In this day and age of political polarization, harsh rhetoric, and violent protests of dissenting opinions, I find it very heartening to see one of our local political leaders going out of his way and spending his own money to try to understand those with differing opinions and life experiences. I would love to see that local interest in his talk would result in standing room only at this event. Hopefully this is a sign that the pendulum of political discord is beginning to swing in the other direction and both sides can participate in a dialog. Listening to the other side (no matter which side you're on) can only result in our country becoming stronger, both domestically and internationally.

On a lighter note, I had a good chuckle at the sentence: "His accommodations...included such places as Holiday Inn Express." The implication of that line kind of sums up the difference between Silicon Valley and Middle America. I would bet no one in the places he visited would understand why that sentence was even included in the article. (I grew up in Middle America with a mother who kept a copy of the Holiday Inn directory with our vacation gear, so that no matter where in the country we traveled, we always knew where to find the nearest Holiday Inn. My children, on the other hand, have never stayed in one.)

"Hopefully this is a sign that the pendulum of political discord is beginning to swing in the other direction and both sides can participate in a dialog.”

Or, for the sake of a vote for tax cuts for billionaires, one side can support a candidate who cruised malls and custody hearings...

Equivalency!

When will the GOP hold public hearings on the tax bill?

Hard to participate if they refuse to listen.

Maybe time to revisit Trump's America, especially in Alabama......

Menlo Mom - spot on regarding Holiday Inn - I remember that guide! The other place was of course HoJo's - Howard Johnsons. As a kid I loved it. But then I'm from that part of the country known as "fly over country" aka Trump country.

Like flying over Alabama? There's a Holiday inn near the Mercedes plant outside Tuscaloosa. How'd that work out for ya, Donny?

Roll Tide.

Utah is flyover also. They *detest* the tax plan.

There is a Howard Johnson in San Mateo. You fly over it into SFO.

And San Mateo voted 80 percent against Trump.

Flyover, indeed.

I am very grateful for what Joe did. We oftern hear in generalized terms about the tough times in other places in the US and the dry statistics about the stagnation of the middle class, but his interviews puts a real human face on it.

PS I grew up here in California and the Holiday Inn was too high end for us, it was Motel 6 and the local evquivalents.