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The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.We look for specific behaviors and actions in our candidates and elected representatives:
We work to set a good example and demonstrate the behaviors and actions we want to see from others:
We have three specific goals for ourselves as well as for candidates and our elected representatives:
Our specific goals for overall reform are:
We have an additional goal that we may take up at a later time: Encourage ballot initiatives that address the needs of most citizens and discourage ballot initiatives that primarily benefit a single business, industry or other limited interest.
Goal #1 of encouraging strong
communication/problem-solving/conflict resolution skills is potentially
very challenging and very rewarding. If we’re going to elect
people with the desired skills, those skills have to be an issue during
campaigns. This requires joint efforts by voters, candidates and
journalists. Candidates should demonstrate their abilities to work
things out with those who may disagree. Candidates should also
demonstrate their ability to present common ground and differences to
voters in a clear, respectful way. If candidates can’t deal
effectively with differences during a campaign, they’re not
likely to deal effectively with differences on budgets, health care,
retirement benefits or other divisive issues after they’re
elected. The same is true for candidates’ abilities to clearly
and respectfully communicate to voters their common ground and
differences on divisive issues. The process is quite simple: All
candidates for the same office collaborate on a joint campaign
statement of common ground and differences. These statements would be
printed and distributed at no cost to the candidates. Costs would be
covered at first by donations with a long-term goal of getting public
funding and shifting responsibility to whoever runs the election.
We will have no direct editorial control but will review the statements
and may question the candidates about reliability of claims and
encourage them to either further explain why they consider certain
information to be reliable, or issue a disclaimer that some claims are
uncertain. Evaluating competing claims and determining reliable sources
can be a big part of resolving certain conflicts. This also simplifies
things for voters since they get comprehensive, reliable information in
one place.
Cooperating candidates might also be given reduced rates or increased word limits in their sample ballot statements. Several candidates might be allowed to combine their sample ballot statements, perhaps including charts or tables clearly showing their differences.
Better to light a small candle than curse the darkness.We recognize that reform is a moving target and we need to constantly reevaluate our own goals and solutions. The solutions involve a long-term effort with a grass-roots movement pushing from the bottom, candidates pulling from the top, and journalists squeezing on the sides. Voter, candidate and journalist education is an important part of any change as people aren't likely to support an option they don't understand. Contact us if you'd like to participate. |