San Francisco will continue to be a primordial birthing place for Liberal ideas which become Liberal movements which change the world to be better for people.
Just the other day, I happened to see the cover of The Examiner, and a new issue regarding the imposition of a new tax on auto drivers in The City was seriously being considered and which could seriously pass.
This is just one of many slow but sure movements to continually constrict and restrict the ease of use of autos within The City. In time, San Francisco will be purely Public Transportation, Scooter, Bicycle, and Pedestrian. Only the very wealthiest will have cars, but there will probably be less streets for them to drive on and nowhere to park.
There is a totally different vibe here in San Francisco. When you are on Public Transportation, Scooter, Bicycle and on foot, you see the world and other people in a much more intimate way. The class separation which occurs in the "bubble world" of moving from alarmed home in a gated community into the protective bubble of the car, into the protective bubble of the destination represents a decline in the basis of civilization..."civility".
When I ride BART, Muni, a bike, or walk, I get to interact WITH people of all stripes. There is connection even with strangers on the street. There is no way to avoid coming into contact with the diversity of humanity with all its' quirks when you are among the people. My heart sings when I see a group of preschool children all taking the Muni on some field trip. Why? Because they are learning at a young age that people are different, unique, and may sometimes have similarities but are individuals, living beings, and with souls.
San Francisco, despite the challenges which any large city faces, still has a certain "small town" sense of community wherever you go.
San Francisco may not always be at the front of line of liberal thought, but we are on the vanguard with other cities and places. San Francisco is one of the places which provides a caring and compassionate "compass" for the United States. We balance the "triple bottom line" of making a difference for People, Planet, and Prosperity.
We learn and know that ultimately, "It's all about the people". Everything begins and ends with people. And, without the people (of every stripe) our One San Francisco would not be the beacon of culture, innovation, and liberty from which a positive difference is made for people all around the world.
So, if and when you come to The City, to our One San Francisco, come with an open heart, an open mind, an open spirit, and don't forget to wear a flower in your hair.