The Morning After

Wednesday, November 08 2006 | Send to a friend

THE MORNING AFTER 

Jim Sasser, 2006

How long does it take to recover from a devastating political defeat?  Jim Sasser knows from first-hand experience.  In 1994, he expected to be reelected and become the new Senate majority leader.  Instead, the day after the election he was looking for a job, a fate he shared with fifty-nine other Democratic members of Congress swept out of office in a Republican landslide. 

 

The Votes are in

Yesterday, Dick talked to Pamela Graham and Allen Dawson about ballot initiatives in their states.  Pam, a former felon, was fighting for the right to vote in Rhode Island. Allen, who works at Wendy's, was hoping voters in Ohio would increase the minimum wage.  Dick checks in with both of them today.

• Listen to yesterday's conversations

MID-LIFE ANARCHY

Liz Seymour 

Four years ago, Liz Seymour gave up her marriage, her bedroom and her office and turned her family home into a community of anarchists. 

At fifty, her old life was no longer working for her. While her husband wanted quiet, Liz needed noise and activity.  Her two grown daughters introduced her to a group of young anarchists in her city. She now shares her home with five of them.

The group divides chores and responsibilities. They sometimes "dumpster-dive" for food. As a result, their expenses are close to nil and their time is filled with creative pursuits.

On a day when the nation's political course has been altered, Dick visits Liz Seymour's house of anarchists to see how the personal and political get along with each other.

Music for today's show comes from Cakalak Thunder, a group started by some of Liz's housemates. 

Cakalak Thunder started banging five gallon buckets with broom sticks in 2002 for a World Bank protest in Washington, DC. Since then, we've tightened up a bit. We've managed to beg, borrow,and dumpster-dive some real drums.

• Check out Cakalak Thunder
• Visit the arts collective started by Liz's household

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