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“We have 14 percent unemployment in Michigan,” countered Jerry Williams, 68, a Ford retiree from Detroit. “How can you raise taxes on people who aren’t making any money to begin with?”

People laughed, shouted and even pounded the table, but they listened respectfully to other points of view. “It’s wonderful to have different people of different backgrounds coming together

with different ideas on problem-solving,” said Johnnie Marie Wright, a retired mental health worker from Detroit. Shirkey said she and her husband John, 55, were initially frustrated with

the free-flowing conversation. “Some things really push my buttons, and I can understand how people get emotional,” she said. “But at least we had a moderator, which is a huge step above a

town hall meeting put on by a politician with an agenda. This wasn’t a hostile crowd, so we could learn from one another. When you get people to articulate out loud what scares them to

death, you have an opportunity to present a solution.” Williams said he hoped the message from the Michigan forums reached far beyond the meeting room. “What it boils down to, it gives

people a chance to have their say and listen to what others say. It’s free expression. And my No. 1 issue is to have politicians listen to the people whose interests they’re supposed to be

serving,” he said. At Wayne State University, political science professor Mary Herring said people tend to seek out information sources that validate their own beliefs. As message overload

grows—via partisan media and the Internet—it is easier to manipulate people with loaded phrases like “socialized medicine” or “millions of uninsured.” “That’s really the conundrum. How do

you get people who have strong opinions to expose themselves to a wider array of sources? I’m a really big proponent of this type of meeting,” Herring said. “It’s where democracy starts,

well before the voting booth.” Farmer is energized for the sessions coming up. “Anything that encourages people to be curious, to make them look critically at politicians and the media, to

do their own research, is a good thing,” he said. “If these meetings prompt people to do just that, we’ve done our jobs.” The forums are free and include a light meal, but you must register

by calling 1-877-926-8300 toll-free. Here is a schedule of upcoming events (with opening and closing dates for registration):