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Thomas Mitchell
Searching for substance: An exercise in democracy
Updated: Aug. 9, 2010 | 2:12 p.m.
Free speech is nice. But free speech that someone actually listens to is even better.
The Review-Journal has joined with a number of newspapers and organizations across the country in an endeavor to use the tools of the Internet to give ordinary citizens a greater voice in our democratic process.
The project is called 10Questions.com and that is where you can find it online or you may link off the Review-Journal website at lvrj.com/10questions. When you go to the Nevada portion of the website, which has been created by an organization called Personal Democracy Forum, you may ask questions in either text format or by recording your own video. Questions can be asked of the candidates in three key Nevada political races on the Nov. 2 ballot: U.S. Senate, governor and representative from the 3rd Congressional District.
The video aspect is similar to the 2008 CNN/YouTube presidential primary debates in which people around the country posed questions by posting videos of themselves on the popular video website. I must admit the decorum of that format might not have been exactly high-brow, but neither is the average voter.
One debate question came from a talking snowman, another from two self-styled red necks and a question about gun control came from a Michigan man controlling his own rifle. To some gun control means a tight pattern.
So, if you want to know what Harry Reid and Sharron Angle think about illegal immigration or gay marriage or electric cars, ask.
If you want to know where Dina Titus and Joe Heck come down on jobless benefits extension, health care reform or cap and trade, ask.
If you want to know the stances of Rory Reid and Brian Sandoval on improving the state's education system, raising taxes and how they plan to handle the state's looming $3 billion budget shortfall, just ask.
On 10Questions.com people will be allowed to post questions through Sept. 14. Simultaneously people will be asked to view or read the questions being posted and vote on which are the best to be asked of the candidates themselves. On Sept. 15 the top 10 questions -- as selected by you, the public -- will be posted.
This past week the Review-Journal sent letters to the candidates in those three races inviting them to participate. Once the top 10 questions are posted, the major candidates will have until Oct. 15 to answer any or all or of the questions. According to Personal Democracy the answers can be as long or short as the candidate sees fit.
Once the answers are posted, the public will again get a chance to vote, this time on whether the candidates' actually answered the questions. The voting on that will end Nov. 2, which, of course, is Election Day.
Personal Democracy describes this exercise as a way to update political debates for the digital age. "Given the capabilities of today's interactive media, it's now possible to continue the conversation started in television debates and newspaper coverage. Using the Internet and online video, we can:
"-- Include ongoing public input on questions of interest.
"-- Give candidates more time and space to give thoughtful responses, and
"-- Enable voters to reward politicians with recognition when they choose substance over a sound bite."
The intent is to invigorate local civic engagement so voters can be more than spectators and become participants.
The project is funded by the Knight Foundation, which was established by the family that once owned one of the nation's largest newspaper chains. Personal Democracy Forum, which calls itself "cross-partisan," is running the website in association with Google and YouTube. Newspapers and other organizations across the country are using their websites and resources to make people aware of the project and encourage participation.
Thomas Mitchell is editor of the Review-Journal and writes about the role of the press and access to public information. He may be contacted at 383-0261 or via e-mail at tmitchell@reviewjournal.com. Read his blog at lvrj.com/blogs/mitchell.
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what's a birther?
r u a birther too?
rainbowman- we don't want any so called "reason" from you, no more will you get anything out of my wallet either you socialist.
question #1 who is going to chase Angle down to ask her anything? Got a track star handy?
Winston.Smith-I will attempt to give you a reasonable answer- Yes we will be nice and quit calling you extreme; right after the right quits telling us how to worship, and what our morals should be. You want the government out of everything but our bedrooms and women's wombs, we think that is extreme. When the conservatives stop looking for commies and Marxist's behind every bush, we think that is extreme paranoia. Commies and Marxist's have left he building; they are now off shoring their bucks in the Cayman's with our corporations now. How bout this: when we see a townhall meeting WITHOUT PEOPLE ARMED WITH M16's and carrying racist's signs? That would be a very nice gesture on your parts to convince us we could be overstating our views. Just Google teaparty racism on Google Images and tell me it's not racist. I rest my case.
No, slow steven, because you are.
Mr. Smith: Are there any conservatives calling liberals extremists that should stop?
"Winston.Smith wrote on August 08, 2010 08:47 AM: Will liberals ever tire of calling conservatives 'extremist' and/or 'racist'?"
A better question is: should progressives ever tire of calling out extremists and racists?
Will liberals ever tire of calling conservatives "extremist" and/or "racist"?
Well, Jack, people are a little distracted by the economy and the upcoming election. I'm not big on conspiracy theories, but I smell cover up with the assistance of Hawaiian officials.