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Updated: Now that Cooper and Emily have kicked off our spirit of activism with the unveiling of BlogHers Act's global issue, I want to remind both BlogHer conference attendees and site visitors that tomorrow at 10:30 am, the BlogHer community begins to develop its voter manifesto for 2008.
If you're planning to attend the session, here are some "thought starters": questions from BlogHer members and YouTube video submitters to get your thoughts churning. Thanks to Val Jones and Zoe Chafe for helping to put these together.
Earn Our Votes ’08: Conversation starters
Below, you will see sample questions posed both by the BlogHer audience, and the audience watching the CNN/YouTube debate. These are examples to guide your discussions.
Remember: Good questions discourage bulls**t answers and they force candidates to give you an answer that allows them to EARN YOUR VOTE!!
Each breakout group needs to come back with 3 good questions. Happy plotting!
HEALTH CARE
The recent CNN/YouTube Democratic Debate featured the following healthcare questions:
• How will your healthcare plan address the needs of the aging population, specifically those with Alzheimer's, heart disease and diabetes?
• What will your healthcare plan do to address the need for affordable preventive medicine services?
• Does your healthcare plan cover undocumented workers?
• How do you intend to make sure that all Americans have some form of health insurance?
Various posts from BlogHer:
Affordability / Universality
• How can we pay for healthcare in US sustainably?
• How can we make sure that anyone in the US not only has access to healthcare, but can afford it?
• How do we weed out those who choose not to have healthcare from those who desperately need it?
• How can we make healthcare a right, not a privilege, for every citizen?
• How can we mandate that all children in the US are insured?
• How do we protect families from insurance companies who deny claims in the face of a health crisis?
Women's Issues
• How can we ensure increased access to family planning?
• How do we get birth control to be covered universally under health insurance policies?
• How do we achieve "scientific fairness" to women?
• How can we make women's and children's health issues a priority?
• How do we improve health education for women and children?
• How can we make childbirth and maternity leave less of a burden for working mothers? Especially as disability insurance is not offered to all nor is it usually enough. Women can afford to take time off after having a child.
• Can a woman's reproductive rights be protected in US healthcare?
Ethics / Technology
• How can we ensure everyone has the same access to the same tests and treatments?
• How can we protect research, such as stem cell research, that has the possibility to wipe out diseases?
ENVIRONMENT
Sample questions for candidates
1. Clean air, healthy bodies: The US is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world and many of our cities have dangerously polluted air. How will your policies help clear the air—to keep us and our children more healthy?
2. Less waste: Several cities recently banned plastic bags because of their environmental impact; others have invested in recycling programs. How would you help minimize personal and industrial waste, and encourage composting and recycling?
3. Growing “clean” technology: The US uses about 25% of the world’s oil, but could create jobs by investing in “clean” technologies. How would you support the creation of “environmental jobs”—those jobs that could come from new energy technologies?
4. Climate change: With little federal action against climate change, cities and states around the country are taking leadership by pledging to reduce their carbon emissions. Will you follow their lead and set targets for reducing US carbon emissions?
5. Safe food: Much of our food travels a long, mysterious journey to get to us. With avian flu, mercury in fish, and other contamination scares, how will your policies improve the quality of our food?
6. Preparing for disaster: Wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs protect us from storms and waves. Forests prevent erosion. Urban trees cool the “concrete jungle”. Would your disaster preparedness policies include protection of these natural defenses?
Resources:
• “Good Eating” Food Blog: www.worldwatch.org/node/3938
• “Dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement”: itsgettinghotinhere.org
• Renewable Energy for America: www.americanenergynow.org
• “Beyond Disasters”: www.worldwatch.org/node/5111
• Treehugger: Sustainable News and Living Tips: www.treehugger.com
• Grist: Environmental News and Humor: www.grist.org
IRAQ AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
• How do we really end the war in Iraq and building [sic] the U.S. reputation as a generous, peace-promoting international partner?
• “My issue is the is the war on terror [to make sure we] get in there and do the job right. Wherever we have to go. Just saying we don't want war and want to be peaceful is not going to stop people from
