Democracy kicks up dust near the beets...

I've never been overtly political. The only explanation I can offer is my profound belief that the larger an organization gets, the less effective it is delivering a product or service. And I ask you, what organization is larger than the government? (Perhaps Wal-Mart.)

But my lack of interest in political posturing has not precluded me from believing strongly in the process of affecting change through constitutional activism. I love the fact that a group of like-minded people can petition its neighbors in an effort to put forth a candidate for public office -- however unlikely it is they'll succeed. Idealism never examines the odds.

It was in this spirit of supporting the constitution that I welcomed three mild-tempered, respectful, (and most undoubtedly) former '60s hippies to the Farmers' Market to seek the signatures necessary to get their candidate's name on the ballot for the Green Party. Their pitch to passersby was docile: You don't have to vote for her, they said; we just need 2,000 names to get her on the ballot.

All was well with the world until the crabbiest farmer at the market demanded they leave. No politics, he barked. This is a vegetable market.

The Green Party volunteers respected his stance and left quietly. But I was disappointed by the farmer's take on things. His view seemed short-sighted and restrictive. They were not campaigning nor were they promoting an agenda. And none of them had detracted from his sales of onions or beets. Besides, if anyone will take up the positions of the Green Party, it's likely to be people who frequent farmers markets.

For my part, I was just thrilled to watch the process by which they collected names; it felt good to participate in an effort meant to keep the heart of democracy beating. And frankly, the best part about hanging around a community market (or square) is listening to people exchange ideas and debate issues that mean something to them, even if some of them don't mean anything to me.

Sadly, farmer B doesn't share this sentiment. Never mind the free and open exchange of ideas. It's a vegetable market. We should all act like vegetables.