Without the tempering influence of moderation, the public face of politics is dissolved into banal drama. Extremists engage in theatrical behavior by demonizing their foes in bitterly careless terms.
Editor's Note: The following is a speech given by Steve Peace in 1998 along with additional supporting documents from research and extracted passages from earlier drafts of the speech. He believes what he said then. And, he believes it today. This speech is even more relevant today than it was back then as we see the continued downward spiral of politics and political discourse in the United States:
Do American voters have a stronger theft case? For years both parties have done their best (or worse) controlling our public American election system. Are they the real guilty parties?
Editor's Note: This op-ed originally appeared in the Maine Voices section of the Portland Press Herald and has been republished on IVN with permission from the author.
A group of Kansas lawmakers are proposing a monumental change to their state constitution -- an amendment that by law would have to go before voters if approved by the legislature. Advocates of it though want to put it on the ballot when the least number of voters participate.
"The man who knew everyone", George Mitrovich
Friends and family join Jeff Marston to honor San Diego's own George Mitrovich in celebration of the inauguration of the 46th President, Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
This episode's conversation is with Independent Voter News' National Editor, Shawn Griffiths. Shawn is an election reform expert with years of experience in providing unbiased and non-partisan political news and fighting for reform.