iPolitics's topics - tribe.net

The New American Independent Party Nominates Frank McEnulty for President

Michael — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:06:22 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The New American Independent Party Nominates Frank McEnulty for President

Newcomer will become NAIP’s first Presidential candidate

Philadelphia, PA -- March 12, 2008 – The New American Independent Party announced today that Frank McEnulty has won the inaugural New American Independent Party Presidential nomination. A strong majority of voters nominated Frank McEnulty during the month long Instant Runoff voting primary.

Frank McEnulty represents a relatively moderate approach to the campaign trail. Despite having no political experience, he is bringing a fresh perspective that NAIP believes will strike a chord with voters looking for a candidate that represents their views. "The more I talk to people, the more I find that they are just totally fed up with the two political parties, " he says. “What happened to the theory of the greater good? What happened to the theory of if it is good for America it will be good for everyone? It got sold to the highest bidder and it is time for people to do something about it.”

This morning, New American Independent Party founder and National Chairman Michael Thompson said, “We are proud to be represented by Frank McEnulty in our first presidential campaign. I look forward to the next 7+ months of campaigning. The American people are ready for a pragmatic problem solver and Frank McEnulty is just that. A 2008 ticket led by Frank McEnulty will allow us to build and grow the New American Independent Party, recruit local citizen candidates and register new voters.”

The New American Independent Party, a grassroots Independent political party is seeking sustainable solutions and a more self-reliant America. For more on the New American Independent Party please visit our website at http://www.newamericanindependent.com

Frank McEnulty plans on giving the vast majority of Americans - the moderate Americans - a voice in the 2008 Presidential election. Together with other moderate groups he is aiming to make a positive change in the politics of our great country. To learn more about Frank McEnulty, please visit http://www.frankforpresident.org

#######

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Frank McEnulty to Seek New American Independent Party Nomination

Michael — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:13:51 GMT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
info@newamericanindependent.com

Frank McEnulty to Seek New American Independent Party Nomination

Philadelphia, PA -- September 14, 2007 -- The New
American Independent Party is proud to announce
today that 2008 Independent Presidential Candidate
Frank McEnulty will be formally seeking the New
American Independent party nomination.

New American Independent Party Chairman Michael
Thompson stated, “We eagerly welcome Frank
McEnulty to the New American Independent Party
along with his pragmatic approach to the critical
issues facing America today.” Frank McEnulty issued
the following statement: “I look forward to working
with the New American Independent Party to give the
vast majority of Americans - the moderate Americans
- a voice in the 2008 Presidential election. Together
with other moderate groups we will make a positive
change in the politics of our great country!”

McEnulty joins a growing field of candidates vying for
the New American Independent Party nod. The New
American Independent Party is an alternative
grassroots political party seeking sustainable
solutions and a more self-reliant America.

Frank McEnulty for President
www.frankforpresident.org
Contact: frank@frankforpresident.org

New American Independent Party
www.newamericanindependent.com
Contact: info@newamericanindependent.com

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Urgent!!! Please help

mentalfreedomne1 — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 04:24:40 GMT

Urgent!!! Please Help

I am posting this everywhere I possibly can, Please help us.
There are thousands of good people who could potentially lose their lives very soon.

Since the release of the information on the Sujiatun concentration camp in China, which is reported to do live organ harvesting on Falun Gong practicioners. More people have been stepping forward to reveal information. Recently, a veteran military doctor in the region of Shenyang said that the Sujiatun Concentration camp is just one of 36 such camps. Another camp in Jilin Province referred to as 672-S is said to hold over 120,000 people.

According to the Integrated Committee's announcement, transplant hospitals in China are now telling patients to "come in quickly" to get transplants. Patients are told that matching organs can be found at this time in as short as one or two days. The hospitals are also reported to say that, "it will be difficult after this batch of organs is used up."

We fear that there is going to be a mass execution to “hide the evidence” and get rid of witnesses. PLEASE HELP us, Falun Gong practitioners around the world are requesting an international investigation while there is still time.

This is the US petition, please sign it. It can save someone’s life.
http://www.fofg.org/act/act_petition.php?pid=1

you can also help by going here:
http://publicpetition.unvcc.com/UN/index.php
this is an easy, fill in the blank letter that with a click is automatically
sent to the senators and representatives of your choice
And it would also greatly help us if you would please pass this information on.

Thank you,
Joshua

You can learn more about this at:
The Epoch Times
http://www.theepochtimes.com/211,111,,1.html
Amnesty International
http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/chn-summary-eng
Falun Dafa Information Center
http://www.faluninfo.net/why/index.asp
or, you can ask me any questions you have by sending me a message.

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Existence of Chinese Concentration Camp, Says Organs Removed from Live Prisoners

mentalfreedomne1 — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 03:16:09 GMT

Please help us to end this horrible persectuion. knowledge is our greatest weapon, so please share this information. together in peace we can make a difference.

Falun Dafa is a peaceful meditation practice that teaches putting others before yourself, kindness, always telling the truth and being tolerant of others. We are literally being killed for being good people. The national media has done very little to help us because of trade issues with China. It is up to us to let the world know. Please help us.

By Ji Da
The Epoch Times Mar 17, 2006
www.theepochtimes.com

The witness, a former employee at the Liaoning Thrombosis Treatment Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, and says the bodies of Falun Gong practitioners are cremated immediately after the organs are removed. (The Epoch Times)
[High-resolution image ] A former employee of Liaoning Provincial Thrombosis Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine told The Epoch Times during a recent interview that the Sujiatun Concentration Camp in China was actually a part of a hospital. The concentration camp has engaged in taking organs from Falun Gong practitioners when they were still alive and selling the organs. Since 2001, the concentration camp has secretly detained approximately 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners, none of whom have been able to leave the camp alive. The hospital removed many kidneys, livers, and corneas from the practitioners. After the organ removal, the practitioners were thrown into an incinerator, which was converted from a boiler. Their ashes were dumped together with burned charcoal.

Organs from Three Quarters of the 6,000 People Were Removed
Those whose organs were removed were in various states of health. Because many of the victims were illegally detained, there was neither an arrest warrant nor identification as to who these people actually were. Often after their organs were removed, nobody claimed the bodies. Sometimes their bodies were picked up by crooks who pretended to be their family members.

About three-quarters of the 6,000 people died after their hearts, kidneys, corneas, or skin was removed; their bodies were then burned. This witness, whose family member participated in the removal of Falun Gong practitioners' organs, said that approximately 2,000 Falun Gong practitioners remain in the hospital. She was afraid that the authorities would kill all of them to destroy evidence.

The Liaoning Provincial Thrombosis Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine is located at 49 Xuesong Road, Sujiatun, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China. It was the first hospital in China to specialize in the heart, the brain, and surrounding blood vessels. The hospital is composed of several organizations, including the Liaoning Traditional Chinese Medicine College Teaching Hospital and the Shenyang Thrombosis Treatment Center.

Concentration Camp Details
The hospital site is 21,087 square meters, with 17,564 square meters of building area. It employs 460 people in 24 departments and 20 specialized offices. Information from the Chinese government shows that the hospital was established in December 1988, and was formerly named the Shenyang Research Institute of Thrombosis and Liaoning Province Thrombosis Treatment Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine. In June 1998, it was renamed China Traditional Medicine Thrombosis Treatment Center.

The Chinese Business Morning View said in a story on July 4, 2004, that a farm worker died of abnormal causes in Sujiatun, Shenyang and was later cremated. The death certificate was provided by the Chinese Medicine Thrombosis Treatment Center in Sujiatun. The news caused a stir in China.

Epoch Times: Did the hospital's medical staff inside the concentration camp know about this?

Answer: This hospital has a small number of officials and some doctors involved secretively in the operation of organ harvesting. Some other staff in the hospital knew about this, but this is absolutely a taboo [to talk about]. They all are afraid of being killed or courting trouble, so they all avoid the issue. Only those highly trusted doctors could be chosen to be the surgeons for organ harvesting operations.

ET: Were Falun Gong practitioners alive when their organs were harvested? Did their families know about this?

Answer: Falun Gong practitioners who were imprisoned there came mostly from Dabei Prison, Masanjia Labor Camp, and other prisons in Shenyang, or they were Falun Gong practitioners arrested in parks or residential homes. Because they refused to denounce Falun Gong, they were arrested without formal warrants, and their families did not know their situation. Many did not even have their names [recorded]. In addition, since the Chinese authority exercises a policy of "not being responsible" for killing Falun Gong practitioners, the death of Falun Gong practitioners is not a very big issue for prisons. The Chinese Communist Party persecutes Falun Gong, [but] these medical personnel were told Falun Gong practitioners were facing death because they killed people, or they were sentenced to death because of crimes, or they had become insane from practicing Falun Gong.

Those Falun Gong practitioners whose organs were harvested came from several types.

Organs harvested from live bodies are worth far more than organs taken from dead bodies. Many Falun Gong practitioners were still alive when their organs were taken. After their organs were cut out, some of these people were thrown directly into the crematorium to be burnt, thus leaving no evidence. For some others, after their organs were stolen, the doctor sewed up the wound and asked the family or family representative to give a signature for cremation. Family members did not know at all that the dead had their organs taken out.

Furthermore, there were some healthy Falun Gong practitioners in prisons in other areas who were injected—without their knowledge—with psychoactive drugs that made their minds confused. They then were transferred to Sujiantun concentration camp to suffer further torture, till in the end their organs were harvested and their bodies were cremated in secret.

Among the Falun Gong practitioners whose organs were harvested, some were weak and some were healthy. Since most of them were illegally arrested, there were no arrest warrants or identification cards. After their organs were taken out while they were still alive, no one came to claim their bodies; or [sometimes] people using fake identities claimed their bodies.

None of these people have come out [of the concentration camp] alive; three-quarters of these 6,000 people have died, having their hearts, kidneys, retinas, and skins harvested and their bodies disposed of. I think now about 2,000 Falun Gong practitioners are still in this hospital, and I am afraid now that the authority will destroy all evidence and kill them.

Question: How did you know these things? Were you yourself a doctor involved in organ harvesting?

Answer: I worked at the Liaoning Provincial Thrombosis Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shenyang. This is exactly where this concentration camp is located. One of my family members was involved in the operation to harvest Falun Gong practitioners' organs. This has brought great pain to our family.

Question: Please tell us what you knew about.

Answer: From 2001, our hospital started to detain Falun Gong practitioners. At the beginning, these people were detained in the single-storey houses in the back yard of the hospital. Later, the hospital authorities demolished the single-storey houses, and it was unknown where in the hospital the Falun Gong practitioners were transferred. Many staff of the hospital discussed in private that these Falun Gong practitioners had been secretly transferred to the underground chambers of the hospital. According to some people working inside the hospital, the hospital has a huge system of secret underground chambers.

At the time when we went to work there, the person in charge of logistics and purchasing in the hospital said that the quantity of disposable sterile gloves used for operations and daily supplies that the hospital authorities asked to be purchased had increased dramatically. The logistics people estimated based on the scale of purchases at that time that there were at least 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners detained in this hospital.

These Falun Gong practitioners were not detained in the 4-story building under the in-patient department and administration at the front of the hospital, in order to keep the hospital staff from seeing them at all. We only occasionally saw Falun Gong practitioners being sent on a mobile intensive care bed to the first floor for physical examinations. These people were very weak. For the majority of the Falun Gong practitioners, nobody knew where they were being secretly kept. While they still did not know where these people were kept, some staff inquired to the hospital authorities about why so much food and so many sterile gloves and daily supplies were purchased. The hospital authorities said, "You only need to do your job well. There is no need for you to ask any other questions."

Starting in 2001, a family member of mine participated in organ-harvesting operations. My family member tried to keep me from knowing about this at the beginning. The hospital authorities selected doctors they trust in different aspects to perform the secretive operations. After a period of time, I found that my family member was in a lot pain, often had nightmares, and appeared panic-stricken. After repeated inquiries, this family member told me the truth. The leader of the hospital had asked my family member to participate in the organ harvesting operations on Falun Gong practitioners as early as 2001. It was 2003 when my family member confessed. A few years after, my family member felt so much pain from participating in this incident that it was impossible to continue with the evildoing. My family member decided to go abroad to get away from this matter.

My family member also told me: "you don't understand my suffering; those Falun Gong practitioners were alive. It might be easier for me if they were dead, but they were alive."

Question: Were there any other doctors from the hospital taking part in the operations of cutting out Falun Gong practitioners' organs?

Answer: I know there were some. All these things have been carried out secretly. Many doctors at our hospital involved were practicum doctors transferred from other hospitals. Because the government does not want to be responsible for Falun Gong practitioners' bodies and lives, their lives are treated as garbage by the regime, and their bodies were used in experiments by new doctors doing their practitcums.

Many doctors came and left the hospital because they suffered a lot after having been involved in these kinds of things. They either requested to be transferred to other places, or changed their names. Some might have been killed to eliminate the evidence, their identity files were taken out from the hospital's filing system, or their names were changed. Nobody knows where the doctors have gone.

The hospital staff all know that the rear part of the hospital is forbidden. It is always watched. The staff avoids talking about the place.

Question: It is said the hospital is equipped with an incinerator. The person whose organs were removed will be burned when he or she is still alive. Is that true?

Answer: The employees in our hospital call this place "the incinerator." Actually, it is a boiler room. Some poor farmers from nearby places were hired to work in the boiler room. They were penniless when they first came here. But they could scrape up some watches, finger rings, necklaces, and so on. The amount is not small. It is said by the employees in the hospital these jewelry and watches were collected from the Falun Gong practitioners whose organs had been removed when they were about to be thrown in the boiler to be burned. It is also said by the employees in the hospital, some were still alive when being thrown into the boiler.

Question: Do they get injection of anesthetic when in surgery?

Answer: Yes. There is a cap to the anesthetic quantity used in mainland China's hospitals. Generally, the supply of anesthetic was determined according to the accommodation of the hospital. To the public, the number of patients in our care appears to be very small, and publicly reported number of surgical procedures performed is quite low. But the equipment and articles used in surgery are abundant. Because the amount of anesthetic is limited, these secret surgeries could not use the normal anesthetic doses. In order to save anesthetic, they economized on the anesthetic used in surgeries on these Falun Gong practitioners. The amount of anesthetic used was very small. However, many whose organs were removed were still alive. You can imagine the pain suffered by the Falun Gong practitioners whose organs were removed.

Question: Are there any survivors among the 6,000 people detained since 2001?

Answer: Nobody has come out alive. The number of them gets smaller and smaller. The Falun Gong practitioners detained at Sujiatun are fewer now than before. But I believe that the sin of removing the organs of the Falun Gong practitioners is still continuing.

Question: Where are these organs usually sold to? Do the higher authorities in the government know about this?

Answer: They are mainly sold to Thailand, but I believe they are also sold to other regions of the world. Nowadays, there are many patients in China who need human skin, corneas, and kidneys for organ transplant surgeries. Many patients have to wait in line to purchase organs. Currently, a kidney can be sold up to the price of 30,000 to 100,000 U.S. dollars. The profit from selling organs is simply too great. The people who benefit from this are not only the top leaders of hospital and the officials of the Chinese Communist Party's Heath Department. This is a crime present across the entire nation. People ranging from government officials to doctors to organ sellers are all involved in this and are profiting greatly.

Question: Why did they target Falun Gong practitioners as the source of organs?

Answer: Because relatives of many Falun Gong practitioners don't even know that their family members were arrested. So if the Falun Gong practitioners are killed, there will be no one to come and claim their dead bodies.

Question: Why did you want to expose this? This may bring great danger to you.

Answer: I know that there are many Falun Gong practitioners who are currently detained at the hospital. I would like to expose this to the international community, so those who are not yet killed can be saved. Also, I would like to expose this as an atonement for my family.

I am not a Falun Gong practitioner. But as a former staff member of the hospital, I have the responsibility to expose the truth, and let the world to save those Falun Gong practitioners who are still alive. Organs of some Falun Gong practitioners are still living on patients' bodies. I would like to call on all society to pay attention to this issue and stop this shocking crime.

you can find out how you can help at www.fofg.org

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

U. S. Presidents - Part 2

acohen843 — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 02:18:46 GMT

I wish I were living back in 1776. I would love to have been part of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Since I am a writer, maybe I'd be responsible for a paragraph or two!

We live in the age of the start-up. Imagine starting a country! Your product is a government based on a democracy. The Constitution is your code, your standard operating procedures, and your business plan.

George Washington was our first CEO. He had the Constitution as a guideline, but I think at times he had to use his own judgment.

The Constitution was always open to interpretation. For example, William Henry Harrison, our ninth president, was the first president to die in office. John Tyler, the vice president, became president.

There was debate on whether the vice president was a temporary president until a new one could be elected, or until he completed the unfinished term.

Washington was a smart president. He had to be for if he wasn't we might have a different type of government today.

Washington was the only president not to be a member of any political party. However two issues helped create our first two political parties: the Federalist Party and the Democrat-Republican Party.

The Federalists believed in a strong central government while the Democrat-Republicans believed in strong state’s rights. John Adams, our second president, was a Federalist and Thomas Jefferson; our third president was a Democrat-Republican.

Freedom of speech and either imprisoning or deporting aliens that may pose a threat to our nation were issues during John Adams's term. He signed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798. We are facing the same issues today.

Thomas Jefferson was John Adam's vice president. Both died on July 4, 1826. James Monroe, our fifth president also died on July 4th, but in 1831.

The study of the presidency is interesting. Whether it be a past president or the current president, their actions, thoughts and beliefs are important. The past influences the present which defines the future.

The issue of a strong federal government versus state’s rights is relevant today. Free speech during our war on terrorism and alien rights are also currently being debated.

Please share your thoughts with me.

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

U. S. Presidents Rev. 2

acohen843 — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 02:33:00 GMT

The original post was sent via a mobile device and got truncated. Here is the complete version.

Have you ever wondered why people desire to be president? How were the past presidents perceived in their times? What were their campaigns like?

Share your comments, some history, publish an essay, or just enjoy this conversation. If this topic generates interest, I will create a tribe just for this topic.

Let's begin with the presidents. Currently there are 43, from George Washington (no political party) to George W. Bush (a Republican). Two fathers and sons became president - John Adams (2nd) and John Quincy Adams (6th), and George H. W. Bush (41st) and George H. Bush (43rd).

One grandfather and grandson became president - William Henry Harrison (9th) and Benjamin Harrison (23rd). A set of cousins also became president - Theodore Roosevelt (26th) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (32nd).

1. George Washington (1789-97) None

2. John Adams (1797-1801) Federalist

3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-9) Democrat-Republican

4. James Madison (1809-17) Democrat-Republican

5. James Monroe (1817-25) Democrat-Republican

6. John Quincy Adams (1825-29) Democrat-Republican

7. Andrew Jackson (1829-37) Democrat

8. Martin Van Buren (1837-41) Democrat

9. William Harrison (1841) Whig

10. John Tyler (1841-45) Whig

11. James K. Polk (1845-49) Democrat

12. Zachary Taylor(1849-50) Whig

13. Millard Fillmore (1850-53) Whig

14. Franklin Pierce (1853-57) Democrat

15. James Buchanan (1857-61) Democrat

16. Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) Republican, Union

17. Andrew Johnson (1865-69) Union

18. Ulysses Grant (1869-77) Republican

19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81) Republican

20. James Garfield (1881) Republican

21. Chester Arthur (1881-85) Republican

22. Grover Cleveland (1885-89) Democrat

23. Benjamin Harrison (1889-93) Republican

24. Grover Cleveland (1893-97) Democrat

25. William McKinley (1897-1901) Republican

26. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-9) Republican

27. William Taft (1909-13) Republican

28. Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) Democrat

29. Warren G. Harding (1921-23) Republican

30. Calvin Coolidge (1923-29) Republican

31. Herbert Hoover (1929-33) Republican

32. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-45) Democrat

33. Harry Truman (1945-53) Democrat

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61) Republican

35. John F. Kennedy (1961-63) Democrat

36. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69) Democrat

37. Richard Nixon (1969-74) Republican

38. Gerald Ford (1974-77) Republican

39. James Carter (1977-81) Democrat

40. Ronald Regan (1981-89) Republican

41. George H. W. Bush (1989-93) Republican

42. William Clinton (1993-2001) Democrat

43. George W. Bush (2001- ) Republican

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Your Town's or City's Government

acohen843 — Tue, 03 Aug 2004 20:38:52 GMT

How does your community's government work? What type of government does your community have?

I live in a town. We have a town administrator, selectmen, and representative town meetings.

The town administrator oversees the daily operations of the town. He or she is not elected but hired for a multi-year term. This is one of the responsibilities of the selectmen.

The selectmen and the representatives of the town meeting are the authority. The selectmen, in some communities called aldermen, meet weekly to discuss and resolve issues and problems. The meetings are open to the public. They meet weekly.

My town's selectmen act as selectmen-at-large; they represent all of the town. None are specific to a precinct.

The representatives to our town meeting are our legislators. They vote on the budget, raises for town employees, and other issues and laws.

In a traditional town meeting, any resident from that town can speak for or against issues and vote for or against issues. This type of town meeting works well in small towns.

What about a town of thirty thousand? Certainly not every citizen takes part in their town meeting. However some issues will gather the interest or ire of the community.

Technology helps but it will take time before "cyber-enhanced" governments become functional. Aside from the digital divide, learning curves, and cost, physical time may make a town meeting of twenty or thirty thousand to be impractical.

Representative town meetings solve this issue. It is the same solution that our states' and country's congresses use.

We elect people to represent our town's citizens. Each precinct elects 18 members, 6 for a 1 year term, 6 for a 2 year term, and 6 for a 3 year term. We have 9 precincts. Elections are staggered; every year some members are up for election.

Any citizen can speak at our town meeting but only elected representatives can vote.

I like the town meeting form of government. It is the most direct form of democracy.

What type of government does your town or city have?

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Peer to Peer Networks

acohen843 — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 01:08:50 GMT

This article is not specifically about the Internet and politics. However, since
our politicians make our laws, and this article relates to the Internet, here it
is.

I have used many peer-to-peer networks. In fact I have been using Napster-like
networks for over thirty years!

I don't need a computer and they are available just about anywhere. They are
also legal.

I am in a coffee shop. I want to read a newspaper. I don't have to buy one;
there is always somebody that will give me their paper when they are done with
it. When I finish reading it, I give it to someone else. Some people even leave
their copies on the table when they leave.

What do I do when I finish reading a good novel? I pass it on to a friend. They
do the same when they finish that book. Others pass on books to me. I also go to
the library where I can borrow books, CDs, videos and DVDs.

Many people sell used books and CDs at yard sales. There are also many used book
and CD stores.

I buy new and used CDs. I listen to them at home, in my car, on a portable CD
player, and so on.

However these everyday activities take on a different set of rules in
cyberspace. Does this make sense?

I respect the copyright laws and believe the concept of copyright is necessary.
I make my living as a writer, musician, and photographer. I lose when people
don't respect my copyrights.

However, the concept of usage and copyright must adapt as technology evolves.

I believe that legally purchased MP3s may be played on as many different devices
as necessary. That person also has the right to make as many copies as they
desire for their personal use.

Quite simply, if somebody plans to illegally distribute copyrighted materials
they will. They will find a way to bypass the copy protection scheme.

Don't penalize the innocent. They outnumber those that break the law.

The same concept applies to eBooks (digital books). There is no reason why I
can't read one version on my desktop computer, laptop, and handheld computer.
Heck, I will even let someone read an eBook on my laptop as I read it.

I use the Creative Commons licenses (creativecommons.org) to protect my works.
This organization provides me with a variety of licenses that give people more
flexible use of my works. For example, one license I often use allows people to
reproduce my work as long as they agree to 3 requirements:

1. They credit me as the author
2. They do not change or modify the work
3. They only reproduce the work for noncommercial uses

Creative Commons offers other licenses in addition to the traditional copyright.

Digital technology profoundly affects creative works. Not only does it change
how we create, but how we distribute and use these works. Our laws and
philosophies must also change.

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Internet and Politics

acohen843 — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 19:17:55 GMT

Introduction
Technology is interesting. It allows us to communicate regardless of time zone and from just about anywhere. A laptop computer, a wireless Internet card, and a table at Starbucks, and I can write, post, email, and communicate with anyone in the world.

This article discusses a variety of ways that the Internet and technology are useful tools for political and community activism. It discusses the use of the Internet for ranting, activating and informing. Some useful sites are listed. However, these are only a few sites; there are a multitude of sites available on the Internet.

There are many technologies available. The key is to bring people together, to break the cycle of apathy and get them involved.

The Internet provides three types of political communication: ranting, activating, and informing.

Ranting
Ranting is the most popular and the least effective. Ranting is the process of expressing your opinion on a bulletin board. It is also serves as the method of some of the most ludicrous and virulent postings.

Political ranting is mere entertainment. The impact of these postings are useless unless the ranting is on a local community-oriented group that is the basis for bringing people together to act on an issue.

There are many bulletin boards available. One of the better ones, where most of the ranting is either logical or generally polite is www.tribe.net. There are many Kerry tribes, Democrat tribes, Green tribes, and so on. Two other quality sites are www.abuzz.com and www.able2know.com.

Activating
Activating is using the Internet to bring people together for a common cause. This includes getting people to vote, volunteer for a candidate or campaign, become involved in a community issue, and so on.

One effective site is www.meetup.com. This service allows people that share a common interest to meet and interact with each others. Three or four venues in a geographical area are suggested, and the group votes on a place to meet. This is how I got involved in the Dean campaign and then started my Yahoo group (sema4dean).

Yahoo groups also have the ability to bring people together for a common goal. We can use these groups to benefit community issues in our geographical areas.

Another useful site is www.upoc.com. This site allows you to send a short text message to members’ cell phones. The Dean campaign used this tool.

Here is how it works.
1. You create a group.
2. When people join, they enter their cell phone number instead of their email address.
3. You post a brief message (from your Upoc group site) and this message is sent to all members’ cell phones.

The Dean campaign used this service to let their campaigners and volunteers know of Dean television appearances and other events. When used properly, it acts as a nice tool when people are away from their computers, or for those that don’t use email.

Email is one of the best time-tested tools. In addition to traditional email, there are many services that use email as their distribution method. Yahoo groups use this method as does many other sites including www.abuzz.com, www.able2know.com, and www.tribe.net.

Yahoo groups are quite popular. However, there are other group services. These include www.google.com and www.msn.com.

These services are free. They make their money by placing banner ads on their sites and your groups. Some political groups don’t want banner ads associated with their organization. For example, a few years back I had an issues-oriented group on MSN. I invited the American Indian Movement to be a part of this group. They weren’t interested for two reasons:
1. Microsoft owns MSN. They thought that company sent the wrong political message.
2. Banner ads included gambling and casino ads. They didn’t want to be associated with that type of advertising.

I learned from this experience. I set up my issues-oriented group on an ad free site.

Most ad free sites charge a monthly fee. However, two free ad free group services are www.smartgroups.com and www.domeus.co.uk.

There are two cardinal rules when using email and tools that use email as their distribution method:
1. Never spam! Do not mass email.
2. Never make a person a member of your group without their permission. Email them an invitation that allows them to join your group.

Informing
Email is an excellent distribution method for newsletters. Two excellent services are www.bravenet.com and www.topica.com. Bravenet is free (although you are limited to a few hundred members in your distribution list) while Topica is $24.95 per month (first month free). Both offer easy-to-use newsletter creation tools. Bravenet also offers many other free, website tools.

The Internet is an excellent informational tool. There are three types of political websites: party sites, candidate sites, and issue-oriented sites.

All political sites should contain the following:
¸ A wealth of information. A website is more than an electronic pamphlet or electronic campaign flyer. There should be detailed information concerning a candidate’s views, a party’s platform, or an issue’s goals.

In the previous Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign the Reich campaign excelled in this area.

¸ Use all of the Internet’s capabilities to present your message. In the previous Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign the O’Brien campaign used short video clips to explain their stance on the issues. For example, while I could download a PDF concerning O’Brien’s views on education, it was more effective listening to a teacher explain why she was supporting O’Brien’s views on education.

¸ Include contact information. This information must include an email address, a phone number, and a mailing address. If you can’t find the phone number or mailing address, check the contributions page. I’ve never seen a political website that doesn’t make it easy to donate money electronically, via check, or dropping off a donation at campaign headquarters.

¸ Make it easy for people to become a part of your cause. Allow people to sign up for email updates and newsletters. Also include addresses of either the campaign headquarters or local campaign headquarters. While the Internet is a savvy tool, others and I have stuffed thousands of envelopes for campaigns and causes. Hands on work always needs to be done, plus part of the process is meeting with the candidate and the campaign staff and volunteers.

¸ Don’t forget audio. Warren Tolman’s gubernatorial campaign site included an audio message stating why he was running for governor. The sincerity in his voice was very effective.

¸ Think dial-up! Some of the most passionate and politically opinionated people I know are the elderly. Many access the Internet from a dial-up connection and some use WebTV. Include; don’t exclude these voters.

¸ Limit the use of Flash content and splash introductory screens. The site is about issues, not fancy, time-consuming technology.

¸ When appropriate, make your site bi-lingual. I am an English as a Second Language teacher for adults. Some of my students in their country were doctors, lawyers, college professors, as well as factory workers and the unemployed. They may not be able to speak or read in English, but they are intelligent. They came to this country for a better life and are interested in the political process. Those that are citizens will vote (one of my students became a citizen so she could vote), and those that are not citizens are still interested in learning our political process.

¸ Your website defines your campaign or cause. This includes design – how easy can I find the information I am looking for, and the basics – good grammar and no spelling mistakes.

During the 2000 presidential campaign, the Gore, Bradley, Bush, Dole (Eleanor), and McCain sites were bi-lingual. The Pat Buchanan site was not. Your website does define your campaign!

¸ Do not make your website intrusive. While it may seem cool to have your site open with a video or musical message, remember that some people access the Internet at the library and many access it at work.

Blogs are another tool. They serve a purpose but the current hype, I believe, is overrated.

This tool allows a campaign to share information. They are like online diaries. The publisher posts information usually on a daily basis. Some blogs allow readers to respond to these postings.

I think that blogs are an excellent tool to put a human face on a campaign. For example, I enjoy reading about the day-to-day activities about a campaign.

Blogs are also useful for discussing issues. However don’t fall into the trap of tailoring your message to the whims of your readers. Stand for what you believe in.

In Conclusion
The Internet is an excellent tool for political and community activism. Like any tool, it only works well when you use it well.

Some sites provide a place to rant. This may be fun and entertaining, but it is only effective when the ranting leads to some constructive result.

Activating is the result of using the Internet to bring people together for a common cause. I believe that this is the best use of the Internet for political and community activism. While the Internet works well for planning, the real change takes place in the non-cyber world.

Websites also inform. Cyberspace is inexpensive. Use it to inform the public of your views or cause’s issues. Use text, audio, and video.

posted in iPolitics - 5 replies

Earth Day for Kerry!

Erin — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 15:59:41 GMT

George Bush is reversing thirty years of environmental policies that have protected America's public health and safety.

The Bush Administration has crippled provisions in the landmark Clean Air Act, rolled back important regulations, and proposed drilling in the pristine Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

Now is your chance to tell W that he is wrong on the environment, wrong on climate change, and the wrong choice for America.

Go to www.johnkerry.com and get involved to protect our environment, our health, and our country.

Erin Hofteig
John Kerry for President

posted in iPolitics - 1 reply

Open Source electronic Voting

Joel — Wed, 21 Jan 2004 17:50:26 GMT

I think I may be the only one on this thing. Anyway, I thought you all might find this interesting...

http://www.wired.com/news/evote/0,2645,61968,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_4

Open-Source E-Voting Heads West
"A California college student is planning to develop a new electronic voting system based on open-source software created in Australia.

"Scott Ritchie was one of dozens of activists who appeared in Sacramento last Thursday before the California secretary of state's Voting Systems Panel to express criticism of e-voting systems currently being used in the United States."

Thoughts?

posted in iPolitics - 1 reply

tech economy tribe

Joel — Tue, 20 Jan 2004 19:09:35 GMT

Hello,

I'm guessing that if you're interested in this board you might also be interested in a new board a recently started hosting - tech economy - http://techeconomy.tribe.net

Thanks,

Joel

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Best Political Websites

Joel — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 20:19:25 GMT

If you had to rank the best presidential websites (including Bush's), how would you order them? 1 being best. What other issue related/political websites do you all think are really pushing the envelope?

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Interesting Link

acohen843 — Tue, 30 Dec 2003 06:35:08 GMT

Here is an interesting link to use to follow the primaries - www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/ .

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

News Alert Services

acohen843 — Mon, 29 Dec 2003 02:33:45 GMT

CNN Alerts (www.cnn.com) is an interesting tool. The concept is simple: you either select pre-defined news topics or or define your own news topics. CNN sends you email each time those topics appear in CNN or CNN Money.

I find this concept interesting especially since I just wrote a short commentary on personalized news services.

I see this type of service being different than personalized news. Alerts can act as a research tool. For example, if you are following a specific candidate, CNN sends you an alert when that candidate appears in a news story on their site. Of course, if the only news you read is that based on your alerts, then your use is no different than misusing personalized news services.

The CNN Alert service is easy to use and to customize. The first step is filling out the usual form where you provide information about yourself. This form asks the same industry standard questions that most of these forms request.

The next step is selecting and/or creating the alerts you want. The topics are interesting. I believe they change depending on their news worthyness.

Here are the topics I saw on Dec. 28th: movies, unrest conflicts and wars, offbeat, lawsuits, music swapping, Internet, disasters and accidents, Scott Peterson, Kobe Bryant, John Allen Muhammed, Princess Diana, United Nations, Wolf Blitzer Reports, Keanu Reeves, Saddam Hussein, America Votes 2004, flu season, and winter storm.

Creating your own alerts is easy. You specify the keywords, name the alert, and click on the activate button.

For example, I am curious as to how the news reports on two specific candidates: Carol Mosely Braun and Al Sharpton. I entered the key words Carol Mosely Braun, named the alert Carol Moseley Braun and clicked on the activate button. I did the same for Al Sharpton.

CNN places access to these alerts not only on a page of its own, but in related articles. For example, at the end of an article about Joe Lieberman and his views on abortion, there is an alert signup for the topics Liberman and abortion. At the end of an article about Jeb Bush and faith-based prisons, there is an alert box displaying the options: Jeb Bush, Amercian Civil Liberties Union, Florida, and prision.

CNN Alert's service is free. The New York Times offers a similar service. The introductory rate is $19.95 (to be $29.95 in 2004).

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

ipolitics - other info

acohen843 — Sun, 28 Dec 2003 05:46:24 GMT

Hi,

In a bit of self-promotion, I want to let people know about 2 other sites that I run. I have a blog at http://ipolitics02760.tripod.com/eslp/. I write general info about politics. Rumor has it that a few other people besides me reads the blog so you may want to check it out.

I have just started an ipolitics newsletter available via email. There are 2 ways to join.

1. Go to www.domeus.co.uk.
2. Search for ipolitics.
3. Join.

If you email me your email address (acohen843@yahoo.com), I will be glad to send you an invitation.

Alan

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Invitation to join the Virtual Greens

gabriel — Sat, 27 Dec 2003 14:23:06 GMT

You are invited to join the Virtual Greens e-group. The purpose of this group is to become a conduit for the coordination of a national effort to support the next Green presidential campaign in "safe" states using research, e-mail, bulk mailings and long distance telephone banks. By focusing a national campaign on the "safe" states we, as a third party, would be capable of putting our efforts exactly where we have the best chances of success.
We believe that the very existence of a successful Green cyber-campaign that is aimed at "safe states" in 2004 could break the barriers of distance that have historically held back the advancement of third parties in America.

We also intend to work in support of other campaigns where the Green Party has a real chance of achieving a significant political victory, such as the Matt Gonzolez campaign in San Francisco or the IRV referendum in Alaska. We believe that with a large enough active membership base we could take advantage of our numbers nationwide to conceivably overwhelm a political opponent and thus nullify the power of big money in certain key political campaigns.

To subscribe to this e-group please send an e-mail to:
virtual_greens-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Invitation to join the Virtual Greens

gabriel — Sat, 27 Dec 2003 14:08:32 GMT

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Open Source Campaigns

acohen843 — Thu, 25 Dec 2003 11:07:25 GMT

The Wesley Clark campaign is asking supporters to write open source software for its campaign. This software will be released under the BSD license allowing other campaigns to use the software.

Open Source software or documentation provides others the right to share your code and create new works based upon the original code. For example, here is how the Creative Commons license works:

You are free: to copy, distribute, display, perform the work, to make derivative works, and to make commercial use of the work.

The first campaign to use the open source model was the Howard Dean campaign at their DeanSpace site (www.deanspace.org). They use the Creative Commons License (www.creativecommons.org).

Here is the complete story (www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,61723,00.html).

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Personalized News Services

acohen843 — Thu, 25 Dec 2003 00:12:44 GMT

Personalized news sources give you the ability to select the news that you want to read. If politics is your game, you can select only liberal or conservative views. In this world of information overload, this type of website filters the news and information that you want to see.

Sounds like a good idea. Or is it?

Filtering news limits your views. Cass Sunstein discusses this concept in his book, republic.com. He states that filtering your news to reflect your views only bosts your opinions by like-minded people.

Here are some personalized news services.

www.newsisfree.com - This is an excellent site that allows you to select news from a wide variety of newspapers from around the world.

www.newstoyou.com - This is a small Java-based program. It gives you the option to set a time relevancy for news items starting from 5 mins. ago to 24 hours ago. The program is still in development but it is worth exploring.

www.crayon.net - Crayon.net is an interesting site and an excellent educational tool. Like other personalized news services, crayon.net lets you create your own newspaper. It provides two nice features: your own url allowing you to share your newspaper with others, and the creation process takes you through the different sections of a newspaper.

Here are the steps that you perform to create your newspaper.
1. Name your newspaper.
2. Create a motto.
3. Provide a zipcode for automatic local news.
4. Define your newspaper's layout.
5. Define the graphics options.
6. Set your security options.
7. Select newspaper content.
* News sources from the United States, Canada, and the world.
* Newspaper sections:
* Politics As Usual
* OpEd
* Weather
* Business
* InfoTech
* Science
* Religion
* Health
* Lifestyles
* Sports Day
* Snippets Corner
* Funny Pages
* Tabloid, and
* Web Spotlight
8. Arrange the sections in a specified order.
9. Publish your newspaper.

www.forumhub.com/news - News@Hub is an easy to use somewhat personalized news source. While it is easy to use, it does not offer the variety that others personalized sources do.

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Does the environment matter in your decision for President?

Erin — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 16:55:19 GMT

The LCV released their ratings on all of the Presidential candidates today. While I am thrilled by what they said about Kerry, I wanted to ask how much the environment will actually impact people's decisions in 2004. Does the environment matter? Is it in the top 10? top 5? What do you think?

Here's the first paragraph of the LCV Press Release and their website:

"The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) today declared the reckless and relentless assault on our environment by the administration of President George W. Bush makes any other major candidate preferable to the current occupant of the White House. The LCV 2004 Presidential Candidate Profiles also show that Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut clearly have the strongest environmental records on the Democratic ticket."- LCV Profiles of Presidential Candidates www.lcv.org.

posted in iPolitics - 3 replies

What Does Election Day Mean?

acohen843 — Tue, 04 Nov 2003 16:03:16 GMT

Today is election day in many communities across the United States. I am writing this article in Revere, MA. where I teach. When I look out the window I see campaign workers holding signs for their candidates. Around the corner, is a polling place, a place where people can cast their vote. It is also raining.

I teach English as a Second Language. Most of my students cannot vote; they are not citizens. However, they understand the issues and more important, understand the value of this right - to vote.

What does Election Day mean? It seems like a simple question - it is the day that we vote. However, many people who are eligible to vote choose not to vote. So what does this day mean?

Election Day is the day that signifies freedom of speech.

The campain season is like a buffet. A variety of campaign slogans, ideas, opinions, solutions, criticisms, and so on are offered. People listen to them, critique them, argue them, and ignore them. Today, Election Day, people choose the free speech that is available from the campaign buffet table!

Election Day is the day that we put free speech into action. The candidates have offered their views, their campaign workers have ensured that the public has heard them, and now we choose the ones that we want.

Not everybody chooses to vote. About 50% of eligible voters in the United States choose not to vote.

That is also freedom of speech. Silence can say a lot.

However, select something from the campaign buffet table. Dieting is fine, but too much dieting is unhealthy.

Too much dieting not only makes eating not enjoyable, but we may just forget how to eat . . . or vote.

Sincerely,
Alan R. Cohen

posted in iPolitics - 3 replies

How We Became Involved with the Study of the Internet and Politics

acohen843 — Wed, 03 Dec 2003 05:26:44 GMT

Hi,

I'd like to knoow how you all became interested in the Internet and politics. Here is my story.

Back in 1999, I was working for Abuzz.com. One of my jobs was to research how people used the Internet to communicate with others. Since this was the presidential election season, I began focusing on the presidential candidates' websites.

I also spent a lot of time in a variety of political websites. Most of these are gone or have changed their focus - politicalwag.com, speakout.com, grassroots.com, etc.

Ironically, the candidate that I hated the most - Pat Buchanan had the most active website. That website, called the Buchanan Brigade, provides more info about the daily activities of their candidate.

The strange thing about this site was that the 1000+ postings on their bulletin board were all positive. I'm from Boston, and while I can believe that the Red Sox will be in the world series each year, I just couldn't believe that every post the Buchanan team received was positive. This little "detective" suspected that the site must be censored. And that it was. I tried to post a few negative comments but they didn't make it.

In March of 2000, I gave a presentation - "The Internet and Politics" for Abuzz. For my prep work, I sent an email to all the candidates, and just about every social and political organzation that I could locate. I asked them why they used the Internet and if they wanted to particpate online for my presentation.

Only one group accepted - the American Indian Movement. They are very active on the Internet. Why? As they told me, "The Internet is great for organizations for organizations and causes that don't have access to the traditional press."

Today, we have a variety of technologies that include, blogs, instant messaging, and sending messages to cell phones (www.upoc.com). There are many Dean groups on upoc.com and I saw 1 Clark and 1 Kerry group there also.

Enough about me. What is your story?

posted in iPolitics - 3 replies

moblogging

acohen843 — Fri, 05 Dec 2003 01:43:34 GMT

The beauty of technology are the ways that it allows us to communicate. Email is just about instantaneous. Cell phones allow us to make and receive phone calls just about anywhere. Many cell phone provide us instant web access and the ability to take and send photos.

Cell phones with cameras make an interesting device. People can take photos of anything and just as quickly email them. When used correctly, this can provide newsworthy images and citizen-driven news . This is one application of moblogging - the combination of cell phone photos and text.

Moblogging allows one to take pictures of campaign workers, candidates making speeches, and candidates or campaign staff in the wrong place at the wrong time. Moblogging and technology enpowers people.

Of course, there is a responsibility with technology. When does posting photos and writing commentary invade someone's privacy? But the technology is here. It will be interesting to see how it is used.

Here are some moblogging and photoblog sites. They are not political but I believe they show the potential of this technology.
textamerica.com - www.textamerica.com
moblogging - www.moblogging.org
Photoblogs.org - www.photoblogs.org

A Walk Through Durham Township, Pennsylvania - www.durhamtownship.com

Photos From an American in Paris - quandmeme.textamerica.com
Americana For Amy - a4a.textamerica.com/

Sincerely,
Alan

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Political Sims

acohen843 — Thu, 04 Dec 2003 23:41:46 GMT

There are many ways to use the Internet for politics. There are bulletin boards where people argue the issues, blogs for commentary and discussion, candidate websites, email lists, and so on. These are fine for sharing ideas and arguing the issues.

There are also political simulations or micronations. These are online communities where you run for office, make speeches, discuss issues, and live life online.

At times they are similar to bulletin boards, but they give you more of an idea about what it might be like to run for office or serve in government.

I am a member of a political simulation called Fantasy_Nation (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fantasy_nation/). This simulation uses a parliamentary form of government and a president. It is an interesting.

Many of the members are not from the U.S. The elected president is from Bosnia and we have a member of parliament from England. It is interesting to see how people from different countries discuss issues.

Alan

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Who's the Scariest?

Erin — Fri, 31 Oct 2003 19:39:22 GMT

Vote for your "favorite" scary republican.

www.johnkerry.com

Happy Halloween!

Erin

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

Conservative and Libertarian Sites

acohen843 — Fri, 31 Oct 2003 06:42:02 GMT

The beauty of the Internet is the access it provides to information. When I began studying the influence of the Internet on politics back in 1999, I knew that all political views would make it to the Internet.

Liberal, conservative, libertarian, socialist, whatever! There are sites for all political views.

My past few postings have discussed liberal sites. Since my blog discusses all aspects of politics, here are some conservative and libertarian websites. I believe it is important to read all points of view.

townhall
Townhall (www.townhall.com) is the best of the conservative sites. Whether you are a conservative or a liberal researching the conservative point of view, this is the one site you should check. It provides the following:

Columnists (www.townhall.com/columnists/)
Newsletters (www.townhall.com/newsletters/)
Web Log (www.townhall.com/clog/)
Today's Issues (www.townhall.com/issues/)
RightPages (www.townhall.com/rightpages/0.asp?parent=0)
Hall of Fame (www.townhall.com/notables/)
Contact Congress (capwiz.com/townhall/home/), and
Historical Docs (www.townhall.com/documents/)

The Federalist Society
The Federalist Society (www.fed-soc.org) is an interesting site. In their own words:

"The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order. It is founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be."

This site provides a variety of information that most will find useful. Here is a sampling:

Civil Rights (www.fed-soc.org/Publications/practicegroupnewsletters/civilrights/civilrights.htm)
Federalism & Separation of Powers (www.fed-soc.org/Publications/practicegroupnewsletters/federalism/federalism.htm)
Free Speech and Election Law (www.fed-soc.org/Publications/practicegroupnewsletters/freespeech&electionlaw/freespeech.htm)

Cato Institute
The Cato Institute (www.cato.org) is the libertarian site. I like sites that provide information. This site does.

What is the Cato Institute? In their own words:

The Cato Institute seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace. Toward that goal, the Institute strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.

Some of the topics that this site offers are:
Terrorism (www.cato.org/current/terrorism/index.html)
North Korea (www.cato.org/current/north-korea/index.html)
Judicial Nominations (www.cato.org/current/judicial-nominations/index.html)
Civil Liberties (www.cato.org/current/civil-liberties/index.html), and
School Choice (www.cato.org/research/education/choice.html)

The Cato Institute site also provides some extras:

Cato on Your PDA (www.cato.org/avantgo/index.html), and
El Cato (www.elcato.org/)

The web offers an unlimited amount of information. When you research an issue, read a variety of viewpoints from a variety of websites.

Sincerely,
Alan R. Cohen

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

freespeech.org

acohen843 — Thu, 30 Oct 2003 06:40:38 GMT

One of my jobs is teaching English as a Second Language. In addition to grammar, writing, and conversation, I make it my priority to ensure that my students know that they have freedom of speech. They can criticize the president of the United States, be wary of government, speak against the war in Iraq, and voice their opinion on any other issue. That is the American way!

I teach them to read the same news story in different newspapers, listen to a variety of news reports, and that there is more to the news than what you see on tv. I also tell them to look at different websites to read and see different points of view.

One site is freespeech.org. This site provides a variety of politics-related news. Many of the programs are the works of independent producers.

Freespeech.org provides politically-oriented programs, videos, action alerts, websites, and a discussion board.

While visiting the discussion board, I found a post for a very interesting website - lovearth.net (www.lovearth.net#political). Check out both sites; you will find them useful.

Sincerely,
Alan R. Cohen

posted in iPolitics - 0 replies

iPolitics

acohen843 — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 17:16:06 GMT

The Internet offers many possibilities to either improve politics or hurt politics and communication. While the Internet is great for communication, it is also equally good at miscommunication.

I will be posting a series of articles in this forum discussing the different aspects and potential of the Internet and politics.

Here are some useful (good) sites:
the memoryhole.org
verifiedvoting.org
opensecrets.org, and
voice4change.org.

posted in iPolitics - 1 reply