Stories from the National Town Meeting

July 9th, 2010

By Dianna Dauber, AmericaSpeaks

About 3,500 Americans  participated in AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy two weeks ago.  Since then we have been flooded with stories from people across the country who were thankful for the opportunity to take part in the national deliberation.

To be sure, some participants have expressed concern that the meeting was skewed too liberal and others have expressed concern that it was skewed too conservative. But the overwhelming majority of feedback from participants has been that the national discussion was a unique and powerful opportunity for them to take part in the democratic process and have a civil conversation with others from across the political spectrum.

Over the coming days, we’ll share more of the ideas, feedback and messages that we have received, but for now we wanted to share a few quotes from people across the country who were moved by their experience on June 26.

Comments are welcome and please  consider writing a letter to the editor of your local paper.

“It was a life changing event. I would do it again tomorrow.”
- Ray M., Overland Park, KS

“Outstanding experience … I learned from the people at my table, incorporated their experiences and lessons into my thoughts and modified my opinions as appropriate. It was a great experience and I sincerely hope the information is used by those in authority.”
- William H., Jackson, MS

“We had a very diverse group that ranged from recent high school grads to retired and from inner city Chicago to high end suburbs.  I learned that while or perspectives may be different our problems are the same …  I also learned that we are all in this together.”
- Don B., Chicago, IL

“The technology that let us see the numbers in all 19 locations immediately after each vote was extremely fascinating and important to getting a feel of the people involved.”
- Rozlyn R., Portland, OR

“This was the best experience in participatory democracy I have ever been involved with. Unlike political events for a single party or candidate. The respectfully shared diversity of views expressed at our table, I believe led to increased understanding by everyone at the table of everyone else’s perspective. This seemed true even when there were fairly strong disagreements. I found it heartening that people at our table were able to compromise. We were civil even when we disagreed.”
- Robert F., Dallas TX

“I will use the materials from the Town Meeting to run a 5-day unit in my Contemporary Issues class for high school seniors.  I’ll pretty much run the unit in the same order and activities as the meeting.  Thanks!”
- Matt M., Portland, OR

“My long term goal is to run for office in my home country India. I think discussions like these are beneficial everywhere, perhaps even more in developing countries. I hope to use this experience and start a discussion forum in the future.”
- Sloka I., Columbia, SC

“I  welcomed the opportunity to share my views with others. It allowed me to listen to other individual’s views and attempt to understand how and why they felt that way.”
- Christopher B., Philadelphia, PA

“It was so refreshing to have civil discourse among people of different ages, persuasions, and backgrounds.  Congress could learn a lot from our experience. The tone of our discussions was polite, respectful, and everyone contributed.  Our table facilitator was particularly good at making sure that everyone was heard and no one person dominated the discussion.”
- MaryEllen S., Albuquerque, NM

“I was excited to have the opportunity to speak with others that have different views.  I learned that we had some opinions in common.  I can think of at least one idea that I had not considered before …  If we come together and share ideas within a structured format, with a goal in mind, we can actually compromise and accomplish something.”
- Candace G., Richmond, VA

“I have shared my experiences with everyone and will continue to educate others regarding budget issues. I have seen that getting others involved and sharing my experience is the best way to get everyone involved in the process so we can become an educated as well as one voice when contact our public representatives and officials.”
- Phylandria H., Jackson, MS

“It was an inspiring and landmark moment in which I was honored to share and be a part of. I learned from everyone at my table. In hearing their concerns, I was willing to give up something to get something else.”
- Thomas K., Dallas TX

“I was pleased to find a good spread of race, age and gender at my table … It was great to hear from the table that we shared many of the same views but at different levels.”
- James M., Columbia, SC

“I learned a great deal from my table mates; the greatest of which was that regardless of our political perspectives, which varied widely, there is deep concern regarding the deficit, the ways in which our overspending will handicap the next generation and the fiscal stability of our way of life.  Everyone at the table was willing to sacrifice to set things right.  This central tendency of the group, replicated in the data we saw from the national participants, was inspiring.”
- Marion K., Richmond, VA

“The most important thing I learned from this process is that ordinary citizens could tackle a complex issue, filter it civilly through their own perspective, and come up with consensus. I literally did not think this was possible.”
- Fran G., Portland, OR

“I was affirmed that holding discussions makes citizens feel as though their opinion counts.”
- Kimberlee S., De Moines, IA

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