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September 29, 2008
an effort to add civic questions to the debate
The following is a message from the November Fifth Coalition ...
WE ARE ALL THE CHANGE WE NEED!
There has been a lot of talk this presidential election about "who makes change?" -- John McCain or Barack Obama. We need to change this conversation. It's sometimes easier to pretend we are spectators. But we all need to be involved if we are to see the changes we need.
The Second Presidential Debate on October 7th offers the opportunity to make this point and help change the focus from "them" making change to "all of us" making change. The debate has a "Town Hall Format" with opportunities for electronic questions, already open. We encourage citizens of all views and persuasions to query both candidates through email on some version of these questions, using an issue you are passionate about (e.g. the economy, health, global warming, education, poverty):
- Do you think that we all are change agents, or will you be able to make the changes that we need by yourself [on this question]?
- How would you organize your presidency to involve all citizens as agents of change?
To submit a question: go to www.MyDebates.org by October 2nd (the last date for submission).
Background: This call for us all to claim the role of change agents comes from the cross-partisan November Fifth Coalition (www.novemberfifth.org), which formed last year to put active citizenship in the presidential election. We declared that the election is about all of us, not simply candidates.
For more information on the debate format and to spread the word go to http://tinyurl.com/3kzaca. To find out more about November Fifth Coalition, go to this FaceBook page.
Click http://www.belmontdebate08.com/faq for Frequently Asked Questions about the debate.
To submit a question: go to www.MyDebates.org
September 29, 2008 4:29 PM | category: none
Comments
That first question is loaded! Even Jesus Christ our Savior wouldn't agree that he could unilateral make all the changes we need.
The second question is a bit more interesting. Anyone can pay lip service to involving citizens, but who has any credible ideas how to do it?
Still, I can definitely see how many folks would think the question itself is kinda silly. Devil's advocate here, but imagine: We have multiple ongoing wars, on the verge of financial meltdown, and you want to talk about 'civic engagement'?
September 29, 2008 5:53 PM | Comments (1) | posted by Michael Weiksner