Who would have thought that members of the conservative Tea Party Patriots and members of the Liberal organization MoveOn would sit down  to discus what they have in common? Well it recently occurred when conservative Mark Meckler, liberal Joan Blades, and two of each of their friends participated in what is known as a Living Room Conversation. Grass Valley attorney and national coordinator for the Tea Party, Mark Meckler, says Joan Blades and he have been developing a relationship over the past year.

Click here to listen to Mark Meckler

Meckler and Blades refer to this type of interaction as cross-partisan or trans-partisan dialogue. They aren’t trying to compromise or change each others ideolgies, but focus on common concerns.

The conversation began with introductions and getting to know one another as Meckler’s and Blade’s guests were not as comfortable meeting with extreme opposites.

Click here to listen to Mark Meckler

Meckler says that it was important for everyone to see each other as people and americans…not political foes.
Click here to listen to Mark Meckler

Another topic of interest was the possibility of reinstating the Glass-Stegal Act that was repealed in the early 1990′s. Glass-Stegal limited banks insured by the government from making in risky investments. Meckler says The problem with the repeal is that all of the risk falls on the people and all of the rewards go to the banks investors. Banks do not carry the risk.

Accordingly to Meckler, a secondary purpose for the conversation was to model the process for others to follow.
Click here to listen to Mark Meckler

Meckler and Blades plan to have additional conversations focusing on topics such as criminal justice reform and the war on drugs. But wha they would really like to see is more people to people conversations because that is how real change occurs.
For more information on Living Room Conversations visit Living Room Conversations.org and Citizens 4 Self Governance .org