In an era when civic discourse seems so shrill on all sides that, of all people, Daily Show comedy news host John Stewart is promoting a national rally to tone down the conversation, it’s refreshing to see how Carnation resident Jackie Perriguoe is seeking change.

As we noted in last week’s edition, the lifelong Lower Valley resident has singlehandedly organized a town meeting taking aim at recently installed guardrails on Highway 203 between Fall City and Duvall. Perriguoe believes that some of new rails make roads worse rather than better, and is setting out to do something positive about it, calling state, county and local officials and representatives to a Sept. 30 stump session at Tolt Middle School to talk about road safety.

Perrigoue told me that she doesn’t believe in complaining without action. She also suggests that people with real beefs get specific about what they want to do and “leave your tea bags at home.”

Not everyone is going to agree with her. And even if the Washington state Department of Transportation were to do an about-face, it’s anybody’s guess where the money to widen Lower Valley roads would come from.

Still, I’ve attended enough empty public hearings to appreciate grassroots interest when I see it. Perriguoe’s gumption is a different way to seek change: inclusively and openly calling decisions into account. Now, can we please try this approach as a nation?

• E-mail Editor Seth Truscott at editor@valleyrecord.com.