Book: Arguing for our lives: a user's guide to constructive dialog

Why Politics at the Dinner Table Is Good for Democracy by Andy Lee Roth — YES! Magazine:

"Defying the conventional wisdom that we get along best by avoiding public talk about religion or politics, Robert Jensen asks, “What else is there of interest to discuss?” In Arguing For Our Lives: A User’s Guide to Constructive Dialog he proposes that restoring our lost faith in “the possibility of honest argumentation in public” requires honing our critical thinking skills and putting them to more frequent use. Democracy, he reminds us, begins in conversation."

'via Blog this'

Frontiers of Democracy Research: The Gettysburg Project

Frontiers of Democracy Research: The Gettysburg Project | Challenges to DemocracyChallenges to Democracy:

"This post captures that introductory discussion for an occasional series on the blog exploring the frontiers of research on democratic governance. 

"The series highlights the work of the Ash Center’s faculty and Democracy Fellows whose research illuminates aspects of democratic governance, with a focus on innovations in public participation and on urgent substantive policy or social problems related to democratic governance."

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Book: The Ecology of Democracy: Finding Ways to Have a Stronger Hand in Shaping Our Future

The Ecology of Democracy: Finding Ways to Have a Stronger Hand in Shaping Our Future | Kettering Foundation:

"The work of democracy is work. Here are some ideas about how it can be done in ways that put more control in the hands of citizens and help restore the legitimacy of our institutions."

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EveryVote - University Elections

EveryVote - University Elections:

• EV actively supports the development of free, publicly downloadable, comprehensive USA college candidate and official databases, so that Americans can learn about, share their opinion, and contact all of their candidates and officials through one convenient web page.

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November 23-29, 2013 World Forum for Democracy

World Forum for Democracy - Home - Council of Europe:

• The Council of Europe is in a unique position to bring together elected politicians and civil society leaders to discuss the impact of technological change on established democratic structures and institutions.
• The Forum will look into the opportunities and risks of a number of participatory initiatives and test their solidity and longevity in an open debate with elected politicians.

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September 8, 2013 virtual gathering: Can you hear me now? The troublesome democratic divide online

Can you hear me now? The troublesome democratic divide online – Sept. 18 virtual gathering | E-Democracy.org – Project Blog:

• Today, the New York Times shared a story on the millions of Americans who remain unplugged and we invited our Digital Inclusion Network members to offer their two cents. Our view is that democratic divide is much wider than the digital divide, so therefore we must proactively use civic technology to help build stronger and more inclusive communities and democracies and not wait for everyone to be online.
• ... to raise new and more representative voices online, you need to reach out to people of color and to people in the political center to make up the most ground. As a non-partisan, non-profit online civic engagement project, we have a special responsibility to make up for .com and .org advocacy efforts whose bottom line is either to reach the most advertiser sought out people or to reach those most willing to speak out for their cause.

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Cornel West lectures on Socrates, democracy and social responsibility

The Daily Pennsylvanian :: Cornel West lectures on Socrates, democracy and social responsibility:

• West stressed that independent thinkers must be willing to analyze their own assumptions and prejudices.

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August 7-11, 2013 ~ 2013 Democracy Convention

THE DEMOCRACY CONVENTION: Nine conferences. One movement. | 2013 Democracy Convention:

If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most — in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, military, government, media, constitution — you will find something inspiring in Madison in August, 2013. Democracy is coming . . . to the U.S.A..  

THE DEMOCRACY CONVENTION: Nine conferences. One movement. 

Education  

Representation 

Economic

Earth 

Media 

Constitutional Reform 

Racial Equality 

Democratizing Defense 

Local Democracy

The Democracy Convention

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Fight against Corporatocracy

Fight against Corporatocracy
By David Weller


What is the Citizens United case
cost to democracy?
Granted, not all
Americans are democratic.
In fact, some are for
free speech for corporations.
Do you trust companies
when you vote?
Should you trust them
and their campaign messages?
Let's see; corporations
are legal entities.
Their goals are the same--
to increase the dollar value
of their owners.
Does that sound like
the goals of the United States?
Corporations are not people.
People is the population
of America.
Why should I vote for
government benefiting corporations?
How does that help America?
Just think what Corporatocracy
means for the USA--
for the defense department,
for the department of state,
for the department of education?
The overturning of Citizens United
is the best thing real people can do.
Just ask your favorite
Washington, DC ethics watchdog
what you can do right now.

The case for Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein

I know she stands a small chance to get elected, but I'm more than tired of people professedly voting for the lesser of two evils.  Our nation is building a terrible debt for our children and grandchildren, and I don't have any hope for change from the two monoliths that are the Demos and Repubs.

She is forwarding a "Green New Deal" that calls for gov support for new jobs that better the environment (and thus our economy.)  After all, good conservation practices and producing new environmentally friendly products are good for the bottom line-- for companies and the gov.

She would also carry a great mandate to take a lot of money out of today's politics, money that has an undue inside influence over the offices of our own representatives.

Above all, she will fight climate change by improving the environment.  The oceans are rising and will continue to unless we do our part in the world community of lowering the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere; most of the rest of the world is waiting on the US to actually do something about it-- we are one of the world's most wasteful countries.

A vote for Jill Stein is a vote for the positive values of a much greener economy for ours, and the world's, sake.  Thanks for listening.  David Weller, Activism News

For more information, please visit JillStein.org.

Clean and fair: 20 problems with American elections and what we should do about it

The United States used to take pride in its democratic electoral process.  Citizens writing letters to their government representatives was an honored civic duty.  Today, it is divided between the country of Democrats and the nation of Republicans; and our democracy has dwindled in the controversy.

Here are many problems encountered by Americans this present election cycle:

1. Partisan state Secretaries of State, local elections officials and US Supreme Court
2. Electronic voting machines that were, and will be, hacked to corrupt the vote count; ballots aren't counted before the public
3. Unlimited secret money fueling federal candidate campaigns
4. Attack ads to total in the billions of dollars this election cycle
5. Robo calls-- automated, computerized, unsolicited phone calls to potential voters conducted by many candidates across the country
6. Registered voters are to present a Voter ID, sometimes with picture, before they can vote
7. Many states don't have same-day voter registration service for voters on General election day
8. Two-party-rigged state congressional redistricting after each 10-year US Census
9. Winner-take-all "first past the post" election system-- the election winner can win by a mere plurality-- or less than 50%-- of the people that voted
10. Two-party dominated ballot access state regulations, that vary across the country
11. The Federal Election Commission is hijacked by a major national party
12. The red shift Election Poll "Adjustment Process" that falsely affirms the election winner
13. The US Senate voted against the [campaign finance] DISCLOSURE Act
14. Anti-petitioning regulations; and they vary from state to state across the country
15. The major political parties' national nominating conventions are financially supported by the taxpayer
16. Presidential candidates devote almost all campaigning to several battleground states
17. US Senate candidates don't electronically submit their FEC campaign reports
18. Big presidential campaign contributors get preferentially hired for Administration posts
19. The entire voting system (machines, supply, counting) is controlled by commercial companies
20. General election day is held on a Tuesday; some states don't have Early Voting days

If we are to enjoy confidence in our voter registration, voting and counting of those votes, we must return to a national culture that values a clean and fair electoral system and process.

Read New Book on Deliberation and Democracy

From:  Democratizing Deliberation: A Political Theory Anthology  |  NCDD

• This book addresses many of the most common challenges to the theory and practice of deliberative democracy.

• Chapters and Authors…

• Foreward by David Mathews

• Introduction by editors Derek W. M. Barker, Nöelle McAfee, and David W. McIvor

• Public reason and beyond: broadening concepts of deliberation

• Deliberation in complex systems: everyday talk and de-centered

• From talk to action: democratic practice and public work

• Resource Link: http://kettering.org/publications/democratizing-deliberation/

• Ordering Info:  Call 1-800-600-4060 to order your copy of the 184-page book, or email your order and mailing address to info@ait.net.  The list price is $15.95, but there is a 20% discount in effect until October.

• Note from NCDD…  Soon after Democratizing Deliberation is officially released, NCDD will be running our first online book club on the book, using the NCDD blog and other communication tools to engage NCDDers in the book’s contents chapter by chapter.  See www.ncdd.org/7863 for the full announcement of the book club and sign up now!

For Beginners to US Politics: View 10-minute Video on Citizenship

From:  Citizenship Video  |  The Center on Congress at Indiana University

• In our American government process, find out how the actions of the citizens who have come before us have helped shape our current-day society.

• Understand the many different things citizens can do to participate in our democracy as well as in our local communities.

• Learn about the characteristics of good citizens that are so important to our democracy – things like listening to others, making sound decisions, and speaking up on issues that matter to us.

Please see the 10-minute video here.


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Thoughts on Civic Engagement and Democracy

From:  Civic Provocations: Bringing Theory to Practice  |  Editor: Donald W Harward, Series Editor: Barry Checkoway  |  Bringing Theory to Practice Project, Association of American Colleges and Universities

• To be an engaged, or higher, learner is to be in a relationship to an “other” and to respect its integrity—to know, judge, and act in a community. It is why Dewey and current neo-pragmatists argue that matters of learning and thinking are inseparable from a social ethic, from matters of social action where knowing and practice in the social context are inseparable. They are the very core of civic responsibility.  ~Donald W Harward

• If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?—RABBI HILLEL

• As Tocqueville said, hearkening back to Aristotle, “By dint of working for the good of one’s fellow citizens, the habit and the taste for serving them are at length acquired.”  ~Corey Keyes

• Civic engagement is an activity, first and foremost.  It should be done in the spirit of joining and addressing an issue that is of concern not just to you, but to others, where the well-being or public happiness of others is at stake.  ~Corey Keyes

• A crisis is also an opportunity. If we lack compelling political and intellectual movements, and if our major institutions are performing very badly, then we’d better begin building examples of ethical and effective civic work at the grassroots level. If our intellectual life is fractured in ways that reduce its value for active citizens, then we’d better find settings that reintegrate scholarship and address serious problems. That’s what I think we’re trying to do, but my provocation is that the intellectual work involved in that is extraordinarily difficult.  ~Peter Levine

• It struck me that these small [civic engagement] groups of ... face a monumental intellectual task. The question before them is, what must be done? To answer that, they must know what the conditions are in the world, what strategies might possibly work ... and they must decide whether what they might try to do in the world would be good. So they must decide three things together: facts, strategies, and values.  ~Peter Levine

• Civic engagement is an opportunity to remind us of our desperate need for rich interdependence; to strip away the fantasy of autonomy; to reveal that if the most vulnerable fall, we are all threatened.  ~Michelle Fine

• I was recently reminded of an idea floated decades ago by the philosophers John Dewey and Maxine Greene. They contrasted anesthetic educational experiences, which put you to sleep, with aesthetic experiences, which provoke new ideas, relationships, and activities. Perhaps we should catalogue the conditions under which we can produce civic engagements that are aesthetic, provocative, enlivening—and not anesthetic.  ~Michelle Fine

• It is in the condition of the free exchange, or even confrontation, of ideas that freedom has a meaning and justification. Ideologically regulated freedom is an oxymoron. Argumentation and the search for consensus are essential for true democracy.  ~Samuel Abraham

• What I have also learned is the importance of asking questions. For, in our age, the questions, not the answers, are most daring and in danger of being foreclosed by ideologues and fanatics. Answers vary, are subjective, are tainted by ideology, and are rightly considered matters of opinion; however, questions might go to the core of the matter.  ~Samuel Abraham

• The scope of our goals is thinking in terms that must be concrete and purposely limited.  The smaller of large deeds as simply the objective, the larger the impact it will have on minds.  And this is more than one can hope for, because setting an example—being an example—can have transformative effects.  Concrete positive action is something those thinking in terms of large deeds simply can't fathom.  ~Samuel Abraham

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Despite sweet sentimentalities, Mr Griffin is a plutocrat, not a democrat

In response to Mr Griffin's interview about his big money donations to mostly Republican candidates and causes: I must say it is the safest American rhetoric I have ever heard.  It's amazing I could find very few things to disagree with; but isn't that the problem with his interview?  Let's get this straight: Mr Griffin is really a plutocrat.  We should, instead, have a democratic electoral system, one that gives, in general, everyone  18 and over the same amount of influence in our government.

I'm glad Mr. Griffin has laid out his battlefield of his sweet grandma's apple pie.  It is up to We, the People to occupy it.

Please read his interview with the Chicago Tribute here.

Successful online, local-level citizen civic engagement with city council members

This is interesting, in that it is a forum / email list of Minneapolis area residents, that have asked for and have received detailed responses from their city council members on local problems.  I can see this happening in neighborhoods and cities across the nation.  E-Democracy.org has many years of experience on the internet enabling local citizen forums such as the one referenced below.

E-Democracy.org:  Project Blog
From: Where there is smoke there is noise … Neighbors and Online Civic Engagement  |  Written by Steven Clift  |  Comments are allowed

• We’ve added neighborhood level engagement with “community life” exchange to our classic city-wide online town halls.
• Check out these recent passionate community discussions on airport noise (89+ posts) in Standish Ericsson and recreational fires and smoke (55+ posts) in Longfellow.
• Every local elected official, everywhere should be part of an online space that makes this happen. (And not just some surface-level Facebook page that cuts you off with a paragraph or two or some puff your chest out political tweets.)

For details and on how to reach author Steven Clift, please go to the E-Democracy post.

National democratic movements have taken shape and are building membership, increasing activities

There is a political organizing trend of building coalitions of like-minded groups on the internet right now.  In addition, other organizations have developed on their own.

On the democracy front, America has seen a budding of many movements independent of the two major parties; nine national organizations are listed below in alphabetical order.  Although they are for the most part non-ideological, they fall somewhere in the center and/or left on the political spectrum, and they all encourage grassroots and netroots activism from their members.

In the near future, there will be more numerous progressive conventions and protests.  Some of these organizations will come together at times for a greater presence and show of resolve.

• Agenda Project  |  http://agendaproject.org/  |  The Agenda Project’s goal is to build a powerful, intelligent, well-connected political movement capable of identifying and advancing rational, effective ideas in the public debate and in so doing ensure our country’s enduring success. .. Between out-dated political parties, self-interested multi-national corporations, and ineffectual elected officials, good values and common sense have lost their power in the public debate.  Our goal is to return normal Americans to the center of the policy debate by cultivating an understanding of public policy, facilitating common action, and connecting the best ideas and the strongest leaders with engaged citizens, elected officials, the media, political insiders, and experts through a variety of in-person and on-line platforms.

• Americans Elect  |  http://www.americanselect.org/  |  Americans Elect is the first-ever open nominating process. We're using the Internet to give every single voter—Democrat, Republican or independent—the power to nominate a presidential ticket in 2012. The people will choose the issues. The people will choose the candidates. And in a secure, online convention next June, the people will make history by putting their choice on the ballot in every state.

• Campaign for Stronger Democracy  |  http://strongerdemocracy.org/  |  The Campaign for a Stronger Democracy is a new coalition of advocates, scholars, civic organizations, public officials and concerned citizens who are working to create a strong, vibrant democracy, rooted in a belief that our democratic institutions can rise to the challenges facing our nation.

• Coffee Party USA  |  http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/  |  We are a non-partisan, fact-based, solutions-oriented network determined to have an impact in our nation's deliberative process.  If we abandon our civic duty to multi-national corporations and the ruling elite, the interests of our nation as a whole will be neglected.  Recognizing that many Americans are searching for a way to participate in our political process without adhering to any partisan or ideological framework, our aim is to provide a gathering place and a method for those who might not otherwise have a voice in our democracy.  These are the voices we value most.

• Democracy Convention  |  http://democracyconvention.org/  |  If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most -- in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution -- you will find something inspiring in Madison this August. ..  More than one conference, this first Democracy Convention will house at least nine conferences under one roof. As the great progressive reformer Fighting Bob La Follette said, "democracy is a life," and "involves constant struggle" in all sectors of society. With the 2011 Democracy Convention, we recognize the importance of each of these separate democracy struggles, as well as the need to unite them all in a common, deeply rooted, broad based, movement for democracy.

• Move to Amend  |  http://movetoamend.org/  |  MovetoAmend.org is a coalition supported by hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of individuals dedicated to ending the illegitimate legal doctrines that prevent the American people from governing ourselves.

• No Labels  |  http://nolabels.org/front  |  No Labels does not believe we need to search for better values or principles.  The solution is even simpler: we must return to the essence of our beliefs.  Most Americans in the vital center of our still great country

• October 2011  |  http://october2011.org/welcome  |  "I pledge that if any U.S. troops, contractors, or mercenaries remain in Afghanistan on Thursday, October 6, 2011, as that occupation goes into its 11th year, I will commit to being in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., with others on that day or the days immediately following, for as long as I can, with the intention of making it our Tahrir Square, Cairo, our Madison, Wisconsin, where we will NONVIOLENTLY resist the corporate machine by occupying Freedom Plaza to demand that America's resources be invested in human needs and environmental protection instead of war and exploitation. We can do this together. We will be the beginning."

• USAction  |  http://www.usaction.org/  |  USAction builds power by uniting people locally and nationally, on-the-ground and online, to win a more just and progressive America.  We create the nation's leading progressive coalitions, making democracy work by organizing issue and election campaigns to improve people's lives.

These offer opportunities for democratic and progressive activism to individuals and smaller groups across the U.S.  You, too, can be a part by checking out and signing up with what interests you the most.

Read up on the budget deal. Demand transparency. Weigh in. Democracy demands it.

The purpose of Activism News is to offer tools to assist citizens in engaging in the democratic process; in addition, we provide the latest news applicable to the average political activist. This means culling the latest from the source-- over 150 different NGO blogs-- and presenting that information with due attribution. An entire post from OMB Watch today deserves our immediate attention-- it reminds us of our civic duty during this time of critical debt deliberations to be both aware of Washington's happenings and to engage with fellow Americans and our federally elected officials. Thanks to OMB Watch for this very timely public participation request.

The Biggest Loser in the Debt Ceiling Deal: American Democracy
August 9, 2011

Like everyone else in the country, at OMB Watch, we are trying to find a sliver of hope in the outcome of the debt ceiling debacle. We are relieved that default was avoided, since the immediate repercussions could have been worse than the volatility we've seen in recent days. But the debt deal effectively steals the instruments government has to try to heal our wounded economy. Financial analysts across the globe have noticed, and anxieties about the effects of sputtering U.S. consumer demand are deepening.

As critical as the economic impacts of the deal are, the debt ceiling game of chicken was a political earthquake, and its aftershocks could keep us reeling indefinitely. America’s style of democracy, admired (or sometimes criticized) for its stability, is looking shaky.

Effective democracy requires an informed, engaged citizenry; honest debate; and elected representatives working in the public interest. These elements were not in evidence last week.

The American people are angry that big banks were rescued but not local businesses or homeowners. Americans told Congress they wanted jobs, but the only proposals under discussion were cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Our debt piled up because we gave huge tax cuts to the wealthy, went to war on borrowed money, and then revenues tanked when the housing bubble burst. The stimulus created or saved up to three and a half million jobs, but it wasn’t big enough to fill the 8 million-job hole created by Wall Street’s meltdown. Corporate taxes are at an all-time low; businesses have trillions to invest but won’t until demand returns.

A majority of Americans of both parties believe revenues should be part of the budget deal. The public wants a debate on what the federal government can do to create jobs and right the economy. Instead of addressing these crucial issues, a determined minority is doing its best to undermine the government’s ability to provide assistance to vulnerable Americans in this challenging economy and during future crises.

Anti-government ideologues have taken away a frightening lesson: that radical truculence by a small faction is a winning strategy. When elected officials fail to respond to the public’s concerns, faith in government plummets. When unemployment benefits are held hostage to tax cuts for the rich, public cynicism about who our democratic institutions serve grows. When elected officials who vote their conscience or the values of their constituents are threatened with primary challenges financed by outside special interests, the principle of representative democracy erodes. And when public trust in government bleeds out, anti-government forces gain strength.

Those of us who believe in democracy and know that public structures play a crucial role in life have to push back on the cynicism. We need more participation, more citizens scrutinizing the process. What’s at stake is too important to give in to cynicism and disillusionment. Twelve people cannot possibly represent the unique needs and diverse interests of the American populace. The potential for special interest pressure on the Committee of Twelve will be enormous. The American people need to be vigilant; they need to make themselves heard.

Even if our party structures and congressional rules are stuck in the 19th century, our technology is not. We have digital video and cell phones. We have the Internet. We have the ability to live-stream every hearing of the Committee of Twelve to libraries, college campuses, and school rooms across the country. Reports and documents can be posted online.

Every meeting a committee member has with a lobbyist or powerful interest group should be posted online. Financial disclosure statements of the Committee of Twelve and their staff should be posted online. Campaign contributions should be publicly posted within 24 hours of receipt. The committee’s final report should be posted 72 hours before it is voted on. A running public comment should start now. Let’s have a giant civics lesson in public budgets.

Government of the people requires an electoral system that produces responsible, rational representatives who care more about people than ideological purity. Government by the people in the modern world mandates modern communication tools that invite people into decision making instead of shutting them out. Government for the people only happens when citizens fiercely defend their right to know and to participate. So read up on the budget deal. Demand transparency. Weigh in.

Democracy demands it.