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Imagine if news was no longer supplied primarily by people who want to sell us something.
Imagine
citizens from different backgrounds and points of view coming together in small groups to ask questions about issues that
affect their lives. Imagine them getting together on a regular basis to clarify, evaluate, and prioritize these questions
in an atmosphere of respect and curiosity. Imagine them posting them to a site where questions from other small groups
are also listed.
Imagine dozens, hundreds, eventually thousands of people seeing these questions and bringing
them to libraries. Imagine helpful librarians teaching them how to find reliable answers. Imagine all of these
people learning to evaluate sources, check facts, explore history and context, and assess reasoning. Imagine apps and
websites that guide them through this process and also generate personalized emails informing sources, politicians, and the
rest of the world when information is found to be divisive, misleading, or false.
Imagine this information being
posted, organized and updated on a website by people from different perspectives and backgrounds who are fully transparent.
Imagine it being summarized into clear statements that are regularly updated and indicate the level of confidence in their
accuracy and the reliability of their sources.
Imagine everyone involved in the process is open about who
they are, what they are trying to accomplish, and how they might benefit from it.
Imagine an app that guides us
through having a meaningful conversations with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. Imagine learning
how establish an atmosphere of respect and curiosity; avoiding taking about politicians and their selling points; and
asking questions that lead to mutual understanding and the discovery of shared concerns.
Imagine more and more
citizens thinking and talking about issues in a meaningful way. Imagine them asking questions, having easy access to
reliable, verifiable information. Imagine them easily recognizing when simplistic solutions are being sold to us by
those who benefit from those solutions at our expense. Imagine political operatives getting thousands of app-generated
personalized emails whenever they release material that is fear-based, divisive, or misleading.
Imagine journalists
stop covering elections as sporting events and candidates become subject to a rigorous process of in-depth interviews
that assess their understanding of issues and their ability and commitment to serve the people rather than their party or
the self-interests of those who finance them.
Imagine the only politicians who can get elected are those who demonstrate
a clear understanding of the issues, take into account different points of view, know how to work with people with different
backgrounds and perspectives, and have consistent records of honesty and integrity.
Imagine you helped make this
all happen...
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