07/11/2026
THE TIME HAS COME . . .
The walrus said to speak of many things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. (This last line seems more charged to me these days.)
Sacrosanct: inviolable, immutable, unchangeable for goodness’ sake. Our voting rights, hell even the most basic tenant of our constitution birthright citizenship, are being held to question. Is nothing sacrosanct anymore!? The right for women to control their own bodies, stripped away. Due process, and even the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness trampled on by masked faces with guns and zip ties. This is not the country of my youth yet, I am embarrassed to say, it is one that I recognize. One that I have read and experienced in every pre-censored literature and history book. Stories so revolting they live beyond my imagination of human reality . . . morality.
I am a West Wing fan. Flat out. Rarely have I seen such consistently fine, insightful, complex and poignant writing. Hat’s off to Aaron Sorkin. Such a mind. One exchange, in particular, comes to mind each and every election season:
President Josiah Bartlet: "There's a promise that I ask everyone who works here to make: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Do you know why?"
Will Bailey: "Because it's the only thing that ever has."
It’s the only thing that ever has. It feels sometimes to me, that we live in an insular state/State here in California. Mostly Blue, with a deep Red stripe down the middle. Each neighbor to each other. Each friend to each other. Each dependent on each other to survive and thrive. Our lives and destinies interlocked. Sometimes though it feels like we are just raging against the machine. Throwing rocks at the castle walls. Enamored with problem admiration. Working, effortlessly, but working none-the-less to hear only that which we want to hear.
Governance, I can tell you from my limited starter experience on the board of GVRD, is not what most of us think it is. From my not-so-lofty perch on the dais, I can tell you that governance happens with the smallest turn of phrase. The language left in, and that which is left out, of every law, policy or resolution. The details. God is in the details, so said renowned architect Ludwig Mies an der Rohe. Ludwig found God in his detailing. In governance, sometimes the devil can be found too if the law or policy is not thoughtfully conditioned and invoked.
Which brings me to today’s topic. It’s election time again!
Here in Vallejo Districts 2 -JR Matulac, District 4 – Charles Palmares, and District 5 – Peter Bregenzer are up for reelection. Peter has decided not to run again so I would like to take time to thank him for his service and wish him continued success. These 3 races are soon to bring knocks on your door, ads in your feeds, and debates to your local gathering place. All good. All important chances to value and judge the charisma and oration of potential town leaders.
We the people, are ruled by passion and governed by logic. In other words, we make decisions based on emotion and legislate based on logical debate . . . hopefully. Barack Obama said, yes that Barack Obama, find the people who get things done. Our system can be a place of placation to those new, naĂŻve or just plain unawares. Status quo thrives on apathy and inattentiveness. Do not get me wrong, there are many good people in government but it is up to us, in leadership roles, to not only inspire but to be knowledgeable, logical and persistent in order for the changes we desire to be made and thus effective.
Charisma alone will win an election, it of-and-by itself can produce life altering changes. I would argue that they are not the changes you and I might have imagined. Governance is work. It requires study, patience, and so, so many conversations with people you trust and even more with those you don’t. F Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." I am rather fond of his follow up to that, "One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise."
My questions for you. Is your candidate curious? Do they possess a first-rate mind? Do you believe they are determined enough to make the hopeless otherwise.
Our very rights of citizenship and voting are literally under attack. Please do not fall prey to apathy this election season. Be curious. Be involved. Be determined to make the hopeless otherwise.
Respectfully,
Thomas Judt
