Political Wisdom from a 13-year-old: "Stand Up For Palo Alto!"

Please accept a quick story that has sharpened my clarity about the City Council Election:

I was talking with a newspaper reporter about the election campaign and my 13-year-old daughter tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Dad, just tell them that you want to stand up for Palo Alto."

After phone interview I asked her about what she had said. Her answer: "Just tell them that you are Standing up for Palo Alto. You know -- we need to protect places for people to buy things, keep places for people to walk and ride bikes, and keep Palo Alto from having so many big building out to the curb that it is not fun to live here anymore."

She responded, "Forget the the philosophical talk, like 'Shared Community Vision yeah yeah yeah' and just say you are going to Stand up for Palo Alto."

When I explained that it means that I am going to fight for the things that people agree are important, she said "Good, then just say that. We need you to help Palo Alto."

Sometimes, there is nothing more to say.