... I've taken on a new project: KentuckyVotes.org.
Poke through it. Subscribe to legislative updates. And feel free to comment. I thrive on it.
Thanks.
August 18, 2005
June 26, 2005
Terri Schiavo
The five of us who gathered on Sunday the 26th debated a wide range of subjects. We talked about the Terri Schiavo tragedy and the political reverberations it has spawned. As we focused on Congress and other institutions of governance it evolved into to a discussion about events in Iraq, crime and punishment and other topics too numerous to mention. It was a spirited dialogue.
On Sunday, July 10th, we'll serve up a conversation about hunger and nutrition in the metro area. A representative from a group called Community Farm Alliance will fill us in on the basics about providing the "basics" to everyone. Community Farm Alliance is a statewide grassroots that supports family-scale farmin as a means of protecting the environment and strengthening rural community life.
So come to the City Cafe 3 PM, July 10th and partake of good company and conversation at the next meeting of Cofound.
Here is a link to an article in .pdf that goes a little deeper into our topic: http://www.foodsecurity.org/PerspectivesOnCFS.pdf
On Sunday, July 10th, we'll serve up a conversation about hunger and nutrition in the metro area. A representative from a group called Community Farm Alliance will fill us in on the basics about providing the "basics" to everyone. Community Farm Alliance is a statewide grassroots that supports family-scale farmin as a means of protecting the environment and strengthening rural community life.
So come to the City Cafe 3 PM, July 10th and partake of good company and conversation at the next meeting of Cofound.
Here is a link to an article in .pdf that goes a little deeper into our topic: http://www.foodsecurity.org/PerspectivesOnCFS.pdf
May 5, 2005
Links on Gun Control
I am unsure what to say about crime victim's rights and hand guns -- I think I took on too much, too wide of a scope in the topic -- so I want to narrow this a bit and talk about gun control. This will depersonalize it a bit (as I was recently the victim of a crime), but I think it will still relate to my personal experience. Here are some suggested readings. Read as many as you like. They give different viewpoints and scopes on the issue of gun control in general. Some of them require Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded here.
May 1, 2005
Transportation
On Sunday, May first, fifteen of us traveled to the City Cafe and discussed transportation. David Coyte from CART, was there to take questions and speak about the local, regional and national outlooks. We critiqued TARC and other systems and considered new technologies such as magnetic levitation.
Inevitably, the conversation touched on the conflict between the American love of personal mobility and the virtues of mass transit. Some lamented our sprawling urban structures and car-centered culture and wondered what it will take to prod us to change. It was widely acknowledged that current federal policy will not do the trick.
Sunday, May Fifteenth, we will talk about crime, victim's rights and gun control. Florida has recently passed a law granting crime victims the option of using lethal force. Will this policy thwart criminals or lead to needless injuries and death. Just where do we draw the line between defense and offense? Come armed with your best arguments as we explore the issues of crime, victim's rights and gun control. Matt Evans has material about the subject that he will post on our website, cofound.blogspot.com.
Inevitably, the conversation touched on the conflict between the American love of personal mobility and the virtues of mass transit. Some lamented our sprawling urban structures and car-centered culture and wondered what it will take to prod us to change. It was widely acknowledged that current federal policy will not do the trick.
Sunday, May Fifteenth, we will talk about crime, victim's rights and gun control. Florida has recently passed a law granting crime victims the option of using lethal force. Will this policy thwart criminals or lead to needless injuries and death. Just where do we draw the line between defense and offense? Come armed with your best arguments as we explore the issues of crime, victim's rights and gun control. Matt Evans has material about the subject that he will post on our website, cofound.blogspot.com.
April 20, 2005
Links on Rapid Transit
I wrote two stories back in 1999 about Louisville's efforts at getting light rail into the city.
The Rail Truth
Pointing to Portland
The two stories combined won First Place for Enterprise Reporting from the Louisville Society of Professional Journalists. I only mention this because David Coyte is quoted in, I believe, both stories. He is a supporter of light rail (or at least the concept of rapid public transit).
The Rail Truth
Pointing to Portland
The two stories combined won First Place for Enterprise Reporting from the Louisville Society of Professional Journalists. I only mention this because David Coyte is quoted in, I believe, both stories. He is a supporter of light rail (or at least the concept of rapid public transit).
April 17, 2005
Social Security
On Sunday, the 17th, eleven intrepid souls braved perfect weather to discuss Social Security. Our talk touched on the financial squeeze facing retirees and the disabled and the social responsibility many feel they have for these groups. Several among us expressed a general disgust at politicians for mismanagement, if not outright theft, of the trust fund. This prompted a call for us to personally contact our Congressmen and to hold them accountable.
As the discussion progressed, a positive outlook came to the fore and a consensus developed that a rough patch may lie ahead but our resilient society can innovate its way to better days.
On May 1st we meet again with the topic: Transportation for the Long Haul
Transportation issues come up often during our discussions and certainly it is a subject that affects us all. When it comes to traffic jams and pollution, we are all a part of the problem. But we can also play a role in it's solution. Join us as we talk about bridges, light rail and the future of the automobile. On Sunday, May the 1st we'll take a look at the local and long distance issues, for today and for down the road. Hope we see you then.
As the discussion progressed, a positive outlook came to the fore and a consensus developed that a rough patch may lie ahead but our resilient society can innovate its way to better days.
On May 1st we meet again with the topic: Transportation for the Long Haul
Transportation issues come up often during our discussions and certainly it is a subject that affects us all. When it comes to traffic jams and pollution, we are all a part of the problem. But we can also play a role in it's solution. Join us as we talk about bridges, light rail and the future of the automobile. On Sunday, May the 1st we'll take a look at the local and long distance issues, for today and for down the road. Hope we see you then.
April 4, 2005
Interesting Links
If you actually want to know what is going on this world, I don't think you can really watch TV and know anything, but there are some glaring exceptions, CSPAN being one of them.
Two interesting things everyone should check out:
1. Since social security serves as our next topic, check out some of the testimony and videos CSPAN posts from different perspectives at http://www.cspan.org (sorry you will need to do a a search on this site as long html addresses, which is what I had for the exact address of these files, break the blog).
2. Since we mentioned consumerism, an interesting conversation was had about Coke by a recent author on the subject, check it out at http://www.booknotes.org/Transcript/?ProgramID=1772 (no special programs needed as this is a transcript).
Two interesting things everyone should check out:
1. Since social security serves as our next topic, check out some of the testimony and videos CSPAN posts from different perspectives at http://www.cspan.org (sorry you will need to do a a search on this site as long html addresses, which is what I had for the exact address of these files, break the blog).
2. Since we mentioned consumerism, an interesting conversation was had about Coke by a recent author on the subject, check it out at http://www.booknotes.org/Transcript/?ProgramID=1772 (no special programs needed as this is a transcript).
March 25, 2005
Link on Eminent Domain
Regarding the eminent domain case before the U.S. Supreme Court, I recently interviewed the man who argued the case before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the landowners. Enjoy.
March 14, 2005
Book Recommendation
The book I recommended yesterday:
I could have done without some of the essays. Luckily, all those essays are short.
February 24, 2005
Kentucky Focus
For those interested, I have begun a "podcast" of my radio program, Kentucky Focus, a weekly public affairs program aimed at Kentucky listeners interested in what goes on in various parts of the state. You may download the program or subscribe to the podcast, if you're able. If you don't know what a podcast is, then don't worry, it's just a geek term for a geek toy.
I have a few friends I may be bringing to the next meeting. I'm glad it's being held at a place where beer and food can be consumed. Nothing against libraries, mind you.
I have a few friends I may be bringing to the next meeting. I'm glad it's being held at a place where beer and food can be consumed. Nothing against libraries, mind you.
February 23, 2005
Lakoff and Understanding Metaphors
At this point, I think I am being ridiculous, certainly not giving uptake to the previous posts, but I would help Caleb and others lay a lot on the table so we could digest what we want when we want. George Lakoff, a cognitive linguist, has a lot to say about discourse, language choice, and frames. Here is a link to an article he wrote about conservatives and liberals. I like some of what he says, but by no means do I completely buy into it.
Giving Uptake
A professor I know, Avery Kolers, posted a comment about discourse between liberals and conservatives, or differing political perspectives, from a philosophical viewpoint. He calls it giving uptake. Here I repeat what he said on another blog, U of L's philosophy blog.
I originally posted a version of this as a guest post on Rodger A. Payne's blog. I thought I'd repost it here since it discusses Nancy Potter's work.
“RedAmerica” and “Blue America” are, as some commentators took pains toshow in the days after November 2, misnomers. We share our politicalsystem, a culture, a language, a set of experiences, and much of ouriconography. The vast majority of members of each side are Christian.But when the two sides say “moral values” I suspect that they don’teven share the concept.
Then, each side is shocked—I suspect genuinely—to find itself accused of exactly what it accuses the other of: arrogance,immorality, disregard for democratic procedures, making America weaker,failing to “support our troops,” etc.
Republicans have deluged the local paper with op-ed pieces and letters charging Democrats or liberals with arrogance, elitism, and of course, being sore losers. The only positive judgment they’ve offered is that John Kerry did the rightthing—by conceding without litigation. Generous praise indeed!
On the other hand, liberals and Democrats express their ressentiment by circulating “The Concession Speech that Kerry Should Have Made” (wherein he is supposed to say, “I concede that I misjudged the power of hate”) — not to mention "Fuck the South.”
This is a problem of uptake — a moral concept that Nancy Potter taught me to appreciate. Giving uptake is different from agreeing or evenbeing civil. My brother-in-law and I remain perfectly civil most of thetime, but he gives me zero uptake, and that has made it impossible for us to talk. (Maybe I’m doing the same to him, and can't tell?) To give uptake requires us to see how the speaker could hold acertain position genuinely, honestly, rationally; and then to take itseriously, and, if we disagree, treat it as a legitimate view to be opposed with good arguments. You can be civil simply by saying, “well, you have your views and I have mine.” But that isn’t uptake. Uptake allows the other to make a kind of claim on us; it is not merely tolerating others’ views, but engaging them in a certain way.
A general practice of giving people uptake on their strongly held beliefs, at least about public issues, is a public good, one of themost important public goods to be secured by a democratic government because it makes the difference between a deliberative democracy and a mere contest of interest groups.
One of the most galling things about the Bush administration is its rampant free-ridership on this public good: the stunning lack of uptake on issues that many of us seeas very serious. If you think that looting in Iraq after the invasion should not be stopped, okay, give us the argument; but don’t just shrug off the “messiness.”
If you think that enough safeguards are in place to prevent abuses of the “USA PATRIOT” Act, okay, then explain what those safeguards are and how they work, or at least why we should be less concerned about civil liberties; don’t accuse people of aiding terrorists. If you think it was worth going to war in Iraq even though the main justifications evaporated, okay, give us the argument; don’t just lie about it or ignore the question. Etc.
But one thing that happened in this election was that liberals andDemocrats were accused, at least by the “moral values” voters, of also free-riding on the public good of giving uptake. This was pretty surprising, and disturbing—or so I thought. And maybe, just maybe, the accusation was true. Certainly the responses I mentioned above suggest that it was.
So here’s my question: How do we increase provision of the public good of uptake? How do we increase the extent to which eachside gives uptake to the other(s)?
I hereby call for concerted effort to contribute to the public good of uptake. This may be a prisoners-dilemma-type situation. Those who give uptake may find that they are free-ridden upon, or worse. But if enough of us do it, thenthe public good will be provided, free-ridership be damned.
You might think that it’s impossible, pointless, or even accommodationistto give uptake to someone who thinks you should have no protection against discrimination, let alone the right to get married. You might think the same about someone who thinks your national homeland shouldnot exist as an independent state. Or you might think that the effort will never be reciprocated, so it’s a losing strategy. But what’s the alternative? Secession? Exile? The further erosion of any approximation to deliberative democracy?
February 21, 2005
Discussions
The Christian Science Monitor has an interesting series called Talking with the Enemy, "A series to help Americans bridge the bitter red-blue divide." While I don't like the intensely simplistic Red vs. Blue paradigm, I do think it's at least instructive to help folks learn how to talk to one another.
Another book along the "learning how to listen" vein is Prometheus Rising, by Robert Anton Wilson.
Wilson's approach is to teach you about your own "reality tunnel" and how we all tend to "choose" our own realities, even if we're not aware of it.
Another book along the "learning how to listen" vein is Prometheus Rising, by Robert Anton Wilson.
Wilson's approach is to teach you about your own "reality tunnel" and how we all tend to "choose" our own realities, even if we're not aware of it.
February 20, 2005
Book Suggestions
I recommend the following books for a quick, occasionally painful political education:
February 13, 2005
Organizational Update, Draft Mission Statement
Seven of us attended the meeting on the 13th and made progress on several fronts. As we have asked participants to define themselves politically we spent several minutes discussing each other's perspective and acknowledging agreements and differences.
One of our goals is to establish a fairly short reading list of books that will aid folks in understanding different opinions and perspectives. So several selections were discussed. These have been posted on our blog; we invite you to add to the list by commenting on the post. We will review and revise the list with an eye toward creating a broad selection of concise material. We invite everyone to offer their recommendations (electronically or otherwise).
As this group has evolved our focus has narrowed and become more defined. In fact, at the last meeting we created a draft of what may become our mission statement. Below are the crude elements of what we've been able to agree on. It is a description firstly, of who we hope to be and secondly, the things we plan to do. Please review the draft and offer any re-wording or additions at or before the next meeting. We plan to adopt a final version then. (This has also been posted on our blog, so feel free to make any comments there).
Mission Statement:
"We aim to be a widely diverse group of people seeking to build common ground while respecting differences. Our goals are to 1.) Raise the level of dialogue, 2.) Promote common courtesy, 3.) Learn about and from each other, 4.) Examine political and social issues from every possible perspective, 5.) Discover other viewpoints and 6.) Provide avenues for community action."
One of our goals is to establish a fairly short reading list of books that will aid folks in understanding different opinions and perspectives. So several selections were discussed. These have been posted on our blog; we invite you to add to the list by commenting on the post. We will review and revise the list with an eye toward creating a broad selection of concise material. We invite everyone to offer their recommendations (electronically or otherwise).
As this group has evolved our focus has narrowed and become more defined. In fact, at the last meeting we created a draft of what may become our mission statement. Below are the crude elements of what we've been able to agree on. It is a description firstly, of who we hope to be and secondly, the things we plan to do. Please review the draft and offer any re-wording or additions at or before the next meeting. We plan to adopt a final version then. (This has also been posted on our blog, so feel free to make any comments there).
Mission Statement:
"We aim to be a widely diverse group of people seeking to build common ground while respecting differences. Our goals are to 1.) Raise the level of dialogue, 2.) Promote common courtesy, 3.) Learn about and from each other, 4.) Examine political and social issues from every possible perspective, 5.) Discover other viewpoints and 6.) Provide avenues for community action."
February 1, 2005
Welcome to the new COFOUND group
Hi everyone. This is the web log (blog for short) for COFOUND, or Coalition for Understanding. People of various political philosophies meet in person, twice a month, in Southern Indiana and Louisville to talk about social and political issues. Members, of which there are at least ten, are free to make blog entries about various social and political issues they want to discuss. Nonmembers are free to post comments in reaction to these posts.
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