Deliberative Democracy

The Case of the Missing White House Petitions

J.H. Snider | Posted 12.31.2011

Read More: E-Petitions, Online Petitions, Open Government Directive, Petition, Student Debt, Federated Identity Management, Student Loans, Student Loan Debt, Open Government, Participatory Democracy, Social Media Politics, Deliberative Democracy, Technology News
J.H. Snider

Given that We The People does in fact enhance the values of democratic deliberation and accountability, it may be unfair to emphasize the ways it fails to reach its potential.

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The 2-Party System Is Dead -- What's Next?

Jeffrey Abelson | Posted 09.24.2011

Read More: Thomas Friedman, 2 Party System, Americans Elect, Deliberative Democracy, Self-Government, 3rd Party, Third Way, Broken Government, Citizen, Politics News
Jeffrey Abelson

Well, it's on. The latest political gold rush to form a viable 3rd party. At the top of the food chain, backed by hedge fund guys, is Amercans Elect...

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Crowdsourcing for the Common Good

Jeffrey Abelson | Posted 09.18.2011

Read More: Citizen Deliberation, Deliberation, Crowdsourcing, Wisdom of the Crowd, Polarized Politics, Deliberative Democracy, Polarization, Self-Governance, Self-Government, Politics News
Jeffrey Abelson

What if there were a way to neuter ideological extremists, and zero out the oversized influence of lobbyists and big money and all the corruption that follows? And do it pretty damn quick.

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223 Years On (VIDEO)

Jeffrey Abelson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Coffee Party, Tea Party, Civic Engagement, Apathy, Frustrated, Constitution Day, Cynical, Deliberative Democracy, Special Interests, Lee Hamilton, Voter Apathy, Election, Government Gridlock, Citizenship Day, Active Citizen, Impact News
Jeffrey Abelson

Today is Constitution Day, aka Citizenship Day. A day to reflect on our extraordinary form of government, and reconnect with what it means to be an active citizen, and why it matters.

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America Speaks on Long-Term Deficit Reduction

Carolyn Lukensmeyer | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Americaspeaks, Deliberative Democracy, Deficit, Debt, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, America Speaks, Public Deliberation, Politics News
Carolyn Lukensmeyer

In just two hours, about half of the diverse table groups that took part in the America Speaks National Town Meeting were able to find enough common ground to reduce the deficit in 2025 by $1.2 trillion.

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What Does It Take to Have a Civil Conversation These Days?

Carolyn Lukensmeyer | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Americaspeaks, National Town Meeting, Deliberative Democracy, Democracy, Federal Budget Deficit, Politics News
Carolyn Lukensmeyer

There was plenty of disagreement at our June 26 National Town Meeting, but the disagreements tended to be civil and respectful.

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Active Civic Engagement: The Power of People to Make Change

Jane Wales | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Deliberative Democracy, Community Organizing, WK Kellogg Foundation, Matt Leighninger, Civic Engagement, Philanthropy, Impact News
Jane Wales

Matt Leighninger of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium has written "Creating Spaces for Change: Working Toward A 'Story of Now' In Civic Engagement" focusing on community organizing and deliberative democracy.

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Whose Voice Matters Most?

Jeffrey Abelson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Americaspeaks, Debt, Economy, Budget, National Town Hall, Democracy, Self-Governance, Grass Roots, Deficit, Deliberation, RJ Eskow, Archon Fung, National Discussion, Deliberative Democracy, The People, Dean Baker, Politics News
Jeffrey Abelson

There seems to lurk a sense among progressives that The People can't be trusted to think for themselves about the priorities of our national budget, or the direction of our country.

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Public Deliberation: The Left Should Learn to Trust Americans

Archon Fung | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Americaspeaks, Our Budget Our Economy, Deficit, Deliberative Democracy, Economy, Fiscal Responsibility, Politics News
Archon Fung

It was distressing that many progressive intellectuals leveled withering scorn at the event AmericaSpeaks held this Saturday, simply because they viewed it as a vast right-wing conspiracy to manufacture public consent to slash public programs.

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Make Your Voice Heard Without Screaming

Jeffrey Abelson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Debt, Tea Party, Obama, Self-Government, Town Meeting, Community Forum, Voice, Deliberative Democracy, Informed Citizen, Politics News
Jeffrey Abelson

Most concerned citizens are frustrated that they can't seem to make their voices heard by elected officials. But is that really true? Or is there a way to radically amplify public voice -- and build a powerful lobby of informed active citizens?

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