All social change starts with a conversation.
-- Meg Wheatley

Thirteen years ago, Utne incited our readers to start a revolution in their living rooms. In a special cover story on salons, we put out a call for people to get together and talk -- about politics, culture, education, the arts, whatever they were thinking and obsessing about. That call struck a chord. Over 8,000 readers responded and asked to be matched up with other Utne readers in their community. The neighborhood salons movement was born.

At its peak in 1995, our Neighborhood Salon Association had 25,000 members in some 600 groups meeting monthly across the continent and in several foreign countries. We eventually decided that the movement had become a force all its own and let go of our role in overseeing salons. Many of these people are still getting together, such as the lively bunch in West Palm Beach, Florida, profiled on the back page of this issue.

Can we talk?

Americans need to talk today more than ever, especially about politics. We don't need more diatribes or name-calling. We need meaningful conversations with people who agree -- and disagree -- with our views and values. In an uncertain era when so many people are frightened and disillusioned, our whole country needs more meaningful discussions of issues in this crucial election year.

Politics isn't inherently polarizing. Politics is people thinking together about their shared future with the freedom to articulate their dreams and voice their differences in a fair and safe arena. Americans want the feel of a classic 'town meeting' again. They need intelligent and respectful dialogue that can be heard across various political divides.

The growing inability of people with differing ideas to speak and listen to one another means that progress on issues that Americans -- all across the political spectrum -- hold dear is at a stalemate. The combative nature of public debate today undermines our confidence in the decency of our fellow citizens and discourages talented people from entering politics. No wonder voters have stayed away from the polls in greater numbers in every election since 1972. America stands more divided today than at perhaps any other time in decades.

A 'democracy salons' movement

Imagine if 10,000 Americans of every political persuasion gathered across the country throughout 2004 for deep, respectful, and searching conversations about what we -- the people -- see as the state of the union, and how we can take responsibility for preserving and revitalizing our democracy during this election year and in coming years. Imagine people saying 'yes, and' rather than 'no, but.' Imagine people thinking in fresh and creative ways rather than simply airing opinions that never change. Imagine hope. Imagine.

And imagine an overflowing majority of Americans registering to vote -- and voting -- in part because they sat with neighbors, friends, and strangers in local caf?s, churches, living rooms, and union halls, sharing their hopes and dreams -- not just their fears and differences. Here at Utne, we've been talking for several years about reinventing our salon organizing efforts in some form for these changing times. And now seems the right moment.