Claude will tell you it's the latter, but in a very encouraging tone.

Just passing on what I'm hearing. I have voted Democratic all my life, but I really wish we could have more competitive primaries, or better still, open primaries and ranked choice. 3/3

Why? A lot of Democratic anger at the Oregon Democratic machine. Perceptions that it cares for staff and public employee unions more than for voters. The people I'm hearing this from are full-throated progressive Democrats, maybe not DSA but not Blue Dog either. 2/

Three weeks out from a very close race for Oregon governor I walked 3 miles across Portland yesterday and saw only one of these. I am also hearing from progressives who are voting Republican on this race, theorizing that with a democratic legislature, a republican governor can't do much harm. 1/

Portland politics: does anyone want to suggest how I should vote in city council district 3? I value honesty, intelligence, and proven experience in government. I don't much care about the left vs moderate wars, but I would like to vote for a lower level of drama on the council.

You're making the common mistake of focusing only on the extremists, who are predictable but few. Most people are uninterested in politics; outcomes of elections turn on whether they vote at all. This often turns on very small causes such as weather or a bad day at work. No, it's not predictable.

But the populist shaming that you’re doing does not work. It alienates too many good people whose support and expertise and energy we need, by telling them in advance that their contributions have no value. Like many activist impulses it feels good but it’s self-defeating. 5/5

Of course I agree that it’s important for some transit execs and Board members to use transit, and for those who don’t to listen to their experience. I’ve seen plenty of boards and staffs where this works well. 4/

One of my first mentors in the field, who was as eloquent an evangelist for transit as anyone I've met, was married to a woman who was very committed to her horses. So he commuted from a 5 acre farm far outside of the city. Should we really have shamed him for not using transit? 3/

I also continue to insist that many people can understand transit and eagerly devote their lives to it, even though they live in a place where it isn't very useful, which means they can't use it for commuting. 2/

You are oversimplifying what I said in order to score cheap points. I think that for policy boards, it is important to have some regular riders, but it is also very important to have people who are plugged into the power structure and can get things done. 1/

The US election season has reached the point where there is nothing new for analysts to say. This is a good time to remember that human behavior is not predictable. If it were, that would make you no better than a machine. Celebrate how great it is that nobody knows the future.

Heading home now.

Chicago's Jewelers Row. 8:30 AM on a sunny Saturday. People gather underneath the soft rumble of the elevated trains, attracted by a prosperous coffeehouse. We don't always need to fear elevated transit.