The site Since Sliced Bread is calling for common sense ideas from regular Americans about how to improve the country. The site is holding a contest for the best idea which will win a cash prize. “Ultimately, Since Sliced Bread seeks to identify and have a national conversation about policy ideas that would improve the day-to-day lives of working men and women and their families.” While some of the ideas are pretty out there (Mobile homes for everyone), it seems like an interesting forum for politcal discussion. And by leaving out the politicians and parties, the site might encourage the average American to think about their ideal public policy proposals.
Thanks Biewald
Comments
@ 05:10
Aiming for “the best” ideas is not encouraging. It’s best to go for “ideas” and have a way to select “good ideas”, “workable ideas”, “ideas with potential”. Often the power of ideas is not obvious.
@ 11:02
That may be right. I think the advantage of this site is not about getting the best idea but getting people to think actively about public policy at all, rather than listening to the stale and stilted political conversation on FOX or CNN for example.
@ 20:50
This is all moot. The competition has now [January 12, 2006] blown up in the faces of its organizers, the SEIU.
Instead of 21 original ideas, as the Rules promised, the SEIU posted a wish list of its own political ambitions.
The result: so far, there have been more than 1,000 blog postings excoriating the competition and its organizers. Check the blogs on the front page of the site: SinceSlicedBread.com
The Chairman of Judges, former Senator Bill Bradley, has been asked to make a statement. So far, he has refused.
His continuing silence is the most eloquent condemnation of yet another cyncial manipulation of ordinary Americans by a self-serving special interest.
@ 09:40
The blog postings referred to in a previous comment are no longer available on the SSB site; the contest organizers removed them just before they announced the “winners” on February 1.
At least one lawsuit has been siled against SEIU and complaints have been filed with several states’ attorneys general regarding this sham contest.
Kevin Langdon
kevin.langdon@polymath-systems.com
http://www.polymath-systems.com