“What about jobs and education?”

I looked at him as he asked me the question. I had just told one woman that the legislature passed the saggy pants bill last night while much of the nation watched a basketball game when he leaned over.

“What the hell are they doing down there?” he said gesturing toward the downtown area of Nashville. He looked a little irritated.

“Well, you also won’t be able to let your dog ride in your lap while you are driving.” I responded.

“They passed this?”

“Yes,” I said.

He looked at me, “You watch this political shit all day?”

I nodded.

We had a few moments of silence. I leaned over my iPad following a conversation on Twitter. Quite frankly, I thought the conversation was over.

I didn’t hear him at first (I don’t have the greatest hearing on a good day) and looked at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.”

He looked directly at me, “What do we do?”

I didn’t know what to say initially. I’ve seen this man at least a dozen times and he never really seemed to care about politics. Average folks don’t follow state politics like I do. It’s my job but I did it before so I guess it’s just what I do. I wanted to be thoughtful with my answer. He was asking a fair question. Not everyone follows this stuff like I do.

So I said, “I think the best thing to do is pay attention. You don’t have to live and breathe this but just be aware. It will get worse before it gets better, I’m afraid.”

And what I wanted to say but I didn’t because conversations like this should be organic and grow was that if we don’t start opposing some of this frightening silliness, we are in a world of trouble.

Do no harm, for pete’s sake. And what we are seeing is harm.