Democracy Forum

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine     Engineer: Amy Browne Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Topic: Us vs Them: Is Government the Enemy Key Discussion Points: a) We’ll discuss the history and cultural origins of American attitudes toward government b) How these attitudes have evolved over time, and c) Whether these attitudes have been purposefully amplified by vested int...

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine     Engineer: Amy Browne Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Topic: Moochers and Freeloaders: Welfare for the Rich, Welfare for the Poor Key Discussion Points: a) We’ll discuss the relationship between free markets and democracy; b) Have the rules of government and markets have been rigged in favor of big money interests and corporations?...

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine     Engineer: Amy Browne Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Topic: Whose Democracy Is It? Wealth and Income Inequality, Money in Politics Key Discussion Points: a) The great American experiment in democracy was founded on the ideal of a sovereign people — government responsive to the will of the people. Does American democracy still serve...

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine     Engineer: Amy Browne Program Topic:  Political Equality: The Founding Vision, the Modern Reality Key Discussion Points: a) What do we mean when we talk about political equality? b) Was it an ideal embraced by our founding fathers? c) What did it mean to them? What does it mean to us today? d) To what extent has the founding ideal been realized...

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters Engineer: Joel Mann Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Topic: Political Advertising and Its Effect on Voters and Elections Key Discussion Points: a) How important is political advertising in helping people learn about candidates? b) How does political advertising work and why is it worth the many millions of dollars being spent on it. c) Is it good for...

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters Engineer: Joel Mann Program Topic: Educating Voters; Educating Citizens Key Discussion Points: a) the difference between educated voters and well-informed voters b) the role of public education in cultivating civic engagement c) what can citizens do? Guests: A) Professor Jennifer Hochschild, the Henry LaBarre Jayne Professor of Government at Harvard Univers...

Producer/Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters Studio Engineer: Joel Mann Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Topic: Tea Party: What Can We Learn about Civic Engagement Key Discussion Points: a) the Tea Party movement, who are its members and what do they believe; and b) the Tea Party’s impact on elections and governing, c) what it means for civic participation Guests: -Theda Skocpol,...

Producer/Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters Engineer: Amy Browne Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Topic: Wealth and income inequality in the U.S. and why it matters for democracy Key Discussion Points: a) What are the trends in wealth and income disparity? Who is affected? b) What structural or public policy factors are contributing to this trend? c) What are the consequences for democ...

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters Engineer: Joel Mann (NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, this audio file is 47 mins long, and the recording starts with the show in progress) Issue: Participatory Democracy Key Discussion Points: a) Do corporations have too much power in politics and government? What is the source of their power? Campaign finance? Lobbying? How does corpororate economic po...

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters Engineer: Joel Mann Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Topic: Is the Two-Party System Working or Broken? Key Discussion Points: a) The role of the two-party system in federal elections b) The effects of partisan politics in the Congress c) Possible alternatives to the current system d) What can citizens do? Guests: A) Lisa Borders, co-founder of No Labe...

Issue: Participatory Democracy Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters Engineer: Amy Browne Broadcast Time: 10-11:00 a.m. Program Topic: Dysfunction in Congress: What Do We Need to Make It Work Key Discussion Points: a) What are the underlying, structural, or procedural problems that keep Congress from governing effectively: e.g., extreme partisanship, endless fundraising, erosion in the “regular...

Issue: Participatory Democracy Broadcast Time: 10-11:00 a.m. Program Topic: Free speech, corporate money, and democracy Key Discussion Points: a) The constitutional background of granting personhood to corporations and equating political spending with free speech. b) The practical outcomes for democracy. c) What can citizens do? Guests: A) Jeff Clements, co-founder of Free Speech for People and au...

Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Name: Democracy Forum Broadcast Date: January 9, 2012 Broadcast Time: 10-11:00 a.m. Program Topic: What do we need to make our democracy work better? Key Discussion Points: a) Why do you think Congress has such a low approval rating? b) What are the systemic impediments that prevent Congress from responding to what members surely know citizens want? c) Is cam...