This is a good start. I am interested in coming up with a working project on this and getting feedback.

Brian:

You shouldn't make me or my ideas the subject of a blog topic. No one wants to hear about debate commissions and this kind of crap. Most people want to tar and feather the guy that doesn't have the same party affiliation as them. As you can see, by the total lack of response, people are defending interests locally and really don't want an across the board commission that will call people to task for not presenting their ideas in a more contrasting format for the benefit of the voters.

You see this on every level of government. No one in their right mind wants a system that may even remotely give one inch of their own interest for the common good. They would rather have a system that only looks fair to their own political identity.

Brian, have you ever heard of a Procrustean bed? I will say this, the party system is the procrustean bed for the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of the American citizen. Think about that and commment.

Scott

The League of Women Voters sponsors debates during campaign season. Are you looking to do something off season?

The League of women voters does a fine job, but I don't believe I have seen any debates just based on the future of Simi Valley done by the league.

I worked a race that dealt with the League of women voters and they stated to us that we would need to do the leg work to get a debate together before they would pay attention. When you are on a shoe string budget and your trying to get outreach to voters, you don't have time to raise funds and organize a debate because you are running a campaign.

A debate commission would organize debates around the city council, school board, and parks and recreation. It would be totally non-partisan and would do all the organizing by working with the chamber, PTA, neighborhood councils, churches, and other groups interested in putting on a debate.

The way I see it, it will publish a position papers for each candidate willing to debate. If a candidate opted out of the debate, then it would publish that as well.

Scott

Scott,

I like the idea of publishing the position papers. We should also add to that making them availble to the public in places like the chamber, rotary, lions, elks lodge, etc.

I am thinking debates before elections. The Simi Valley Democrats are looking to host debates during the off years. The only problem is getting local Republicans toi agree to debate from what I hear.

Brian:

I would say it can't come from the parties at all? The debate commission should be totally non-partisan.

I'd love to see a series of saturday afternoon debates in the park.

Scott

Scott,

I am only thinking the parties could help, if both agreed.

and also because parties have people with background exp. and interest in putting together debates.

brian

Brian:

I think if the parties are involved it'll seem more like haggling. Also, I am not sure what the rules are if the democratic and republican party sponsored a debate for non-partisan races like park board and city council...

Scott

Brian:

Legal is reality. If the dems and reps put on a city council, park board, and ed board debate most people would dodge it because they wouldn't know if they were breaking the non-partisan local elections laws that were designed to break party power at the local level.

Here's another fun fact for you.

Governors in CA used to seek the nomination of both parties. Gone are those days... Too much partisanship, which I actually think is hurting CA the most becuase its not in a Californians tradition not to be independent-minded.

Earl Warren was the Republican and Democratic Party choice...

Scott

Brian:

Do you believe that if you are not able to communicate in a debate that you will not be a great leader once in office?

Scott