Crossposted at Daily Kos.
I don't think there's enough dialogue in this country.
You have to excuse me. I'm a peacemaker by temperament, and I'm a trained mediator, so I have a thing about dialogue. Let me explain.
There's not enough dialogue in the American culture. Between leaders and voters. Between party factions. With anybody. But I want to talk about politics and civic participation.
We are starved for real political dialogue in this country. The Party and our government is this separate behemoth. The public feel isolated, alone, not fully informed. People feel talked at, manipulated, condescended to, ignored. And we are left to speculation and gossip, and we feel they don't want our input, they just want us to just do what they say. "Give us your money and your vote and shut up."
I've got several dialogue stories below the fold:
· Ronnie Earle files for statewide run in TX (Texas Nate)
· IA-Sen: Get to know Bob Krause (desmoinesdem)
· Sunlight Foundation launches "Transparency Corps" (desmoinesdem)
· Tom Perriello: "I can deal with losing reelection. I can’t deal with being a coward." (lowkell)
· How wisely is your state spending stimulus road money? (desmoinesdem)
· IA-Gov: An early look at the Republican field (desmoinesdem)
· Status of Jim Webb, Bobby Scott Crime Bills (lowkell)
· LA-Sen: Vitter's Already Scared of Charlie! (DailyKingFish)
· National Review Online Lies, Smears Tom Perriello (lowkell)
· Senator Dorgan supports public option, Senator Conrad dodges questino (desmoinesdem)
· LA-Sen: Melancon's Chances Look Good (DailyKingFish)
· Swing State Project updates "Open Seat Watch" (desmoinesdem)
