Michael Anderson and Margaret Jackson

Michael (MA) and Margaret (MJ) introduce themselves and read one another’s bios.

MJ says more about herself. She says she is the youngest of six and was born into a family that had just suffered a tragedy wherein her mother was in an accident that killed two of her children. MJ says the incident has always affected her life. She says after the incident, both her parents reinvested themselves into their community. MJ adds that she is Not very assertive, she likes listening and being part of a team. She says she is very active physically and loves animals.

MA says he is also the youngest of six and was raised in a christian home. He says his family did not have a lot of money but he had a wonderful childhood where he played lots of sports and went camping almost every weekend. MA says he was a hot head growing up, angry at the world. He says he believes the hate in the United States comes from our leaders.

MJ talks about her friend Sarah, who she says has been kindest to her in her life.

MA talks about his mother and his wife’s kindness.

MJ recalls her earliest memories of politics: when JFK was shot. MJ says there was a bomb shelter in her house that her dad had built.

MA recalls his earliest memory: President Johnson and the Vietnam war. MA says the war was close to home, a lot of guys in his neighborhood went to war and came home different people.

MJ talks more about her upbringing in the Boston area and later moving to Vermont. MA says he was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas but spent his free time in the countryside. Both MA and MJ say they appreciate that they can drive into the madness of a city but then leave and go back home to a quieter pace of life.

MA talks more about his family’s camping outings. He says it provided him and his siblings an opportunity to play, his mom an opportunity to be social with other families, and his dad a chance to go fishing.

MA and MJ reflect on the times they have witnessed racism take place. MA recalls visiting the deep South where his parents are from. MJ recalls bussing when she was growing up in the Boston area.

MA recalls voting for the first time. He says at first he assumed he was a Democrat because he was told that the Democratic party was for working people and the Republican party was for rich people. M says he now identifies as more conservative. MA says he has never voted for a Democratic president but has voted for a lot of Democratic local and state officials.

MJ says there is too great an emphasis on business models for other kinds of institutions, such as libraries. She says working in nonprofits taught her the business model isn’t for everything.

MA expresses how politicians should be required to sit and listen to what everyday people want and need. He expresses frustration at how politicians are controlled by PACs and big companies.