Were doing something we havent done before at our next Community Conversation doubling back and repeating a topic.
We might have been a little premature when we invited readers to come talk about health care over two nights last year.
The issue seems a lot riper for picking about now.
Every few months, the Tri-City Herald partners with the Benton Franklin Dispute Resolution Center to sponsor a Community Conversation.
We try to pick a controversial topic, but the moderator provided by the dispute resolution center and the ground rules that participants agree to prevent the conversation from turning into a shouting match.
In fact, the format virtually guarantees everyone gets a chance to be heard, and everyone has the opportunity to learn a lot more about the other side of the debate.
We think thats good for democracy.
Think of it as a grown-up alternative to the shouting matches that pass for political debate today. Or an antidote to the vitriolic clamor thats designed not to persuade but to energize a base thats already convinced.
Our next conversation is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28. Participants must commit to attend both nights.
Send a 25-word or less description of why you want to join the conversation on health care, along with your name, address and phone number to forum@tricityherald.com or call Shelly Norman at 582-1470. Deadline to apply is Oct. 23.
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The White House insisted Wednesday that the president's commitment to contraceptive access for women is "absolutely firm," even as Republicans from Capitol Hill to the presidential campaign trail assailed the policy as an attack on religious liberty.
White House: 'Absolutely firm,' but willing to talk, on birth control
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The White House insisted Wednesday that the president's commitment to contraceptive access for women is "absolutely firm," even as Republicans from Capitol Hill to the presidential campaign trail assailed the policy as an attack on religious liberty.
Loss of jobs
Loss of jobs
Huckabee keeps saying, "Obamacare was rammed down the throats of the American people!" How about trading off our jobs that the middle class was managing just fine on? That got rammed down American throats, too.! Which is worse, Obamacare or the loss of millions of jobs? Obamacare is just an excuse to get the Democrats out of circulation. Congress gets free health care, plus several other privileges. They don't seem to care whether we survive or not, because of loss of jobs.
Racism is ignorant. I know several of the Congress hate Obama, in part, because of his race. Mind you, I'm no longer defending his ideas, but which is worse, using our jobs for favors, or his health care law? We'll never get those jobs back, maybe health care can be improved upon.
Why doesn't America wake up? Stop being such a bunch of sheep. Deregulation was a huge mistake ... and Republicans call themselves Conservatives. I'm 87 but even I know the difference. In the 40s we had the O.P.A. It kept things level. Rules are needed. Otherwise
Gay marriage, health care
Gay marriage, health care
Gay marriage is now favored by our governor and some legislators on the basis of equal rights. As I have stated before, gays have equal rights. I can't marry a person of the same sex, neither can they. That's equal!
Mike Lawrence's In Focus column on Jan. 1 favored the new health care legislation. Perhaps he should wait until it takes effect, discovers its content, then tell us how he favors it! We are in for a rude awakening when and if the health care act becomes effective. We elderly have already experienced some results of the health care act with the dumping of our Hanford site insurance.
Making an appeal for health care legislation in this country based upon an experience in another country is wrong, unless they have identical health care laws.
House votes to repeal part of 2010 health care law
House votes to repeal part of 2010 health care law
The Republican-led House on Wednesday voted to repeal a financially troubled part of the 2010 health care law that was designed to provide affordable long-term care insurance.
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