he could also be a little cranky with liberals attending the same volunteer functions he did.

And there's a very important lesson in this: namely, that pleasantness has very little to do with actually being an effective legislator. There definitely are a few issues with Frank's record that you can criticize, but in general he's been a fighter for many of the core issues of the Democratic Party. And whether or not he was "nice" to me had nothing to do with whether or not he was a good representative.

Obviously there's a pretty long list of things wrong with our current political situation. But one that isn't talked about enough in my opinion is the fact that people personalize politicians way too much. We care too much about whether they're warm and friendly and charming and good-looking. Ultimately, I think, that stuff really doesn't matter very much.

The game of politics, quite frequently, is a game of trying to appear to be nice. But appearing to be nice isn't the same thing as actually being nice, and being nice in person isn't the same thing as being good at passing legislation that's in the best interests of the constituents. And, when it comes down to it, when the game is about appearances or personal favors rather than actual policy, Republicans can play it just as well as Democrats.

So, in general, I think we need to do a much better job of confronting stupid media narratives about "likability" or "being a good guy to have a beer with." What matters are things like improving the economy, dealing with the climate change crisis, and fixing a system rigged in favor of the 0.1 %. Focusing on the personal stuff, while fun, ultimately just plays into the hands of people P.R. and marketing types who don't care a whit about your actual interests.

St. Louis Activist Events for Nov. 23-29

This week's events:

Monday, Nov. 23, Boom Boom Pow at Washington University will feature a panel discussion on Nuclear Disarmament and Verification.   The event is from 6 to 7 PM in Seigle L004.  PEACE

Also Monday, St. Louis NORML will be holding a Protest Against Marijuana Prohibition from 4 to 6 PM on Grand near Interstate 44. SOCIAL JUSTICE

Also Monday, The Co-op Cafe at Washington University this week features an open mic and Sheila Shahpari from 8 to 10 PM.  COMMUNITY

Tuesday, Nov. 24, check out Tuesdays with Terri Williams, progressive candidate for county council, at the Boogaloo (7344 Manchester) from 7 to 9 PM.  POLITICS

Also Tuesday, Revitalize St. Louis is holding a Fall Class on Cost Control for Rehabbers at the Landmarks Association from 7 to 9 PM.  COMMUNITY

Also Tuesday, ONE Webster is hosting Namaste: A Nepalese Evening which features the amazing story of Dr. Devi Gurung States, who is working to build a hospital in his childhood town of Menang, Nepal.  The event is from 7 to 10 pm in the Webster University Library Conference Room.  POVERTY

Wednesday, Nov. 25, there will be a special director's cut pre-screening of Heartland Transport, a 10-minute film documenting the history Show Me Marriage Equality Bus that took 17 couples from Missouri to Iowa to get married.  The event will be from 7:30 to 9:30 at the Atomic Cowboy (4140 Manchester).  LGBT

Thursday, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving!  Jewish Family and Children's Services is asking people to consider donating canned goods and food items to help stock their food pantry.  POVERTY

Friday, Nov. 27 is the famous Buy Nothing Day protest against mass consumption. SOCIAL JUSTICE

Also Friday, the St. Louis Animal Rights Team (START) is holding a Fur Free Friday demonstration from 1 to 2:30 PM at the corner of Galleria Parkway and Brentwood Blvd. to protest the needless and cruel practices involved in producing fur coats.  Animal Welfare

Also Friday is the Kids Rock Cancer Benefit at the Over Under Bar (911 Washington) from 6 to 10 PM. FUNDRAISER

Saturday, Nov. 30 might be a good day to check out the Fair Trade Market at Manchester united Methodist Church (129 Wood Mills Rd).  SOCIAL JUSTICE

Sunday, Nov. 29, Show Me No Hate is hosting an important rally at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (4431 Lindell) from 11:30 to 1:30 to protest the fact that St. Louis Archbishop Carlson donated $10,000 dollars for the political campaign in Maine to stop same sex couples from being able to get married.  LGBT

Also Sunday is the 6th Annual Rock and Roll Craftshow at the 3rd Degree Glass Factory (5200 Delmar) until 5 PM. COMMUNITY

Also Sunday, the Center for Theology and Social Analysis (1077 South Newstead) is hosting a talk Palestinians Rather Than Palestine by Sandra Tamara at 4:30 PM.  Fair-trade Palestinian olive oil will be on sale as a holiday gift.  PEACE