You go, AAABEST!
Posted on 07/16/2003 7:22:24 AM PDT by AAABEST
It's not the old town square, and it's not a town hall meeting. But maybe, just maybe, it's the modern equivalent.
SW Florida Sound Off is a new Web site, www.cataction.com/forum, that its supporters say is meant to offer a forum for the open exchange of ideas and information and for political debate. The site has seen 230 postings since it was launched a few weeks ago, and has 45 registered members.
The site was created by the Community Action Team, a loosely knit collection of civic activists that formed in the wake of government efforts to acquire land in Golden Gate Estates.
"It's a different time," said John Grasmeier of Golden Gate, who handles communications for the Community Action Team and oversees the site. "A different age. A lot of the old ways don't seem to be working."
Monthly meetings at the local community center and trips to county commission and city council meetings sometimes don't get the job done, he said.
"Our idea is to facilitate bringing people together," Grasmeier said. "There are no rules on who you have to be."
Those who have registered on the site so far include Liz McGrath, founding member of Parents and Students for Safe and Sensible School Start Times (PSSSSST); Bob Stone, chairman of Citizens for Charter Government in Collier County; Ron Pure, president of the Bonita Springs Taxpayer Action Group; his former Collier counterpart Tom Macchia; and several board members of the Property Rights Action Committee.
Others, Grasmeier said, include a Boy Scout leader, Christian pastor and citizens from in and out of Southwest Florida.
"I think this forum is a great idea and public service to the community," said Sam DuPont of Cape Coral.
In response to an e-mail seeking comments for this story, DuPont said he's glad to see someone from "the established media" taking an interest. DuPont and other posters to the site have used the forum as an outlet for criticism of local talk radio, which they say is hostile to anyone who doesn't agree with the program's host.
Grasmeier said that as long as ideas flow freely and are not racist or otherwise on the extreme edge, they'll be welcome.
Lee County Commission Chairman Ray Judah said he's all for the free exchange of information and ideas as long as the information is factual and accurate.
"All I can say is I hope it's an exchange of information based on facts," he said. "Obviously I'm for free discourse."
Pete Winton, assistant to Lee County Manager Don Stilwell, was himself a newspaper reporter for several years. He said a new forum for exchanging ideas is great.
"If it becomes mean-spirited or closes off different viewpoints then I think it loses its effectiveness," he said. "Obviously from a public servant's standpoint, encouraging debate in the community and the free exchange of ideas is what government's supposed to be about."
Grasmeier said vigorous debate is the goal, noting there are regular posters with whom he agrees on almost nothing.
"What CAT is trying to do is put control of the community back into the hands of the citizens," he said. "Government doesn't own the community, and neither do developers or environmentalists or the Fish and Wildlife Service. They don't get to just take control."
Jack Tanner is chairman of Lee County's Libertarian Party and a member. He said he's seen other groups start similar services that have ended because they've attracted only those who agree with each other.
"It could become an information source for many people, including news reporters, voters, legislators, candidates, business owners and government employees," he said.
"This is not the good old days when people had the public square," Grasmeier said. "They need a place where they can go and discuss things. If they can do it at 9 p.m. in their pajamas, then you've given them a voice."
You go, AAABEST!
Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
Good job! Make the RATS look backward. Now we need to take back the word, "progressive."
Way to go!
Although for quite awhile it depends on what subject you want to discuss , and how many people of a different opinion are watching.
But hey , discussion is great. It will either lead somewhere or it won't.
Depending on what the masters want to be heard.
Say something . Maximize the tools before you .
Echhhhh, I don't know that I could ever positively use that word without retching.....
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