Common Ground Forum
What is the Common Ground Forum?
This site exists to provide a forum for the discussion of the pressing issues of our day in politics, education, policy, etc. The site features a blog that you can go to directly without visiting this page. My hope is to create a place where people can discuss ideas and issues without degenerating into the vitriolic name calling and dismissive labeling that permeates so much of the national conversation today, particularly in the blogosphere.
Opinions are welcome
Here is my underlying philosophy. It's ok to have opinions. I certainly do. Am I biased? Sure. We all are. Am I willing to listen to others? Absolutely.
If we listen to one another, and we stick with facts (as best we can in a world full of information, much of which is not always reliable - heck we can't even agree what is and is not a credible source), we can find points of agreement, and build out from there. It is not necessary to achieve consensus. But the quality of political dialogue (both in the blogosphere and in many quarters of the mass media) is abysmal and I'd like to find a place where I can again enjoy the art of political conversation - so I am attempting to create my own.
I'm not quite so naive or warm and fuzzy to say, "Why can't we all just get along?" But can we open our minds a bit? Listen? Debate the quality of our ideas rather than try to dismiss one another with name-calling?
Blog entry feature still under construction
The tool that will allow visitors to post on this blog will be installed soon, and I will send out an e-mail notice when its ready. Consider this the Beta site!
thanks for visiting. let me know what you think so far. 
My policy
Discussions may get heated. Challenging assumptions and ideas is part of political discourse. This is not kindergarten.
But the vitriolic name calling, labeling, shoot to kill, slash and burn "you’re all a bunch of communists and morons" type of stuff won't be tolerated. I have a job and a life, so I won't police this site day and night. But I will take down posts that cross the line. When I think it's worth the investment of my time, I'll let the blogger why I took such an action and give them a chance to modify their behavior. But I won't waste a lot of time arguing with people that don't want to listen. I'll just block their access.
Who decides? Me. Will my own biases influence my decisions? Of course they will. But I will try to be fair. That's all any of us can do. If you think I've created an environment that respects a broad range of opinions and you'd like to join in, by all means please do so. If you think I'm a part of some right/left /fascist/communist /gun toting/liberal pansy conspiracy, you don't have to play in my sandbox. There are plenty of places you can go where everyone will agree with you, or you can call all the "wrong-minded" people out there every name in the book. Have fun, and tell them I said #@%$*#!
Let the games begin!
