http://civicwiki.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=BcatOneCivicwiki - User contributions [en]2026-05-01T09:46:59ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.28.0http://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2582Civicwiki:The Path2017-03-25T18:49:42Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>America’s political history tells us that the object of most political thinkers, that were around during our beginnings, was to establish a society in which each individual, with the smallest possible deference to the authority of his rulers, would have both the right and responsibility of guiding his own actions within a framework of legitimate rights and duties. That tradition is still valid, but being now old and, for some, stale ore even passe, it could use a restatement in today's terms. <br />
<br />
A CW premise: We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and moreover, that this is universally valid. Another CW premise: Most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. We will work to substantiate these premises. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) Such a discussion is necessary because the desirability of freedom is not self-evident to everyone. Belief in individual freedom seems to have a shelf life. After a couple of centuries we take it for granted; its value seems to wane; society has always been imperfect and we want to create “better worlds.” At no time in the history of the planet has any society done that except by creating more liberty. “A better world” has never been achieved by trading liberty for it.<br />
<br />
Having articulated the principles of freedom in today’s terms, we will then apply those principles to the problems of our time. CW will discuss the meaning of liberty and the various ‘freedoms’ that are sometimes claimed and sort through which are real and which are not – and why. We will then apply those principles to the issues. As part of this, we must also understand the trends in thought that work against freedom. We will dwell on economic freedom, without which, we will ask, can individuals or society be considered free? Civicwiki’s work will answer that and other questions.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2581Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-03-25T18:44:13Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> Our desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree. One of our assumptions is that there are such principles around which a broad consensus can be built. On that, we would like to build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, hold a civil discourse from which will come better mutual understanding rather than tribal reaction. Our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism is not completely bad. A community of like minded people can accomplish great things - the creation of The United States for example. But today tribalism is being pushed to its extreme until it does not require understanding, it discourages it. A tribe's members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to belong. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. ([[Tribalism at work|A link to a great example of tribalism at work]].) CW will pursue better understanding. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. <br />
<br />
Initially, we worked from an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state as one example) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best way to repair society and ensure the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that our fundamental motive is not, foremost, a reconstruction of society and government or to simply go back in time. '''''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of us all as individuals'''''. <!-- and not a reconstruction of society or government simply for the sake of going back in time., or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed--></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Portal:What_Government_do_We_Want&diff=2580Portal:What Government do We Want2017-02-27T17:15:31Z<p>BcatOne: typo corrections</p>
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<div>__NOTOC__<br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">How should we be governed?</h2><br />
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<tr><td style="padding:5px;"><br />
In America's early days we were an independent lot. We believed in liberty, a right to property, and freedom from arbitrary arrest. We saw the need for government but the problem was how to use it to maintain order without destroying liberty or trampling on our 'inalienable' rights. This balance was the subject of public debate leading up to the ratification of our constitution, articulated in essays that come down to us as The Federalist Papers and The Anti-Federalist Papers. It amounted to one side saying that the existing confederation of independent states provided as much government as could exist and be compatible with liberty; and the federalists saying that the Confederation was insufficient to maintain order and provide for a nation strong enough to defend itself against external (and internal) attacks on that liberty. <br />
[[File:If I Ran the Zoo.png|250px|thumb|<p style="text-align:center">"<big>'''If I ran the zoo.'''</big><br>I'd make a few changes.<br>That's just what I'd do."<br> Dr. Seuss|link=]]</p><br />
Both sides agreed with Thomas Paine who wrote "government even in its best state is but a necessary evil in its worst state, an intolerable one." (''Common Sense'' 1776)<ref name="Common Sense">{{cite book|last=Paine|first=Thomas|title=Common Sense|date=1776|publisher=Robert Bell|location=Philadelphia}}</ref>. Richard Epstein describes their dilemma thus: "A government that is too strong can become tyrannical and oppress its citizens; yet a government that is too weak cannot withstand a succession of internal upheavals or external attacks . . , with catastrophic loss of liberty and destruction of property. The key challenge was to determine how best to navigate between these two perils."<ref name="Classical Liberal Constitution"> Epstein, Richard ''The Classical Liberal Consititution'' (2014) Cambridge, Massachusetts; Harvard University Press</ref><br />
<br>This view of government is 'classic liberal'. In this view the preservation of individual liberty is the focus.<br />
<!-----Richard Epstein describes their dilemma thus: "A government that is too strong can become tyrannical and oppress its citizens; yet a government that is too weak cannot withstand a succession of internal upheavals or external attacks . . , with catastrophic loss of liberty and destruction of property. The key challenge was to determine how best to navigate between these two perils."<ref name="Classical Liberal Constitution"> Epstein, Richard ''The Classical Liberal Consititution'' (2014) Cambridge, Massachusetts; Harvard University Press</ref><br />
-----><br />
<br />
In the early 20th century there was a shift toward the 'progressive' view that saw government not as necessary evil, but as a force for good--correcting social flaws that the minimalist approach ignored. <!--- Following Epstein's analysis <ref name="Classical Liberal Constitution"> Richard Epstein ''The Classical Liberal Consititution'' (2014) Cambridge, Massachusetts; Harvard University Press</ref> ---> This view holds that individual rights are not 'inalienable', but are created by government; and that a benevolent and powerful state<!---, administered by impartial experts,---> can eliminate the economic imbalances created by our rapid industrialization and advance of technology. The constitution's limits on government power were seen as barriers to a modern state to be overcome by greater power to be exercised by impartial administrative agencies (creating and enforcing regulations) that receive power from the legislature and that major issues should be settled through the action of a democratically elected legislature unfettered by the Constitution's structure, protection of property, and judicial review. <br />
<br />
Which do we want? These two views have fundamental differences that won't be reconciled in a way that is stable and lasting. CW is on the side of liberty protected by only as much government as is necessary. However, we will also present thoughtful contributions that disagree.<br />
<br />
<br />
<references /><br />
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<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin-top:8px;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">Categories and contents</h2><br />
Click on arrows to see subcategories and articles.<br><br />
Article titles are in italics.<br />
{{#categorytree:What Government|mode=pages}}<br />
</div><br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;margin-top:6px;padding:3px;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin-top:8px;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">Things you can do</h2><br />
*Write (or edit) a page about about an important issue. <br />
*Improve the introduction above (text and image).<br />
</div><br />
</td><br />
<td>&nbsp;</td><br />
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:6px;"><br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;padding:3px;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin-top:8px;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">Featured Article</h2><br />
''Classic Liberal vs. Progressive''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|The Basic Choice: Classic Liberal vs. Progressive}}<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<!---<br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;margin-top:6px;padding:3px;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin-top:8px;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">Issues</h2><br />
{{#ask:[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]|format=ul}}<br />
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</div></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Portal:What_Government_do_We_Want&diff=2579Portal:What Government do We Want2017-02-27T17:09:05Z<p>BcatOne: Add Epstein's comment</p>
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<div>__NOTOC__<br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">How should we be governed?</h2><br />
<table width="100%" border="0" style="border-bottom:1px solid #000080;" cellpadding="0"><br />
<tr><td style="padding:5px;"><br />
In America's early days we were an independent lot. We believed in liberty, a right to property, and freedom from arbitrary arrest. We saw the need for government but the problem was how to use it to maintain order without destroying liberty or trampling on our 'inalienable' rights. This balance was the subject of public debate leading up to the ratification of our constitution, articulated in essays that come down to us as The Federalist Papers and The Anti-Federalist Papers. It amounted to one side saying that the existing confederation of independent states provided as much government as could exist and be compatible with liberty; and the federalists saying that the Confederation was insufficient to maintain order and provide for a nation strong enough to defend itself against external (and internal) attacks on that liberty. <br />
[[File:If I Ran the Zoo.png|250px|thumb|<p style="text-align:center">"<big>'''If I ran the zoo.'''</big><br>I'd make a few changes.<br>That's just what I'd do."<br> Dr. Seuss|link=]]</p><br />
Both sides agreed with Thomas Paine who wrote "government even in its best state is but a necessary evil in its worst state, an intolerable one." (''Common Sense'' 1776)<ref name="Common Sense">{{cite book|last=Paine|first=Thomas|title=Common Sense|date=1776|publisher=Robert Bell|location=Philadelphia}}</ref> . Richard Epstein describes their dilemma thus: "A government that is too strong can become tyrannical and oppress its citizens; yet a government that is too weak cannot withstand a succession of internal upheavals or external attacks . . , with catastrophic loss of liberty and destruction of property. The key challenge was to determine how best to navigate between these two perils."<ref name="Classical Liberal Constitution"> Epstein, Richard ''The Classical Liberal Consititution'' (2014) Cambridge, Massachusetts; Harvard University Press</ref><br />
<br>This view of government is 'classic liberal'. <br />
<!-----Richard Epstein describes their dilemma thus: "A government that is too strong can become tyrannical and oppress its citizens; yet a government that is too weak cannot withstand a succession of internal upheavals or external attacks . . , with catastrophic loss of liberty and destruction of property. The key challenge was to determine how best to navigate between these two perils."<ref name="Classical Liberal Constitution"> Epstein, Richard ''The Classical Liberal Consititution'' (2014) Cambridge, Massachusetts; Harvard University Press</ref><br />
-----><br />
<br />
In the early 20th century there was a shift toward the 'progressive' view that saw government not as necessary evil, but as a force for good--correcting social flaws that the minimalist approach ignored. <!--- Following Epstein's analysis <ref name="Classical Liberal Constitution"> Richard Epstein ''The Classical Liberal Consititution'' (2014) Cambridge, Massachusetts; Harvard University Press</ref> ---> This view holds that individual rights are not 'inalienable', but are created by government; and that a benevolent and powerful state<!---, administered by impartial experts,---> can eliminate the economic imbalances created by our rapid industrialization and advance of technology. The constitution's limits on government power were seen as barriers to a modern state to be overcome by greater power to be exercised by impartial administrative agencies (creating and enforcing regulations) that receive power from the legislature and that major issues should be settled through the action of a democratically elected legislature unfettered by the Constitution's structure, protection of property, and judicial review. <br />
<br />
Which do we want? These two views have fundamental differences that wont be reconciled in a way that is stable and lasting. CW is on the side of liberty protected by only as much government as is necessary. However, we will also present thoughtful contributions that disagree.<br />
<br />
<br />
<references /><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<!--</div>--><br />
<table style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; margin-top:8px;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:6px;"><br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;padding:3px;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin-top:8px;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">Categories and contents</h2><br />
Click on arrows to see subcategories and articles.<br><br />
Article titles are in italics.<br />
{{#categorytree:What Government|mode=pages}}<br />
</div><br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;margin-top:6px;padding:3px;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin-top:8px;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">Things you can do</h2><br />
*Write (or edit) a page about about an important issue. <br />
*Improve the introduction above (text and image).<br />
</div><br />
</td><br />
<td>&nbsp;</td><br />
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:6px;"><br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;padding:3px;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin-top:8px;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">Featured Article</h2><br />
''Classic Liberal vs. Progressive''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|The Basic Choice: Classic Liberal vs. Progressive}}<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<!---<br />
<div style="width:100%;border:1px solid #000080;margin-top:6px;padding:3px;"><br />
<h2 style="border-bottom:none;margin-top:8px;margin:0;background:#000080; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center; color:#FFF;">Issues</h2><br />
{{#ask:[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]|format=ul}}<br />
</div><br />
---><br />
</td><br />
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</table><br />
</div></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2578Civicwiki:The Path2017-02-27T14:53:51Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>America’s political history tells us that the object of most political thinkers, that were around during our beginnings, was to establish a society in which each individual, with the smallest possible deference to the authority of his rulers, would have both the right and responsibility of guiding his own actions within a framework of legitimate rights and duties. That tradition is still valid, but being now old and, for some, stale, it could use a restatement in today's terms. <br />
<br />
A CW premise: We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and moreover, that this is universally valid. Another CW premise: Most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. We will work to substantiate these premises. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) Such a discussion is necessary because the desirability of freedom is not self-evident to everyone. Belief in individual freedom seems to have a shelf life. After a couple of centuries we take it for granted; its value seems to wane; society has always been imperfect and we want to create “better worlds.” At no time in the history of the planet has any society done that except by creating more liberty. “A better world” has never been achieved by trading liberty for it.<br />
<br />
Having articulated the principles of freedom in today’s terms, we will then apply those principles to the problems of our time. CW will discuss the meaning of liberty and the various ‘freedoms’ that are sometimes claimed and sort through which are real and which are not – and why. We will then apply those principles to the issues. As part of this, we must also understand the trends in thought that work against freedom. We will dwell on economic freedom, without which, we will ask, can individuals or society be considered free? Civicwiki’s work will answer that and other questions.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2577Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-02-27T14:43:28Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree. One of our assumptions is that there are such principles around which a broad consensus can be built. On that, we would like to build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, hold a civil discourse from which will come ever better understanding. Our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism is not completely bad. A community of like minded people can accomplish great things - the creation of The United States for example. But today tribalism is being pushed to its extreme until it does not require understanding, it discourages it. A tribe's members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to belong. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. ([[Tribalism at work|A link to a great example of tribalism at work]].) CW will pursue better understanding. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. <br />
<br />
Initially, we worked from an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state as one example) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best way to repair society and ensure the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that our fundamental motive is not, foremost, a reconstruction of society and government or to simply go back in time. '''''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of us all as individuals'''''. <!-- and not a reconstruction of society or government simply for the sake of going back in time., or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed--></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2576Main Page2017-02-27T14:41:47Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
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'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
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<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
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{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
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''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
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{{Civicwiki:The Path}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
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Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
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<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
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<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
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<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
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<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
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<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2575Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-02-27T14:35:15Z<p>BcatOne: rephrasing</p>
<hr />
<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree. One of our assumptions is that there are such principles around which a broad consensus can be built. On that, we would like to build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, hold a civil discourse from which will come ever better understanding. Our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism is not completely bad. A community of like minded people can accomplish great things - the creation of The United States for example. But today tribalism is being pushed to its extreme until it does not require understanding, it discourages it. A tribe's members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to belong. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. ([[Tribalism at work|A link to a great example of tribalism at work]].) CW will pursue better understanding. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. <br />
<br />
Initially, we worked from an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state as one example) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best way to repair society and ensure the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that our fundamental motive is not necessarily a reconstruction of society and government simply for the sake of going back in time. '''''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'''''. <!-- and not a reconstruction of society or government simply for the sake of going back in time., or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed--></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Tribalism_at_work&diff=2574Tribalism at work2017-02-27T14:06:37Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div><!--This writer recently came across an excellent example of tribalism. It demonstrates that people of one tribe too often oppose, out of hand, the thoughts of those they associate with another tribe. <br />
--><br />
The Wall Street Journal editorial section (January 3, 2017) carried an article by William Galston. Mr. Galston is a contemporary liberal and a career Democrat among an otherwise classically liberal editorial staff that leans Republican. In this instance, Mr. Galston wrote an article titled "The Growing Threat of 'Illiberal Democracy'" [http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-growing-threat-of-illiberal-democracy-1483488245]. In it he asks the question "What happens when rule by the people conflicts with individual rights?" It is an interesting article that champions the concept of 'rule of law' vs. such things as pure democracy. It is a very classic liberal position to take - and a defense of individual liberty. Here is one of Galston's comments:<br />
*"Many have come to see liberal institutions such as a free press, constitutional courts and individual rights not as protections against public power, but rather as obstacles to effective governance. To solve major problems, goes the argument, government must have the capacity to act effectively, which liberal restraints undermine."<br />
CivicWiki agrees and agrees with most of the rest of the article. Further, we would expect those on the right (as well as the left) to at least agree with its overall message of individual liberty. <br />
Here are a few reader comments posted at the bottom of the article on WSJ's website (cut and pasted without modification). Note that they tend to recall grievances over issues not even mentioned in Galston's article.<br />
*Please go away and take your lying columns with you, Galston.... anyone with half a brain knows that "liberalism" is communism, leftism, socialism, etc. gussied up to sell to the next generation of suckers and takers...<br />
*In the U.S. Galston and his "liberal" friends have tried to subvert what he calls liberal democracy by packing the court system and liberalizing both legal and illegal immigration to the detriment of their fellow countrymen. <br />
*Mr. Galston seems to have missed or ignored the past eight years, or viewed them as a liberal nirvana, under Obama’s governance by executive order, regulation and prosecution of illiberal recalcitrants such as the Little Sisters of the Poor. (my comment: the article made no mention of Obama, etc.)<br />
These commentors did not read and understand that what Mr. Galston wrote defended individual liberty and was not a partisan rant. They reacted to their preexisting impression of his tribal affiliation. If someone from their side were to make the same remarks, they would heartily agree. We must do better than that. In fact, Mr. Galston provides evidence that there '''are''' principles of universal validity around which we can agree and then discuss how they should apply to the issues, our problems and our governance.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Tribalism_at_work&diff=2573Tribalism at work2017-02-27T14:04:21Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--This writer recently came across an excellent example of tribalism. It demonstrates that people of one tribe too often oppose, out of hand, the thoughts of those they associate with another tribe. <br />
--><br />
The Wall Street Journal editorial section (January 3, 2017) carried an article by William Galston. Mr. Galston is a contemporary liberal and a career Democrat among an otherwise classically liberal editorial staff that leans Republican. In this instance, Mr. Galston wrote an article titled "The Growing Threat of 'Illiberal Democracy'" [http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-growing-threat-of-illiberal-democracy-1483488245]. In it he asks the question "What happens when rule by the people conflicts with individual rights?" It is an interesting article that champions the concept of 'rule of law' vs. such things as pure democracy. It is a very classic liberal position to take - and a defense of individual liberty. Here is one of Galston's comments:<br />
*"Many have come to see liberal institutions such as a free press, constitutional courts and individual rights not as protections against public power, but rather as obstacles to effective governance. To solve major problems, goes the argument, government must have the capacity to act effectively, which liberal restraints undermine."<br />
CivicWiki agrees and agrees with most of the rest of the article. Further, we would expect those on the right (as well as the left) to at least agree with its overall message of individual liberty. <br />
Here are a few reader comments posted at the bottom of the article on WSJ's website (cut and pasted without modification). Note that they tend to recall grievances over issues not even mentioned in Galston's article.<br />
*Please go away and take your lying columns with you, Galston.... anyone with half a brain knows that "liberalism" is communism, leftism, socialism, etc. gussied up to sell to the next generation of suckers and takers...<br />
*In the U.S. Galston and his "liberal" friends have tried to subvert what he calls liberal democracy by packing the court system and liberalizing both legal and illegal immigration to the detriment of their fellow countrymen. <br />
*Mr. Galston seems to have missed or ignored the past eight years, or viewed them as a liberal nirvana, under Obama’s governance by executive order, regulation and prosecution of illiberal recalcitrants such as the Little Sisters of the Poor. (my comment: the article made no mention of Obama, etc.)<br />
These commentors did not read and understand that what Mr. Galston wrote defended individual liberty and was not a partisan rant. They reacted to their preexisting impression of his tribal affiliation. If someone from their side were to make the same remarks, they would heartily agree. We must do better than that. In fact, Mr. Galston provides evidence that there '''are''' principles of universal validity around which we can agree and then discuss how they should apply to our problems and governance.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Tribalism_at_work&diff=2572Tribalism at work2017-02-15T15:29:55Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--This writer recently came across an excellent example of tribalism. It demonstrates that people of one tribe too often oppose, out of hand, the thoughts of those they associate with another tribe. <br />
--><br />
The Wall Street Journal editorial section (January 3, 2017) carried an article by William Galston. Mr. Galston is seen by WSJ readers (including this writer) as a contemporary liberal who leans Democrat among an otherwise classically liberal editorial staff that leans Republican. In this instance, Mr. Galston wrote an article titled "The Growing Threat of 'Illiberal Democracy'" [http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-growing-threat-of-illiberal-democracy-1483488245]. In it he asks the question "What happens when rule by the people conflicts with individual rights?" It is an interesting article that champions the concept of 'rule of law' vs. such things as pure democracy. It is a very classic liberal position to take - and a defense of individual liberty. Here is one of Galston's comments:<br />
*Many have come to see liberal institutions such as a free press, constitutional courts and individual rights not as protections against public power, but rather as obstacles to effective governance. To solve major problems, goes the argument, government must have the capacity to act effectively, which liberal restraints undermine.<br />
CivicWiki agrees and agrees with most of the rest of the article. Further, we would expect those on the right (as well as the left) to at least agree with its overall message of individual liberty. <br />
Here are a few reader comments posted at the bottom of the article on WSJ's website (cut and pasted without modification). Note that they tend to recall grievances over issues not even mentioned in Galston's article.<br />
*Please go away and take your lying columns with you, Galston.... anyone with half a brain knows that "liberalism" is communism, leftism, socialism, etc. gussied up to sell to the next generation of suckers and takers...<br />
*In the U.S. Galston and his "liberal" friends have tried to subvert what he calls liberal democracy by packing the court system and liberalizing both legal and illegal immigration to the detriment of their fellow countrymen. <br />
*Mr. Galston seems to have missed or ignored the past eight years, or viewed them as a liberal nirvana, under Obama’s governance by executive order, regulation and prosecution of illiberal recalcitrants such as the Little Sisters of the Poor. (my comment: the article made no mention of Obama, etc.)<br />
These commentors did not read and understand that what Mr. Galston wrote defended individual liberty and was not a partisan rant. They reacted to their preexisting impression of his tribal affiliation. If someone from their side were to make the same remarks, they would heartily agree. We must do better than that. In fact, Mr. Galston provides evidence that there '''are''' principles of universal validity around which we can agree and then discuss how they should apply to our problems and governance.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2571Main Page2017-01-13T17:29:33Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>__NOTOC__<br />
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
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'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
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<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
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{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
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''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
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{{Civicwiki:The Path}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
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Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
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{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
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<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
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<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
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<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2569Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-10T16:48:52Z<p>BcatOne: wordsmithing</p>
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<div>The political tradition of America (inherited from England) tells us that the object of most political thinkers was to establish a society in which each individual, with the smallest possible deference to the authority of his rulers, would have both the right and responsibility of guiding his own actions within a framework of established rights and duties. That tradition is still valid, but being now old and, for some, stale, it could use a restatement in today's terms. <br />
<br />
A CW premise: We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and moreover, that this is universally valid. Another CW premise: Most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. We will work to substantiate these premises. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) Such a discussion is necessary because the desirability of freedom is not self-evident to everyone. Belief in individual freedom seems to have a shelf life. After a couple of centuries we take it for granted; its value seems to wane; society has always been imperfect and we want to create “better worlds.” At no time in the history of the planet has any society done that except by creating more liberty. “A better world” has never been achieved by trading liberty for it.<br />
<br />
Having articulated the principles of freedom in today’s terms, we will then apply those principles to the problems of our time. CW will discuss the meaning of liberty and the various ‘freedoms’ that are sometimes claimed and sort through which are real and which are not – and why. We will then apply those principles to the issues. As part of this, we must also understand the trends in thought that work against freedom. We will dwell on economic freedom, without which, we will ask, can individuals or society be considered free? Civicwiki’s work will answer that and other questions.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2568Main Page2017-01-10T16:16:56Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
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'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
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</table><br />
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<td style="width:26%; font-size:110%;"><br />
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<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:30%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
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{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
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<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
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{{Civicwiki:The Path}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
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{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
</div></h2><br />
</td><br />
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<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
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</ul><br />
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<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
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<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Tribalism_at_work&diff=2567Tribalism at work2017-01-06T21:05:14Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--This writer recently came across an excellent example of tribalism. It demonstrates that people of one tribe too often oppose, out of hand, the thoughts of those they associate with another tribe. <br />
--><br />
The Wall Street Journal editorial section (January 3, 2017) carried an article by William Galston. Mr. Galston is seen by WSJ readers (including this writer) as a contemporary liberal who leans Democrat among an otherwise classically liberal editorial staff that leans Republican. In this instance, Mr. Galston wrote an article titled "The Growing Threat of 'Illiberal Democracy'" [http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-growing-threat-of-illiberal-democracy-1483488245]. In it he asks the question "What happens when rule by the people conflicts with individual rights?" It is an interesting article that champions the concept of 'rule of law' vs. such things as pure democracy. It is a very classic liberal position to take - and a defense of individual liberty. Here is one of Galston's comments:<br />
*Many have come to see liberal institutions such as a free press, constitutional courts and individual rights not as protections against public power, but rather as obstacles to effective governance. To solve major problems, goes the argument, government must have the capacity to act effectively, which liberal restraints undermine.<br />
CivicWiki agrees and agrees with most of the rest of the article. Further, we would expect those on the right (as well as the left) to at least agree with its overall message of individual liberty. <br />
Here are a few reader comments posted at the bottom of the article on WSJ's website (cut and pasted without modification). Note that they tend to recall grievances over issues not even mentioned in Galston's article.<br />
*Please go away and take your lying columns with you, Galston.... anyone with half a brain knows that "liberalism" is communism, leftism, socialism, etc. gussied up to sell to the next generation of suckers and takers...<br />
*In the U.S. Galston and his "liberal" friends have tried to subvert what he calls liberal democracy by packing the court system and liberalizing both legal and illegal immigration to the detriment of their fellow countrymen. <br />
*Mr. Galston seems to have missed or ignored the past eight years, or viewed them as a liberal nirvana, under Obama’s governance by executive order, regulation and prosecution of illiberal recalcitrants such as the Little Sisters of the Poor. (my comment: the article made no mention of Obama, etc.)<br />
These commentors did not read and understand what Mr. Galston wrote. They reacted to their preexisting impression of his tribal affiliation. If someone from their side were to make the same remarks, they would heartily agree. We must do better than that. In fact, Mr. Galston provides evidence that there '''are''' principles of universal validity around which we can agree and then discuss how they should apply to our problems and governance.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2566Main Page2017-01-06T21:02:52Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>__NOTOC__<br />
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount"> <br />
'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
</div><br />
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</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:26%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:30%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
<!--<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 3]]</li>--><br />
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<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-right"><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">The Liberation of Individuals</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
</div><br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
</div> <br />
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<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The Path of discussion</span></h2><br />
</div><br />
<div style="color:#000; padding:0px 5px 2px;"><br />
{{Civicwiki:The Path}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
<br />
</div><br />
--------------------><br />
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<!-----------------<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Issues</span></h2> <br />
{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
<hr><br />
[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
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<br />
<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
</div></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
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<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
</ul><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute to CW</span></h2><br />
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<td style="width:25%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
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<div>The political tradition of America (inherited from England) tells us that the object of most political thinkers was to establish a society in which each individual, with the smallest possible deference to the authority of his rulers, would have both the privilege and responsibility of guiding his own actions within a framework of established rights and duties. Those traditions are now old but no less valid, so they could use a restatement in today's terms. <br />
<br />
We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and further, that this is universally valid. Another CivicWiki premise is that most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) Such a discussion is necessary because the desirability of freedom is not self-evident to everyone. Belief in individual freedom seems to have a shelf life. After a couple of centuries of it, we take it for granted, the idea seems to get stale, we as people have always been imperfect, and we want to create “better worlds.” At no time in the history of the planet has any society done that except when moving away from despotism in the direction of liberty. <br />
<br />
Having articulated the principles of freedom in today’s terms, we will then apply those principles to the problems of our time. CW will discuss the meaning of liberty and the various ‘freedoms’ claimed by people and sort through which are real and which are false – and why. We will then apply those principles to the issues. As part of this, we must also understand the trends in thought that work against freedom. We will dwell on economic freedom, without which, we will ask, can individuals or society be considered free? We will try to answer that and other questions.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2564Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-06T20:50:28Z<p>BcatOne: bug fix</p>
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<div>We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and further, that this is universally valid. Another CivicWiki premise is that most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) Such a discussion is necessary because the desirability of freedom is not self-evident to everyone. Belief in individual freedom seems to have a shelf life. After a couple of centuries of it, we take it for granted, the idea seems to get stale and we want to create “better worlds.” At no time in the history of the planet has any society done that except when moving away from despotism in the direction of liberty. <br />
<br />
Having articulated the principles of freedom in today’s terms, we will then to apply those principles to the problems of our time. CW will discuss the meaning of liberty and the various ‘freedoms’ claimed by people and sort through which are real and which are false – and why. We will then apply those principles to the issues. As part of this, we must also understand the trends in thought that work against freedom. We will dwell on economic freedom, without which, we will ask, can individuals or society be considered free? We will try to answer that. <br />
<br />
The political tradition of America (which we inherited from England) tells us that the object of most political thinkers was to establish a society in which each individual, with the smallest possible dependence on the authority of his rulers, would have both the privilege and responsibility of guiding his own actions within a framework of established rights and duties.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2563Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-06T20:49:34Z<p>BcatOne: additions</p>
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<div>We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and further, that this is universally valid. Another CivicWiki premise is that most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) Such a discussion is necessary because the desirability of freedom is not self-evident to everyone. Belief in individual freedom seems to have a shelf life. After a couple of centuries of it, we take it for granted, the idea seems to get stale and we want to create “better worlds.” At no time in the history of the planet has any society done that except when moving away from despotism in the direction of liberty. <br />
<br />
Having articulated the principles of freedom in today’s terms, we will then to apply those principles to the problems of our time. CW will discuss the meaning of liberty and the various ‘freedoms’ claimed by people and sort through which are real and which are false – and why. We will then apply those principles to the issues. As part of this, we must also understand the trends in thought that work against freedom. We will dwell on economic freedom, without which, we will ask, can individuals or society be considered free? We will try to answer that. <br />
<br />
The political tradition of America (which we inherited from England) tells us that the object of most political thinkers was to establish a society in which each individual, with the smallest possible dependence on the authority of his rulers, would have both the privilege and responsibility of guiding his own actions within a framework of established rights and duties.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2562Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-05T20:05:26Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and further, that this is universally valid. A CivicWiki premise is that most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) <br />
<br />
CW’s approach is to articulate the principles of freedom in detail, and then to apply those principles to the problems of our time in the U.S. As part of this, we must also understand the trends in thought that work against freedom.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2561Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-05T18:26:53Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and further, that this is universally valid. A CivicWiki premise is that most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) <br />
<br />
CW’s approach is to articulate the principles of freedom in detail, and then to apply those principles to the problems of our time in the U.S. As part of this, we must also understand clearly the trends in thought that work against freedom.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2560Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-05T17:12:25Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and further, that this is universally valid and fundamental. A CivicWiki premise is that most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. CW articles will discuss what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) <br />
<br />
CW’s approach is to articulate the principles of freedom in detail, and then to apply those principles to the problems of our time in the U.S. As part of this, we must also understand clearly the trends in thought that work against freedom.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Preface&diff=2559Preface2017-01-05T17:04:39Z<p>BcatOne: wordsmithing</p>
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<div>==Discovering Freedom==<br />
We, who live and probably grew up in America, should already understand freedom well, but when I tried to describe it, I found that I was not sufficiently articulate in its defense. It is more complex that it appears on the surface. CivicWiki is an odyssey to understand freedom and apply its principles. We start from a premise that freedom is good. Nevertheless, today, even that must be defended. CW seeks to understand freedom thoroughly, what it is, what is good about it, why we should want it, why it is important; and to understand how much we can retain as individuals and how much must be given up to ensure social order. Understanding requires sorting through the concept of rights--what they are and what they aren't--where they start and stop. Developing this understanding is a philosophical and historical pursuit; so, part of CivicWiki is devoted to this pursuit. However, CW is intended to be philosophical and historical only to the point that we become smart enough to engage in the more important parts of our efforts. <br />
<br />
More importantly, CW is an application of the principles of liberty to the question of how we want government to behave and how we must treat and trade with one another--what we must tolerate and, perhaps what cannot be tollerated. Perhaps, most importantly - at least for some of the CW audience - CW is an application of our understanding to debates about the issues that come up in today's economic, social, and political life. So we have to understand what we mean by freedom, its social evolution, and the form of government and its institutions that will ensure it. <br />
<br />
To those for whom all this 'understanding' stuff is a bit dry and who want simply to get to the arguments, it is very easy to go straight to the issue debates. You'll find the link on the main page. <br />
<br />
CivicWiki has started as the project of one person (encouraged and supported by a few others). (I hope that will change, and hope that CW attracts a few that that have taken the trouble to understand some of the pieces of freedom's puzzle and who can write and edit CW articles.) So, perhaps a personal statement is in order.<br />
:Growing up in the U.S., I considered myself free. And for the most part that was true, though that truth continually changes. I became interested in personal freedom in college, prodded by an intellectual friend who had been doing a lot of reading and wanted me to suffer along and discuss. This friend was a libertarian. Throughout this, the desirability of, and the meaning of freedom seemed sufficiently self-evident to me that I assumed that pretty much everyone else felt the same way. I truly did not perceive anti-freedom tendencies in others that I did not interpret as a total absence of self esteem or a desire for power to direct the actions of others. Who among us likes to be told what to do? I essentially became a libertarian and, perhaps consistent with youth, disdained others who were not of like mind. However, my friend presented me with an irritating thought which struck me as true. He asserted that, though we supported our beliefs with logic, it was our emotional make-up that was the basis of belief -- i.e., none of us are Dr. Spock.<br />
<br />
:Since then, I have done a lot more reading as well as living. While my fundamental beliefs have not changed, my understanding of them has broadened and deepened. Perhaps more importantly, a more conscious understanding of the implications of my friends assertion has softened my reaction to those who think differently. That I still believe as I did and that those beliefs appear to be at odds with about half of America (at least on the surface), and that the consequences of our differences seem to take on increasing importance, I became interested in better understanding the whole thing -- the philosophical and historical fundamentals, the beginnings and evolution of our government, my own beliefs, the beliefs of others, and how we can at least find enough common ground to communicate civilly and objectively. It is my objective that the CW audience be drawn into a Discovery of Freedom and that we can apply what we learn to debating the issues, so that we at least better understand and better trust each other's motives. If that sounds simple, it is not. <br />
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A few words about the tone of Civicwiki: we'll keep it civil and friendly - even when our differences are deep. <!-- Do you get occasional emails from others in my tribe that are meant to scare your into indignation by 'revealing' actions and consequences of those in other tribes to demonstrate how wrong they all are and how right you are?--> CW will not engage in argument that simply pushes hot buttons. When politicians of any stripe engage in that, and it seems that is all many of them do, what I hear is that they think very little of my intelligence and maturity. One evening a decade or so ago in a small town near where I live, I attended a campaign rally for an aspiring congressman. He and a former Vice President showed up. They pretty much shouted an inflammatory speech about the evil that would befall us if we lost to the other side and then they left. I shrugged it off as politics and voted for the guy, but the rally was insulting and left a bad taste in my mouth. Most of politics has become insulting. CW will do its best to avoid doing that. When we describe a position or our differences, we will do our best to be objective, unemotional, and respectful, to rely on fact and reason, to understand and discuss. Respect for each other, even if we have to force ourselves at times, is a ground rule.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2558Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-05T16:42:39Z<p>BcatOne: expand article</p>
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<div>We hold this truth to be self-evident: that each of us should be free, and further, that this is universally valid and fundamental. A CivicWiki premise is that most of society’s ills can be cured by maximizing our freedom as individuals. We will write about what we mean by freedom, maximizing freedom, and how that makes a good society. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW.) <br />
<br />
CW’s approach is to articulate the principles of freedom in detail, and then to apply those principles to the problems of our time in the U.S. As part of this, we must also understand clearly the trends in thought that work against freedom.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Tribalism_at_work&diff=2557Tribalism at work2017-01-05T15:30:51Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>This writer recently came across an excellent example of tribalism. It demonstrates that people of one tribe too often oppose, out of hand, the thoughts of those they associate with another tribe. <br />
The Wall Street Journal editorial section (January 3, 2017) carried an article by William Galston. Mr. Galston is seen by WSJ readers (including this writer) as a contemporary liberal who leans Democrat among an otherwise classically liberal editorial staff that leans Republican. In this instance, Mr. Galston wrote an article titled "The Growing Threat of 'Illiberal Democracy'" [http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-growing-threat-of-illiberal-democracy-1483488245]. In it he asks the question "What happens when rule by the people conflicts with individual rights?" It is an interesting article that champions the concept of 'rule of law' vs. such things as pure democracy. It is a very classic liberal position to take - and a defense of individual liberty. Here is one of Galston's comments:<br />
*Many have come to see liberal institutions such as a free press, constitutional courts and individual rights not as protections against public power, but rather as obstacles to effective governance. To solve major problems, goes the argument, government must have the capacity to act effectively, which liberal restraints undermine.<br />
CivicWiki agrees and agrees with most of the rest of the article. Further, we would expect those on the right (as well as the left) to at least agree with its overall message of individual liberty. <br />
Here are a few reader comments posted at the bottom of the article on WSJ's website (cut and pasted without modification). Note that they tend to recall grievances over issues not even mentioned in Galston's article.<br />
*Please go away and take your lying columns with you, Galston.... anyone with half a brain knows that "liberalism" is communism, leftism, socialism, etc. gussied up to sell to the next generation of suckers and takers...<br />
*In the U.S. Galston and his "liberal" friends have tried to subvert what he calls liberal democracy by packing the court system and liberalizing both legal and illegal immigration to the detriment of their fellow countrymen. <br />
*Mr. Galston seems to have missed or ignored the past eight years, or viewed them as a liberal nirvana, under Obama’s governance by executive order, regulation and prosecution of illiberal recalcitrants such as the Little Sisters of the Poor. (my comment: the article made no mention of Obama, etc.)<br />
These commentors did not read and understand what Mr. Galston wrote. They reacted to their preexisting impression of his tribal affiliation. If someone from their side were to make the same remarks, they would heartily agree. We must do better than that. In fact, Mr. Galston provides evidence that there '''are''' principles of universal validity around which we can agree and then discuss how they should apply to our problems and governance.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2556Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-05T15:23:20Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, build a civil discourse. Then, from civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. ([[Tribalism at work|A link to a great example of tribalism at work]].) CW prefers to pursue better understanding. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. <br />
<br />
Initially, we worked from an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> While our message remains the same, our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society<!--, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed-->.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2555Main Page2017-01-05T15:21:05Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
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Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
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We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
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<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2554Main Page2017-01-05T15:18:57Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>__NOTOC__<br />
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount"> <br />
'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
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</td><br />
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</table><br />
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<td style="width:26%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:30%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
<!--<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">Our motive: Liberation</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
</div><br />
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<br />
<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
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{{Civicwiki:The Path}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
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{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
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[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
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<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
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<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
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<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Tribalism_at_work&diff=2553Tribalism at work2017-01-04T18:28:56Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>This writer recently came across an excellent example of tribalism. It demonstrates that people of one tribe too often oppose, out of hand, the thoughts of those they associate with another tribe. <br />
The Wall Street Journal editorial section (January 3, 2017) carried an article by William Galston. Mr. Galston is seen by WSJ readers (including this writer) as a contemporary liberal and a Democrat. In this instance, Mr. Galston wrote an article titled "The Growing Threat of 'Illiberal Democracy'" [http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-growing-threat-of-illiberal-democracy-1483488245]. In it he asks the question "What happens when rule by the people conflicts with individual rights?" It is an interesting article that champions the concept of 'rule of law' vs. such things as pure democracy. It is a very classic liberal position to take - and a defense of individual liberty. Here is one of Galston's comments:<br />
*Many have come to see liberal institutions such as a free press, constitutional courts and individual rights not as protections against public power, but rather as obstacles to effective governance. To solve major problems, goes the argument, government must have the capacity to act effectively, which liberal restraints undermine.<br />
CivicWiki agrees and agrees with most of the rest of the article. Further, we would expect those on the right (as well as the left) to at least agree with its overall message of individual liberty. <br />
Here are a few reader comments posted at the bottom of the article on WSJ's website (cut and pasted without modification). Note that they tend to raise grievances about issues not mentioned in Galston's article.<br />
*Please go away and take your lying columns with you, Galston.... anyone with half a brain knows that "liberalism" is communism, leftism, socialism, etc. gussied up to sell to the next generation of suckers and takers...<br />
*In the U.S. Galston and his "liberal" friends have tried to subvert what he calls liberal democracy by packing the court system and liberalizing both legal and illegal immigration to the detriment of their fellow countrymen. <br />
*Mr. Galston seems to have missed or ignored the past eight years, or viewed them as a liberal nirvana, under Obama’s governance by executive order, regulation and prosecution of illiberal recalcitrants such as the Little Sisters of the Poor. (my comment: the article made no mention of Obama, etc.)<br />
These people did not read and understand what Mr. Galston wrote. They reacted to their preexisting impression of his tribal affiliation. If someone from their side were to make the same remarks, they would heartily agree. We must do better than that. In fact, Mr. Galston provides evidence that there '''are''' principles of universal validity around which we can agree and then discuss how they should apply to our problems and governance.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Tribalism_at_work&diff=2552Tribalism at work2017-01-04T18:24:38Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>This writer recently came across an excellent example of tribalism. It demonstrates that people of one tribe too often oppose, out of hand, the thoughts of those they associate with another tribe. <br />
The Wall Street Journal editorial section (January 3, 2017) carried an article by William Galston. Mr. Galston is seen by WSJ readers (including this writer) as a contemporary liberal and a Democrat. In this instance, Mr. Galston wrote an article titled "The Growing Threat of 'Illiberal Democracy'" [http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-growing-threat-of-illiberal-democracy-1483488245]. In it he asks the question "What happens when rule by the people conflicts with individual rights?" It is an interesting article that champions the concept of 'rule of law' vs. such things as pure democracy. It is a very classic liberal position to take - and a defense of individual liberty. Here is one of Galston's comments:<br />
*Many have come to see liberal institutions such as a free press, constitutional courts and individual rights not as protections against public power, but rather as obstacles to effective governance. To solve major problems, goes the argument, government must have the capacity to act effectively, which liberal restraints undermine.<br />
CivicWiki agrees and agrees with most of the rest of the article. Further, we would expect those on the right (as well as the left) to at least agree with its overall message of individual liberty. <br />
Here are a few reader comments posted at the bottom of the article on WSJ's website (cut and pasted without modification). Note that they tend to bring in irrelevant grievances.<br />
*Please go away and take your lying columns with you, Galston.... anyone with half a brain knows that "liberalism" is communism, leftism, socialism, etc. gussied up to sell to the next generation of suckers and takers...<br />
*In the U.S. Galston and his "liberal" friends have tried to subvert what he calls liberal democracy by packing the court system and liberalizing both legal and illegal immigration to the detriment of their fellow countrymen. <br />
*Mr. Galston seems to have missed or ignored the past eight years, or viewed them as a liberal nirvana, under Obama’s governance by executive order, regulation and prosecution of illiberal recalcitrants such as the Little Sisters of the Poor. (my comment: the article made no mention of Obama, etc.)<br />
These people did not read and understand what Mr. Galston wrote. They reacted to their preexisting impression of his tribal affiliation. If someone from their side were to make the same remarks in favor of liberty, they would heartily agree. We must do better than that. In fact, Mr. Galston provides evidence that there '''are''' principles of universal validity around which we can agree and then discuss how they should apply to our problems and governance.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2551Main Page2017-01-04T18:21:55Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>__NOTOC__<br />
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount"> <br />
'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
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<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
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<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">A better understanding could liberate us</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
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<br />
<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
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{{Civicwiki:The Path}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
<br />
</div><br />
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{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
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[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
</div></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<br />
<br />
<!-----------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute to CW</span></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2550Main Page2017-01-04T18:18:04Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>__NOTOC__<br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0; border:1px solid #ddd;" id="mp-topbanner"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:36%; color:#000;"><br />
<table style="width:200px; border:none; background:none;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:200px; text-align:center; white-space:nowrap; color:#000;"><br />
<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount"> <br />
'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
</div><br />
<br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:26%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:30%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
<!--<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 3]]</li>--><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<!------------------------------------------------------------------><br />
<br />
<br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-upper"><br />
<br />
<tr><br />
<!---------------------------------------------------------><br />
<br />
<td style="width:50%; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-right"><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">Mutual Understanding could Liberate us</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
</div><br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
</div> <br />
<br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><br />
</td><br />
<br />
<td style="border:1px solid transparent;"></td><br />
<br />
<!---------------------------------------><br />
<td style="width:50%; border:1px solid #cef2e0; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-left"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The Path</span></h2><br />
</div><br />
<div style="color:#000; padding:0px 5px 2px;"><br />
{{Civicwiki:The Path}}<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
</td><br />
<br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<br />
<!----------------------------<br />
<br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The Issues</span></h2><br />
<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
<br />
</div><br />
--------------------><br />
<br />
<!-----------------<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Issues</span></h2> <br />
{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
<hr><br />
[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
-----------------><br />
<!-------------------<br />
<br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<br />
-------------------><br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
</div></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<br />
<br />
<!-----------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute to CW</span></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2549Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-04T18:16:05Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>We hold this truth to be self-evident: that all of us should be free as individuals. We further hold that this is universally valid and fundamental. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW – more on their meaning later.) CW’s approach is to articulate the principles of freedom in detail, and then to apply those principles to the problems of our time in the U.S. As part of this, we must also understand clearly the trends in thought that work against freedom.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_Path&diff=2548Civicwiki:The Path2017-01-04T18:15:14Z<p>BcatOne: create page</p>
<hr />
<div>We hold this truth to be self-evident: all of us should be free as individuals. We further hold that this is valid universally and fundamental. (Freedom and liberty are synonymous in the way we use them on CW – more on their meaning later.) CW’s approach is to articulate the principles of freedom in detail, and then to apply those principles to the problems of our time in the U.S. As part of this, we must also understand clearly the trends in thought that work against freedom.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2547Main Page2017-01-04T18:14:31Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>__NOTOC__<br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0; border:1px solid #ddd;" id="mp-topbanner"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:36%; color:#000;"><br />
<table style="width:200px; border:none; background:none;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:200px; text-align:center; white-space:nowrap; color:#000;"><br />
<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount"> <br />
'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
</div><br />
<br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:26%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:30%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
<!--<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 3]]</li>--><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<!------------------------------------------------------------------><br />
<br />
<br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-upper"><br />
<br />
<tr><br />
<!---------------------------------------------------------><br />
<br />
<td style="width:50%; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-right"><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">The liberation of us</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
</div><br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
</div> <br />
<br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><br />
</td><br />
<br />
<td style="border:1px solid transparent;"></td><br />
<br />
<!---------------------------------------><br />
<td style="width:50%; border:1px solid #cef2e0; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-left"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The Path</span></h2><br />
</div><br />
<div style="color:#000; padding:0px 5px 2px;"><br />
{{Civicwiki:The Path}}<br />
<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
</td><br />
<br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<br />
<!----------------------------<br />
<br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The Issues</span></h2><br />
<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
<br />
</div><br />
--------------------><br />
<br />
<!-----------------<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Issues</span></h2> <br />
{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
<hr><br />
[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
-----------------><br />
<!-------------------<br />
<br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<br />
-------------------><br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
</div></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
</ul><br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2546Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-04T17:59:00Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, build a civil discourse. Then, from civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. ([[Tribalism at work|A link to a great example of tribalism at work]].) CW prefers to pursue better understanding. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. <br />
<br />
Our early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society<!--, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed-->.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2545Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-04T17:58:00Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, build a civil discourse. Then, from civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. (A link to a great example of [[Tribalism at work|tribalism at work]].) CW prefers to pursue better understanding. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. <br />
<br />
Our early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society<!--, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed-->.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2544Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-04T17:56:12Z<p>BcatOne: add link to 'tribalism at work'</p>
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<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, build a civil discourse. Then, from civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. (Here is a link to an excellent example of [[Tribalism at work|tribalism at work]].)CW prefers to pursue better understanding. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. <br />
<br />
Our early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society<!--, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed-->.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Tribalism_at_work&diff=2543Tribalism at work2017-01-04T17:50:35Z<p>BcatOne: create the page and initial content</p>
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<div>This writer recently came across an excellent example of tribalism. It demonstrates that people of one tribe too often oppose, out of hand, the thoughts of those they associate with another tribe. <br />
The Wall Street Journal editorial section (January 3, 2017) carried an article by William Galston. Mr. Galston is seen by WSJ readers (including this writer) as a contemporary liberal and a Democrat. In this instance, Mr. Galston wrote an article titled "The Growing Threat of 'Illiberal Democracy'" [http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-growing-threat-of-illiberal-democracy-1483488245]. In it he asks the question "What happens when rule by the people conflicts with individual rights?" It is an interesting article that champions the concept of 'rule of law' vs. such things as pure democracy. It is a very classic liberal position to take - and a defense of individual liberty. Here is one of Galston's comments:<br />
*Many have come to see liberal institutions such as a free press, constitutional courts and individual rights not as protections against public power, but rather as obstacles to effective governance. To solve major problems, goes the argument, government must have the capacity to act effectively, which liberal restraints undermine.<br />
CivicWiki agrees and agrees with most of the rest of the article. Further, we would expect those on the right (as well as the left) to at least agree with its overall message of individual liberty. <br />
Here are a few reader comments posted at the bottom of the article on WSJ's website and how they tend to bring in irrelevant grievances.<br />
*Please go away and take your lying columns with you, Galston.... anyone with half a brain knows that "liberalism" is communism, leftism, socialism, etc. gussied up to sell to the next generation of suckers and takers...<br />
*In the U.S. Galston and his "liberal" friends have tried to subvert what he calls liberal democracy by packing the court system and liberalizing both legal and illegal immigration to the detriment of their fellow countrymen. <br />
*Mr. Galston seems to have missed or ignored the past eight years, or viewed them as a liberal nirvana, under Obama’s governance by executive order, regulation and prosecution of illiberal recalcitrants such as the Little Sisters of the Poor. (my comment: the article made no mention of Obama, etc.)<br />
These people did not read and understand what Mr. Galston wrote. They reacted to their preexisting impression of his tribal affiliation. If someone from their side were to make the same remarks in favor of liberty, they would heartily agree. We must do better than that. In fact, Mr. Galston provides evidence that there '''are''' principles of universal validity around which we can agree and then discuss how they should apply to our problems and governance.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2542Main Page2017-01-04T15:56:55Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
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<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
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{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
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''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
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Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
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We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2541Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-04T15:54:53Z<p>BcatOne: wordsmithing</p>
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<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, build a civil discourse. Then, from civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. CW prefers to pursue better understanding. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. <br />
<br />
Our early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society<!--, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed-->.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2540Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-04T15:52:18Z<p>BcatOne: wordsmithing</p>
<hr />
<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. If that is too tall an order we can, at least, build a civil discourse. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. Then, from civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. CW prefers to pursue better understanding.<br />
<br />
Our early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society<!--, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed-->.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2539Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-04T15:50:34Z<p>BcatOne: wordsmithing</p>
<hr />
<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. <!--The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it.--> CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. That seems a tall order. But perhaps we can build a civil discourse. To do that well, we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. Then, from civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. CW prefers to pursue better understanding.<br />
<br />
Our early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society<!--, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed-->.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2538Main Page2017-01-04T15:39:54Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<td style="width:26%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:30%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
<!--<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 3]]</li>--><br />
</ul><br />
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<td style="width:50%; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-right"><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">The liberation of us</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
</div><br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
</div> <br />
<br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><br />
</td><br />
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<td style="border:1px solid transparent;"></td><br />
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<td style="width:50%; border:1px solid #cef2e0; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
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<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-left"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">Our Path</span></h2><br />
</div><br />
<div style="color:#000; padding:0px 5px 2px;"><br />
{{Civicwiki:Our Path}}<br />
<br />
</div><br />
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</td><br />
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</tr><br />
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<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
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<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The Issues</span></h2><br />
<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
<br />
</div><br />
--------------------><br />
<br />
<!-----------------<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Issues</span></h2> <br />
{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
<hr><br />
[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
-----------------><br />
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</td><br />
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<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
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<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
</div></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
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<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
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<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute to CW</span></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2537Main Page2017-01-03T22:46:49Z<p>BcatOne: Change to 'our path'</p>
<hr />
<div>__NOTOC__<br />
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<td style="width:200px; text-align:center; white-space:nowrap; color:#000;"><br />
<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount"> <br />
'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
</div><br />
<br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:26%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:30%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
<!--<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 3]]</li>--><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
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<td style="width:50%; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-right"><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">Our motive: The liberation of us</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
</div><br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
</div> <br />
<br />
<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><br />
</td><br />
<br />
<td style="border:1px solid transparent;"></td><br />
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<!---------------------------------------><br />
<td style="width:50%; border:1px solid #cef2e0; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-left"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">Our Path</span></h2><br />
</div><br />
<div style="color:#000; padding:0px 5px 2px;"><br />
{{Civicwiki:Our Path}}<br />
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</div><br />
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</td><br />
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<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
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<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The Issues</span></h2><br />
<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
<br />
</div><br />
--------------------><br />
<br />
<!-----------------<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Issues</span></h2> <br />
{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
<hr><br />
[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
-----------------><br />
<!-------------------<br />
<br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
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-------------------><br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
</div></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
<br />
<br />
<!-----------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<table style="width: 100%; margin:4px 0 0 0; background:none; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; border-spacing: 0px;" id="mp-lower"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:100%; padding:2px 5px 2px; background:#f5fffa; vertical-align:top; color:#000;" class="MainPageBG"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute to CW</span></h2><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
<tr><br />
<td><br />
<table style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; margin:1.2em 0 6px 0;"><br />
<tr><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
</tr><br />
</table><br />
-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2536Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-03T19:29:12Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it. CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. That seems a tall an order, but perhaps we can build a civil discourse. For that we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. From civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it; it is comfortable in that way because we don’t have to think; indeed, we are often asked to leave the thinking to others. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. <br />
<br />
CivicWiki’s early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society<!--, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed-->.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2535Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-03T19:27:31Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it. CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. That seems a tall an order, but perhaps we can build a civil discourse. For that we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. From civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it; it is comfortable in that way because we don’t have to think; indeed, we are often asked to leave the thinking to others. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. <br />
<br />
CivicWiki’s early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society, or for that matter, of government – though its influence on our daily lives would be reduced and its priorities changed.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Civicwiki:The_liberation_of_us&diff=2534Civicwiki:The liberation of us2017-01-03T19:26:07Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
<hr />
<div>CivicWiki was created as a reaction to our deepening political division. The presidential election of 2016 couldn’t provide better motivation, though the stage seems set for future elections to outdo it. CW’s desire was to surface fundamental principles on which most of us can agree and, on that, build a consensus of how government should work. That seems a tall an order, but perhaps we can build a civil discourse. For that we need to understand our own beliefs and those that differ. From civil discourse will come ever better understanding and our political divisions will become more principled, less tribal, and therefore smaller. Tribalism does not require understanding, it discourages it; it is comfortable in that way because we don’t have to think; indeed, we are often asked to leave the thinking to others. Tribal members do not have to understand their beliefs; they only have to conform to them to be good members. Nor do they have to understand those of other tribes; they only have to oppose them. <br />
<br />
CivicWiki’s early content had an historical perspective. The premise was that the United States was, and still is, the most dynamic and successful society on the planet; that it became so because of the principles and institutions on which its government was formed; and that erosion of those principles and the way we have reconstructed our institutions (the rise of the regulatory state and to a lesser extent the rise of entitlements) is damaging our economy, our society and us as individuals. CW’s aim was to persuade that reclaiming our foundation was the best route into the future for us all. <!-- A problem we faced was how to do that without becoming a history book.--> Our direction was shifted somewhat by the realization that ''CW’s fundamental motive is the liberation of individuals'' . . . not a reconstruction of society, or for that matter, of government – though its influence would be reduced and its priorities changed.</div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2533Main Page2017-01-03T19:24:27Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount"> <br />
'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
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<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
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<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
<!--<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">Our motive: The liberation of us</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
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<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The constitution of America</span></h2><br />
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{{Civicwiki:RandDintro}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
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{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
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[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
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<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
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<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
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<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOnehttp://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=2532Main Page2017-01-03T19:23:48Z<p>BcatOne: </p>
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<div>__NOTOC__<br />
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Civicwiki</div><br />
<!--<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount">Featuring [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles.</div>--><br />
<div style="font-size:85%;" id="articlecount"> <br />
'''Building Political Integrity''' <br>[[Civicwiki:About|Your thoughtful contributions are invited]].<br />
</div><br />
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</tr><br />
</table><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:26%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<!--<li>[[Portal:Inalienable Rights|Inalienable Rights]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:America's Heritage|America's Heritage]]</li> --><br />
<li>[[Portal:American Independence|Independence]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:Liberty and Constitution|Liberty and Constitution]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:30%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Portal:Economic Freedom|EconomicFreedom]]</li><br />
<li>[[Portal:What Government do We Want|What Government do We Want]]</li><br />
<!--<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 3]]</li>--><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-otd-h2"><span id="On_this_day..." class="mw-headline">Our motive: liberation of us</span></h2><br />
{{Civicwiki:The liberation of us}}<br />
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<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:8px 0 0 0; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Featured article</span></h2><br />
''Inalienable Rights''<br />
<br>{{Featured Article|Inalienable Rights}}<br />
</div> <br />
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<div style="width:100%; background:#f5fffa;"><br />
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<div style="width:100%; vertical-align:top; background:#f5fffa;" id="mp-left"><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cef2e0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3bfb1; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">The constitution of America</span></h2><br />
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<div style="color:#000; padding:0px 5px 2px;"><br />
{{Civicwiki:RandDintro}}<br />
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<div style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"> At our beginning, America debated how to build a government that afforded "liberty and justice for all" and would stand the test of time. This was not simple. One of the founders' biggest issues was finding a way such that people and independent states of diverse interests could live side-by-side and thrive under a common federal government. <br />
<br />
Today's issues are no less important to the stability and longevity of our government and the harmony of our society. The details are different - but the issues are still about how a diverse people live under one government and reconcile their philosophical differences. Their importance is heightened because we now seem deeply divided. Politicians and factions play to our differences and divide us by misinforming us to get elected. It is a cynical play for political power at the expense of the health of our society. Therefore:<br />
* '''CW is about''' <br />
**'''''the issues that most concern Americans today'''''.<br />
**(see:''[[:Category:The Issues|The Issues]])''<br />
* '''and about providing''' <br />
** ''informed citizens and a forum for objective information, better understanding, less divisiveness'', and thus, <br />
**''the political momentum that is needed to govern effectively''. <br />
**(see: ''[[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|Just the facts]])''<br />
<br />
</div><br />
--------------------><br />
<br />
<!-----------------<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-tfa-h2"><span id="From_today.27s_featured_article" class="mw-headline">Issues</span></h2> <br />
{{#ask:[[Category:The Issues]]|format=ul}}<br />
<hr><br />
[[Portal talk:The Issues|Add yours to the list.]]<br />
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<div style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"> ''CW seeks objective discussion of civic issues. It is in response to the political process as it has become today - a process of partial or distorted information and rhetoric calculated to elicit an emotional reaction, all to serve political agendas. CW prefers political advocacy that places objective truth above agenda. It's a tall order that will require the participation of an expanding group of contributors.''<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute and Why</span></h2><br />
<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#f9f9f9; font-size:100%; text-align:center; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><br />
<div><br />
We made this site a wiki to make it easy for you to contribute your knowledge, insights, and thoughts. We use the same software as Wikipedia which has perhaps millions of independent contributors.<br />
<Br>The pages of Civicwiki are currently only sparsely populated. Anyone with interest can become a contributor.<br />
<br>'''''We need a few people''''' <br />
<br>who wish to help further [[Civicwiki:Mission|CW's mission]] as a major contributor, applying their writing skills to CW mission of breaking our political deadlock. <br />
<br>Please browse the site and read [[Civicwiki:Just the Facts Maam|about CW]].<br />
<br />
</div></h2><br />
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<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:100%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>TBD</li><br />
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<h2 style="margin:3px; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;" id="mp-dyk-h2"><span id="Did_you_know..." class="mw-headline">How to Contribute to CW</span></h2><br />
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<td style="width:25%; font-size:110%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Civicwiki:Register|Register to contribute]]</li><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Create an article|Add an Article]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
</td><br />
<td style="width:25%; font-size:95%;"><br />
<ul><br />
<li>[[Help:Tutorial/Edit an article|Edit an article]]</li><br />
<li>[[TBD 2]]</li><br />
</ul><br />
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-----------------------------------------------></div>BcatOne