Last week, I created a Facebook page: Let's Talk Politics. I imagine that like me, many Kossaks consume a lot of news from a lot of sources. Prior to creating the page, I would share select stories via my regular profile, reaching out to my own circle of contacts. But I wanted to do more than just share links and maybe have comments from one or two friends.
Here's the description I put together for the page.
Democracy at it's best is a participatory endeavor that works to improve our social contract. It works best when interested parties work together in good faith to address mutually identified problems. It works best when a responsible fourth estate acts as a watchdog toward those in power to maintain a well-informed, accurately informed citizenry.
For a number of years, as a society, we have struggled to maintain democracy at it's best. Media has neglected its watchdog role in favor of attempting to ingratiate itself with power brokers or to sell a particular narrative and point of view. Political players have grown more polarized in a zero-sum game where opponents are treated as enemies, especially (though not exclusively) by the conservative side of the spectrum. Instead of working to improve our social contract, there has been an unfortunate trend to scream about smaller government, lower taxes, and reduced government services. "Keep your government hands out of my Medicare!"
Here is an opportunity to take things out of that frame and have a passionate discussion of the issues of the day to keep ourselves informed and get back to improving the state of our social contract.
Let's talk politics!
My hope is to expand an open political discussion out to folks who aren't going to pursue news as actively as those of us who participate on sites like Daily Kos. I'd like people to contribute links and participate in conversations on the page. I'd also hope people share links from the page to their own profiles, again, to reach out to our broader circles of people who are not as active political news consumers as we are. By taking the discussion to Facebook, I hope to reach out to people who aren't committed to partisan media, and perhaps break through to some caught by a Fox News/conservative media bubble.
Below the fold, take a look at some of the content I've shared so far. It'd be great to join this effort. Please like the Let's Talk Politics page, and contribute to the conversation there if you're so inclined.
Since creating the Let's Talk Politics Facebook page, I've posted 29 links from sources including In These Times, the New England Journal of Medicine, the New York Times, the Maddow Blog, Washington Monthly, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo, and perhaps another couple. I've posted links on the accomplishments of the Obama administration, the recent controversy over covering birth control as part of preventative care for women, economic policy, the Affordable Care Act, support for education and more.
I started with a link from the Washington Monthly:The Incomplete Greatness of Barack Obama
I shared a link from the Maddow Blog on the war on voting: Trying to vote, Texas edition
An article from the Washington Post: One super PAC takes aim at incumbents of any party
Paul Krugman of the New York Times is likely to be a staple: Ignorance is strength
Some obscure political blog makes an appearance: In which I eat crow, and thank President Obama for the ACA and here: Confirmed: Fracking Caused Ohio Earthquakes
Daily Kos also pointed out this magnificent YouTube video:
I pulled a great flowchart from Mother Jones: Are You a Slut
I've posted health news from the New England Journal of Medicine: Slower Growth in Medicare Spending - Is This the New Normal? and about Mitt Romney lying about health care from Talking Points Memo's alliteratively titled: The Many Misleading Claims in Mitt's Monday Medicare Memo.
Working in These Times provided an opportunity to talk about pensions, unions, and the current stats of the American middle class: A Victory for American Airline Workers, but Pension-Free Future Still Looks Bleak for Most.
Finally, I want to give a hat tip to novenator and the series on social media for progressives, particularly Progressives Guide to Social Media 6: Facebook. While not a direct inspiration for the Let's Talk Politics page, I did find it worthwhile, and it does include a decent starting list of progressives to connect with on Facebook. In the comments, feel free to post a link to your Facebook profile if you're interested in connecting beyond the Let's Talk Politics page.