# Wednesday Political Chat **URL:** \ **Category:** Discussion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2003, 8:46am UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/wednesday-political-chat/736 "2003-07-13T08:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dbarker\_sfusd](https://forum.lpsf.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@dbarker\_sfusd](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/dbarker_sfusd)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 8:46am UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/wednesday-political-chat/736/1 "2003-07-13T08:46:35Z")
Hi Everyone, I have been thinking about the Political Chats and maybe it's time to get some more feedback and suggestions. Before I held the first Chat at the Royal Ground, on Geary, I asked for some suggestions and feedback, which I got. This was all good and proved that people were interested. Based on this feedback, both online, and in person from those that attended, we moved it to another coffee shop near Civic Center. We held it there a couple times and never had less than eight people show up. This was all good, as well. Always looking for improvement and suggestions, many people shared their opinions and based on this, we moved it to the Sheesh Mahal, where it has been held for at least the last four weeks. The decision to move it to the Sheesh Mahal was for several reasons. One was to keep it consistent, at the same place, and since the DAF was also on a Wednesday, to have it at the same place as the DAF. Also, they serve food there, and many people expressed that they were coming from work and would like somethng more than a coffee and cookie. However, since it was moved to the Sheesh, an average of two people have been showing up. This is a far cry from the 8-9 people that were showing up at the coffee shops. Another concern is if we should advertise this, without being sure if anyone will be there. My original idea, or vision, was that, by now, more than two people from the LPSF would be showing up, and bringing friends and aquaintances along who had other political affiliations, discussing specific political topics and solutions. Also, in case I couldn't be there on a specific Wednesday, others would be there. Also, we wouldn't have to advertise it every week by now because it was supposed to be known by now that this was every Wednesday, at the same place. Well, one reason I'm a Libertarian is because I've come to realize that when an individual has what they think is a good idea, things don't always turn out as one thought, due to all the unexpected dynamics involved, human nature, economics, etc. I'm glad I didn't spend millions of taxpayer dollars trying to get this to work according to my original vision, unlike others that actually get Federal and State money to try their good ideas out, which also don't turn out as expected. Since we advertised on the postcard that it will be held at the Sheesh until September, I was thinking, after September, alternating it at different places. At least a few days in advance, I'll advertise where it will be and what topic will be discussed, and hopefully we can bring some friends and aquaintances to join (and hopefully turn them into Libertarians). I think we should skip the idea about having it at the same place, since it will be advertised once a week, anyway. This might make it a little more interesting. By the way, I've always e-mailed the group when I wasn't going to be able to make it. One was my wedding night (I even showed up on my birthday), and the other was one other Wednesday. I am leaving town this Monday or Tuesday, and I will be gone until the end of the month. It seems that someone has always showed up, even when I couldn't make it, and this is a very positive thing. Also, I was always prepared if I wound up being the only one there, and brought some Libertarian reading material to catch up on. This way, if no one showed up, my time was constructively spent by reserving time for this reading. I think the Chats have been very successful; someone has always been there, people have been very supportive and have showed an interest, either in person or sharing there suggestions online, and I have learned a great deal and have expanded my mind engaging in the discussions I've had with people thus far (so far? thus far?). Again, I'm leaving town in a few days, and I won't be back until the end of the month. I wish I could make it to Rob's Social, but I'll be busy eating Buffalo Wings in Buffalo, NY. Dave Barker ---
**Author:** ![stevedekorte](https://forum.lpsf.org/user_avatar/forum.lpsf.org/stevedekorte/32/9_2.png) [@stevedekorte](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/stevedekorte)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 9:11am UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/wednesday-political-chat/736/2 "2003-07-13T09:11:12Z")
Hey Dave, Just wanted to say that I can usually make it if it's close to an L Muni stop (anywhere near Market St.). Cheers, Steve OSX freeware and shareware: [http://www.dekorte.com/downloads.html](http://www.dekorte.com/downloads.html) ---
**Author:** ![dbarker\_sfusd](https://forum.lpsf.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@dbarker\_sfusd](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/dbarker_sfusd)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/wednesday-political-chat/736/3 "2003-07-13T09:21:57Z")
--- Steve Dekorte \ wrote: > Just wanted to say that I can usually make it if > it's close to an L > Muni stop (anywhere near Market St.). Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. We missed having you at the Sheesh Mahal. Dave Barker ---
**Author:** ![crismxml](https://forum.lpsf.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@crismxml](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/crismxml)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/wednesday-political-chat/736/4 "2003-07-13T18:28:00Z")
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 > \> Just wanted to say that I can usually make it if > \> it's close to an L > \> Muni stop (anywhere near Market St.). > > Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. We missed having you > at the Sheesh Mahal. Sheesh Mahal is a 10 minute walk from the Van Ness station. Or you can use your transfer to take a 49 Van Ness bus from the corner of Market and Van Ness up to Van Ness and Post. Check \ for all your carless travel planning. ~Chris - -- "Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit   to undertake. It is not easy." - Ursula K. LeGuin Political gadfly and freelance nerd: \ PGP Fingerprint: BBA6 4085 DED0 E176 D6D4 5DFC AC52 F825 AFEC 58DA ---
**Author:** ![stevedekorte](https://forum.lpsf.org/user_avatar/forum.lpsf.org/stevedekorte/32/9_2.png) [@stevedekorte](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/stevedekorte)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/wednesday-political-chat/736/5 "2003-07-13T21:41:40Z")
Right, that's 9 minutes too far. And taking the bus is even slower as the wait is often longer than the walk. Btw, I'd like to suggest Cafe Bagdad at 16th and Market as a possible location as well. Cheers, Steve OSX freeware and shareware: [http://www.dekorte.com/downloads.html](http://www.dekorte.com/downloads.html) ---
**Author:** ![dbarker\_sfusd](https://forum.lpsf.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@dbarker\_sfusd](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/dbarker_sfusd)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/wednesday-political-chat/736/6 "2003-07-14T04:52:21Z")
--- Steve Dekorte \ wrote: > Btw, I'd like to suggest Cafe Bagdad at 16th and > Market as a possible > location as well. I'll keep this in mind when and if we start rotating venues after September. Thanks for the suggestion. Dave ---
**Author:** ![crismxml](https://forum.lpsf.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@crismxml](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/crismxml)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/wednesday-political-chat/736/7 "2003-07-14T20:07:28Z")
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 > I have been thinking about the Political Chats and > maybe it's time to get some more feedback and > suggestions. Thanks for posting this, Dave. I think Wednesday nights may be tough for people; I have a regular conflict that night, which I cancel in order to attend Direct Action Forum. As an instructor in my taekwon do club, I can't bag \*every\* Wednesday night, unfortunately. However, I think that this can build, slowly; it's still very new. Advertising it more widely - those LPSF members not on this list would never have heard of it before - will hopefully bring more people in. I think the stability is a good thing, for now; if, at the end of three months, we \*still\* only have two people coming each week, then we need to figure out what else to do. Either way, I am very glad that you stepped up to make this a reality. Thanks. > By the way, I've always e-mailed the group when I > wasn't going to be able to make it. I am leaving town this Monday > or Tuesday, and I will be gone until the end of the > month. I will commit to being at Sheesh Mahal on the 23rd and 30th. Did you have topics you wanted to discuss, or should we just pick ourselves? Thanks, Chris - -- "Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit   to undertake. It is not easy." - Ursula K. LeGuin Political gadfly and freelance nerd: \ PGP Fingerprint: BBA6 4085 DED0 E176 D6D4 5DFC AC52 F825 AFEC 58DA