University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy:

Despite the highly publicized political and cultural divides in our country, the 21st century workplace requires productive collaboration across different organizations, professions, and sectors. Executives, managers, and professionals, whether they work in the public or the private sector, are being asked to collaborate with their colleagues down the hall, across town and around the world. In tough economic times, collaborative strat...

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When I was growing up in Bangor, I learned the value of hard work, the importance of community and the responsibility of public service.

These are simple, common sense values that many of our leaders in Washington seem to have forgotten. If you’ve got a job to do, you do it. If you have a deadline, you meet it. When people are depending on you, you do your absolute best not to let them down.

This past October, for the third year in a row, Congress did not abide by these simple values, begi...

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When I was growing up in Bangor, I learned the value of hard work, the importance of community and the responsibility of public service.

These are simple, common sense values that many of our leaders in Washington seem to have forgotten. If you’ve got a job to do, you do it. If you have a deadline, you meet it. When people are depending on you, you do your absolute best not to let them down.

This past October, for the third year in a row, Congress did not abide by these simple values, begi...

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A common theme in the field of open government refers to the use of technologies as a means to foster citizen engagement. A closer examination, however, shows that most initiatives facilitated by information and communication technologies have been characterized by low levels of citizen engagement.

In Brazil, the state of Rio Grande do Sul stands out as an exception. For instance, in a recent web-based policy crowdsourcing initiative, “Governador Pergunta” (“Governer Asks”), citizens were...

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Mark Osler
Professor of Law, University of St. Thomas
Posted: 04/17/2012 12:51 pm

I'm a sinner. At one time or another, in the course of my own advocacy (on the death penalty and other issues), I have committed each of the five sins I am about to describe. In fact, so have most who work in advocacy, whether they are progressive, conservative, or located somewhere else along the political spectrum.

We live in a world that too often values conflict over solutions, and loud voices over wise ones. Avoid...

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Nicholas R. Goebel, The Pragmatic Center
May 1st, 2012

According to Real Clear Politics, Congressional Job Approval is at 14%. That’s up a few notches from the historic low recently polled at 9%. 78% of Americans disapprove of Congress. That’s a ridiculously dismal number. Throughout its 223 year history Congress has had its ups and downs. But not even in times of reported corruption has it been so unpopular.

The dysfunction in Congress is jaw dropping. The Senate, where gridlock and ...

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...Congress will continue to become increasingly dysfunctional until moderate voters recognize the cause of the problem and take matters in their own hands. They need to get involved as volunteers in the campaigns of moderate candidates, whatever their party affiliation, and do everything they can to help spread the word.

From Bruce Hahn, president of the American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance and the American Homeowners Foundation, Arlington, Va.

Read more of this letter at http://thehill.com/op...

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BY CELESTE KATZ

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn stormed out of a press conference to celebrate the passage of a controversial “living wage” bill after a supporter standing behind her yelled “Pharaoh Bloomberg!” and refused to apologize.

Our Reuven Blau reports:

Standing on the steps of City Hall, Quinn thanked all her colleagues and a phalanx of advocates who supported the legislation when an advocate behind her screamed "Everybody but Pharoah Bloomberg!"

Mayor Bloomberg has passionatel...

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BY CELESTE KATZ

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn stormed out of a press conference to celebrate the passage of a controversial “living wage” bill after a supporter standing behind her yelled “Pharaoh Bloomberg!” and refused to apologize.

Our Reuven Blau reports:

Standing on the steps of City Hall, Quinn thanked all her colleagues and a phalanx of advocates who supported the legislation when an advocate behind her screamed "Everybody but Pharoah Bloomberg!"

Mayor Bloom...

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Is it necessary that in our political system that we must resort to name calling, repeating unsupported innuendo, and treating rivals like enemies instead of like fellow Americans with differing ideas?

Our Congress seems to be standing motionless, unable to come together to discuss and negotiate matters of extreme importance to the people of our great nation. We are blessed with having been placed in the United States of America, whether by birth or by choice. We are citizens of the greatest nati...

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BOSTON—U.S. Sen. Scott Brown is planning to deliver what his campaign is describing as a "major speech" on the need for civility in government.

Brown said the speech, to be delivered Wednesday at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, will push Brown's message of bipartisan in Washington.

The speech is also designed to emphasize a campaign theme of "Americans First" that echoes a radio ad Brown unveiled on Tuesday.

In that 60-second ad, Brown says that one of his proudest days was standing with...

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Knight Foundation Supports “Fantasy Election ‘12” with $250,000 Grant

New York, NY, April 24, 2012— MTV today announced that a world-class coalition of philanthropic, technology, and political accountability partners including Knight Foundation, PolitiFact, RealClearPolitics, foursquare and more are teaming up with the network to launch “Fantasy Election ’12.” Part of MTV’s “Power of 12” campaign, the first-of-its-kind desktop and mobile game will give young people a new way t...

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By John Darling
for the Tidings
Posted: 2:00 AM April 24, 2012

In their first public outing together, tea party and Occupy backers — and an audience of 200 — found a lot of common ground on the issue that corporations, lobbyists, the military and the federal government have a huge amount of power, are "bought" — and aren't very responsive to the needs of the average person.

After being warned by moderator Jeff Golden not to drag others into a "hot debate," the audience and a panel ...

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Watch the video about the Pew Research Center study, then take a quiz to find out which of the NINE identified ideologies is yours! 

Comments? Write www.therighttobeheard.org at Right2BHeard@gmail.com

                                 By Suzanne P. Kendall

I was recently asked, once again, “Why should I be involved in politics and government? It is all so hopeless.” and my reaction, as always, was such an incredible mix of emotion.   

Initially, I was empathetic because I understood how it seems that we have no eff...

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Party (Official 2012 nominee)	Year Founded	Registered Members	Party Logo		Party (Official 2012 nominee)	Year Founded	Registered Members	Party Logo
Constitution Party (Nominee to be chosen at party convention in Nashville, TN, on Apr. 18-21, 2012)	1992	367,000			Libertarian Party (Nominee to be chosen at party convention in Las Vegas, NV, on May 2-6, 2012)	1971	278,446
Democratic Party (Nominee to be chosen at party convention in Charlotte, NC, on Sep. 3-7, 2012)	1792	43,140,758			Republi...

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From No Labels: America’s got problems. All too often, members of Congress forget to talk solutions. That’s why No Labels hosts monthly town hall teleconferences with thought leaders -- to ensure a thoughtful, solutions-oriented dialogue between elected officials and their constituents.

Please email press@nolabels.org or call (202) 588-1990 for dial-in information to join the latest installment with Senator John Kerry (D-MA) Thursday at noon, eastern time.

Congress is on its ninth st...

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ProCon.org provides a framework for beginning to explore solutions.  It is a must-read and a good starting point for considering the merits of proposals made about immigration. 

Challenge yourself to study this entire post to become more than a "rubber stamp" for a political party!

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The Buffett Rule (named after its originator, the famous sagely business billionaire, Warren Buffett), which is supported by President Obama and most Democrats, would require everyone earning more than $1 million per year should pay a minimum income tax rate of 30 percent.

Romney’s response is to mock this proposal as not seriously addressing our economic problems — and he is right. But he is also wrong when he attacks the Buffett Rule as divisive. “Let’s find the very mo...

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