I cannot attend or host a forum so I believe I must at least input my two cents about these two topics.  I don't believe government should be doing ANYTHING regarding "equity" above and beyond the enforcement of contracts.  When government begins to decide what qualifies as "inequity" you have government picking winners and losers.  Every time this has been attempted throughout history enormous, actual inequities are brought about by government.

Regarding government's role in "economic opportunity" the best role is to create the kind of conditions that allow businesses and the employees that work for them, as well as those who invest in these businesses, to prosper.  We have had much capital flight from Washington State over the past several years - U6 employment statistics where an effort is made to count those working part time jobs where they would prefer to work full time jobs and those who are unemployed yet are no longer collecting unemployment benefits, show we have close to 600,000 unemployed persons in our state.  We should be lowering taxes and making other such changes that will encourage businesses to set up shop in our state.

When will "more money for schools" ever be "enough money"?  We spend more than any other country in the world per capita, per student on our public schools and yet we get appalling results.  And every time we ask for better results before we throw even more money at public schools, we see the usual hue and cry about how failing to spend - without questioning current results - is some how "failing our children".  I say not one more penny to public schools in our state until such time as they begin to graduate students that are actually ready for jobs or for college.

There are three opportunities to facilitate forums during the last week of Round 7.  We're expecting large groups at the Real Change forum, the High Point neighborhood forum, and the Wing Luke forum.  Please check out the Facilitator Request List to see if any of these forums could fit into your schedule.

Thank you all for your contributions to Countywide Community Forums!

Also, "Towards Wiser Public Judgement" which is 2011 update to Yankelovich's 1991 book.

http://www.publicagenda.org/toward-wiser-public-judgment

A CCF staffer recently received this e-mail from a member of the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation. It's an interesting method for assessing the "Social Temperature" of a group.  I'm curious if others agree with the theory of social warmth.  What are some other ways to measure a successful discussion?

Please add your comments, questions, and help requests to this discussion.