SUQUAMISH — American values and world issues were simmered down to the county level by U.S. Congressman Jay Inslee during a Thursday evening forum. Taking issues like medical coverage and the war in Iraq, Inslee laid out how they could be influenced by the residents gathered at the Suquamish United Church of Christ.

Inslee was squarely in the spotlight during the open forum, and members of the public were more than willing to grill him about current affairs. Inslee took it in stride, answering questions from the forum’s sponsor, the Network of Spiritual Progressives, and the audience.

“Jay grew up in Seattle,” said spiritual progressive and Bainbridge Island resident Barry Peters. “It seems to me that his parents taught him values that have stuck with him. I’ve noticed three things, values that Jay seems to live by: hard work, community service and stand up for what you believe in.”

The District 1 Congressman, who is seeking his fifth term in the Nov. 7 election, explained how he will use each of those attributes to help America grow and prosper.

“No one person can be trusted with our privacy,” he said, speaking of the recent court ruling declaring that wiretapping without a warrant was unconstitutional. “That’s why we have the warrant check system. I lived through Nixon — I know a president can make mistakes.”

Inslee turned to questions from the community, urging the residents to voice their concerns on a myriad of issues.

“I thought it was very, very encouraging,” said Hansville resident Sharon Feola. “It was good to hear his directness.”

“He’s another Jack Kennedy,” said Bainbridge Island resident Maggie Valday, who helped get President John F. Kennedy elected to Congress. “He’s intelligent, charismatic. He’s going to help change this country.”

Inslee said change doesn’t just come from one person.

“Last February, Rabbi Michael Lerner visited us here,” said SUCC Pastor Tom Thresher. “He helped set off the movement of network of spiritual progressives. He really helped inspire us to do something.”

“Why wait for politicians to do it?” Inslee asked, answering a question posed by spiritual progressive and Suquamish resident Marlene Curnow. “There are about 200 leaders in this room, I’m just one of them.”

“Just everything was so important,” Poulsbo resident Louise Rikley said of the conversation, noting that all of what Inslee said seemed to come down to one thing: what the country and world will be like for the next generation. “I just worry about what kind of world we’re leaving our children.”

“Most kids in our generation just enjoy their lives,” said 17-year-old Charles Forkner. “Most of them just live in the moment and don’t see the far-reaching consequences. They think, ‘If I don’t see it, it doesn’t happen.’ That has to change.”

“I feel hopeless with the whole world a lot of the time, and our country’s role in it,” said Bainbridge resident Linda O’Neil. “I believe in changing the bottom line, and Jay showed tonight that others are trying to do that as well.”