The other day Asher and I were walking home from school. He noticed the political signs in people's yards "Kitzhaber for Governor" and "Vote 'no' on Measure 75." "What are those signs?" Asher wanted to know. "Today is election day!" I told him, "Those signs give opinions on who to vote for." "What are they voting for?" Asher asked "Oh, people who make laws or decisions about the state of Oregon" I wanted to keep it simple. "What kind of laws?" Asher wondered. "Well, someone has to decide how much money to spend on things like roads, prisons, or schools." I said, noticing that I was giving the most basic definition of politics. I wondered if I could remember that song about how a bill becomes a law that I learned when I was in elementary school. But my train of thought was interrupted by Asher-now incredulous: " THEY GIVE MONEY TO PRISONERS? LIKE ROBBERS? " "Oh, no" ...