"Upgrading the Way We Do Politics"

Check out Sandy Heierbacher's piece "Upgrading the Way We Do Politics" at http://www.yesmagazine.org/democracy/upgrading-the-way-we-do-politics. Sandy is the co-founder and director of the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD), a network of 1200 groups and professionals who bring together Americans of all stripes to discuss, decide and act together on today's toughest issues. Here is a brief excerpt:

"Many of the most vocal protesters at town hall meetings are motivated not by the legislation itself, but by their fears and sense of exclusion from the process. The health care debate has illustrated the need for a better method of public input–not only to help prevent those feelings of alienation, but also to produce legislation that actually meets the needs of citizens...."

A one-page PDF version can be found at www.thataway.org/files/NCDD_Town_Hall_Tips_08-09.pdf.