In today's political environment, is it possible to have the kinds of conversation that makes democracy meaningful? The Twin Cities Election Forum worked to produce a list of reasons why Twin Cities voters might support each of the major-party presidential candidates and to cultivate understanding across the partisan divide.
5 Things You Need to Know About the Coming Trump vs. Clinton ShowdownAtif Fareed
What to expect if The Donald doesn’t change course, and what to expect if he does.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/2016-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-election-things-you-should-know-213875#ixzz48Ld19944
Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook
This document analyzes the results of the 2016 US presidential election and identifies key factors that impacted the outcome. It summarizes that:
1. There was significant anger and frustration with the status quo that drove voters to take risks for change, and Democrats lost ground with the working class.
2. Demographics are not destiny, as turnout changed in ways that hurt Democrats, such as increased rural and white voter turnout.
3. Lack of an economic message and vision hurt Democrats, and having a populist economic message combined with reform can win.
4. Perceptions of race, immigration, and gender roles strongly correlated with votes for Trump.
Democrats have won recent elections but face historical headwinds in 2010. Republicans are spending millions on attack ads through outside groups. The DCCC plans to stay on offense, highlight Republican problems, and capitalize on the weak Republican brand. Recent special elections show Democrats effectively countering Republican messages and energizing voters. The tea party movement presents challenges for Republicans by pushing extreme candidates and splitting the Republican vote with third party candidates. Questionable Republican candidates in some races could also aid Democrats. Support for Democratic candidates is encouraged.
Trump's strategy for winning in 2016 relied on segmenting the electorate and mobilizing his base through an aggressive media campaign spreading conspiracy theories and attacking opponents. This same strategy may help Republicans in 2018 by energizing core Trump supporters and portraying Democrats as out of touch. Ongoing attacks on the truth and legitimacy of fact-based reporting are part of an authoritarian playbook that could further undermine opposition if left unchecked.
The document summarizes survey data from 2013 to 2016 that shows American voters are experiencing a political revolution against the established political order. Key findings include:
- Voters believe the country is in decline and the American Dream may not be attainable for future generations.
- They see a rigged political system dominated by special interests over ordinary citizens.
- Both Democratic and Republican parties are seen as too beholden to special interests to create meaningful change.
- There is strong support for independent candidates and a potential third party that truly represents voters.
- A hypothetical independent "Candidate Smith" outperforms all current candidates in polls, showing demand for an alternative to the status quo parties.
Kagan our constitutional crisis is already here Neil Raden
The United States is facing its greatest constitutional crisis since the Civil War due to Donald Trump's refusal to accept defeat in 2020 and his efforts to ensure victory in 2024 by any means. Trump maintains strong support and is actively working with allies to pass laws giving state legislatures control over election results. This increases the chances of chaos and violence around future elections as each side claims victory. The Founders did not anticipate a demagogue with a cult-like hold over a national political party being able to undermine checks and balances. The country risks breaking down along partisan lines without an agreed-upon solution.
Day 9 - Profile of Voters in Congressional ElectionsLee Hannah
This document summarizes information about campaign fundraising, spending, techniques, and voter behavior in US elections. It discusses key points such as:
- Incumbents significantly outspend challengers due to advantages in fundraising from individual contributors, PACs, and parties.
- Spending correlates positively with electoral success for challengers but negatively for incumbents, as spending matters less later in well-known races.
- Campaign techniques include positive/negative ads, evolving media, and get-out-the-vote efforts. Outside groups like Super PACs also play a large role.
- Voter turnout is lower in midterms which tend to favor more conservative voters and policies on ballot initiatives compared to
As the midterm elections have come and gone, we can now look back on the issues that voters cared about most, where voter opinions lie on key issues, and more. Our Research team compiled the most pertinent results in their Midterm Election Recap deck.
5 Things You Need to Know About the Coming Trump vs. Clinton ShowdownAtif Fareed
What to expect if The Donald doesn’t change course, and what to expect if he does.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/2016-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-election-things-you-should-know-213875#ixzz48Ld19944
Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook
This document analyzes the results of the 2016 US presidential election and identifies key factors that impacted the outcome. It summarizes that:
1. There was significant anger and frustration with the status quo that drove voters to take risks for change, and Democrats lost ground with the working class.
2. Demographics are not destiny, as turnout changed in ways that hurt Democrats, such as increased rural and white voter turnout.
3. Lack of an economic message and vision hurt Democrats, and having a populist economic message combined with reform can win.
4. Perceptions of race, immigration, and gender roles strongly correlated with votes for Trump.
Democrats have won recent elections but face historical headwinds in 2010. Republicans are spending millions on attack ads through outside groups. The DCCC plans to stay on offense, highlight Republican problems, and capitalize on the weak Republican brand. Recent special elections show Democrats effectively countering Republican messages and energizing voters. The tea party movement presents challenges for Republicans by pushing extreme candidates and splitting the Republican vote with third party candidates. Questionable Republican candidates in some races could also aid Democrats. Support for Democratic candidates is encouraged.
Trump's strategy for winning in 2016 relied on segmenting the electorate and mobilizing his base through an aggressive media campaign spreading conspiracy theories and attacking opponents. This same strategy may help Republicans in 2018 by energizing core Trump supporters and portraying Democrats as out of touch. Ongoing attacks on the truth and legitimacy of fact-based reporting are part of an authoritarian playbook that could further undermine opposition if left unchecked.
The document summarizes survey data from 2013 to 2016 that shows American voters are experiencing a political revolution against the established political order. Key findings include:
- Voters believe the country is in decline and the American Dream may not be attainable for future generations.
- They see a rigged political system dominated by special interests over ordinary citizens.
- Both Democratic and Republican parties are seen as too beholden to special interests to create meaningful change.
- There is strong support for independent candidates and a potential third party that truly represents voters.
- A hypothetical independent "Candidate Smith" outperforms all current candidates in polls, showing demand for an alternative to the status quo parties.
Kagan our constitutional crisis is already here Neil Raden
The United States is facing its greatest constitutional crisis since the Civil War due to Donald Trump's refusal to accept defeat in 2020 and his efforts to ensure victory in 2024 by any means. Trump maintains strong support and is actively working with allies to pass laws giving state legislatures control over election results. This increases the chances of chaos and violence around future elections as each side claims victory. The Founders did not anticipate a demagogue with a cult-like hold over a national political party being able to undermine checks and balances. The country risks breaking down along partisan lines without an agreed-upon solution.
Day 9 - Profile of Voters in Congressional ElectionsLee Hannah
This document summarizes information about campaign fundraising, spending, techniques, and voter behavior in US elections. It discusses key points such as:
- Incumbents significantly outspend challengers due to advantages in fundraising from individual contributors, PACs, and parties.
- Spending correlates positively with electoral success for challengers but negatively for incumbents, as spending matters less later in well-known races.
- Campaign techniques include positive/negative ads, evolving media, and get-out-the-vote efforts. Outside groups like Super PACs also play a large role.
- Voter turnout is lower in midterms which tend to favor more conservative voters and policies on ballot initiatives compared to
As the midterm elections have come and gone, we can now look back on the issues that voters cared about most, where voter opinions lie on key issues, and more. Our Research team compiled the most pertinent results in their Midterm Election Recap deck.
The document discusses the importance of voting, especially among young voters, in midterm and local elections. It notes that young voters made up a significant portion of the electorate in 2012 and supported issues like same-sex marriage and immigration reform. The youth vote was important in key swing states and more likely to vote if they lived in battleground areas. The document encourages rocking the vote and correlates the importance of voting in midterm and local youth council elections.
Donald Trump's incredibly unpresidential statement on CharlottesvilleAlicia Garcia
- A white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, VA turned violent, resulting in one death and 19 injuries after a car rammed into counter-protesters.
- President Trump condemned the violence "on many sides" but failed to single out the white supremacists. His statement was criticized for not being strong enough against intolerance and hatred.
- The article analyzes Trump's statement and argues he should have clearly condemned the white supremacists and brought the country together instead of listing his own accomplishments.
This document is a series of short essays by Gerald J. Furnkranz on the topic of corruption. The essays discuss the seeds of corruption taking root in institutions and society through corrupt leadership. They describe the "deep state" and extreme corruption within the government, including the FBI, DOJ and Congress. One essay argues that honesty and truth have been lost due to personal agendas, making it difficult to discern facts. Another criticizes "political experience" and argues indoctrination has replaced education in schools and universities. The document promotes a critique of corruption across different levels of government and other institutions.
This document provides an outline of key concepts related to US presidential elections, including primaries, caucuses, and campaign financing. It discusses the multi-stage process of electing the president from pre-primaries over a year before elections to the electoral college vote and inauguration. Notably, it outlines how the pre-primary period has increased in importance, with front-runners often being determined over a year before the actual primaries begin.
2017.04.06 how should we elect our leadersNUI Galway
Dr Ashley Piggins, Economics, gave this talk entitled "How should we elect our leaders?" on behalf of the Group Decision Making research cluster as part of the 2017 Whitaker Institute Research Day on the 6th of April 2017 at NUI Galway.
2010 11-4 election slides hot topic finalJim Reynolds
This document summarizes analysis of social media conversations around 2010 US Senate and gubernatorial election races. It finds that Christine O'Donnell received the most mentions in Senate races while Meg Whitman received the most in gubernatorial races. Trends in favorability and volume of conversation are presented for key races in California, Florida, Delaware, Kentucky, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Massachusetts. The analysis correctly predicted most outcomes, with some exceptions like the Texas gubernatorial race.
The US elections- the most awaited event of the year, is now out of the way. It should be in the rear-view mirror for us, already looking forward and contemplating what a Biden Presidency will look like; perhaps musing on the legacy of the most erratic, divisive and possibly dangerous presidency in living memory. But that is not to be. The elections are over. Check. The results are known. Check.
A2 G&P the electoral college and how it worksOliver Pratten
This document provides an overview of the US Electoral College system. It describes how electors are chosen and allocated to each state based on representatives. It explains that electors vote for president and vice president, and the candidates who receive an absolute majority of electoral votes win. If no candidate achieves a majority, the House of Representatives and Senate decide the winner. The document outlines arguments both for and against the Electoral College system.
A2 G&P presidential elections and candidate requirementsOliver Pratten
The document discusses the process and requirements for US presidential elections. It explains that presidential elections occur every four years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. There are four main stages: primaries and caucuses from January to June where parties choose candidates; national conventions in August/September where candidates are officially nominated; the general election campaign from September to November; and election day in November followed by the electoral college vote. Constitutional requirements to be president are being a natural born US citizen, at least 35 years old, and a 14 year residency. Other helpful requirements include political experience, major party endorsement, personal characteristics like being married, ability to raise money, effective organization, public speaking skills, and having relevant policies.
This document outlines key concepts and ideas related to congressional elections in the United States. It discusses primary types, campaign strategies, the role of money, and differences between congressional and presidential elections. Specifically, it notes that congressional elections are held every two years for one third of the Senate and all House seats, and that midterm elections can impact a sitting president's ability to pass legislation.
Where do we go from here - the democratic party opportunities over the next f...Eric Foster
1) The Democratic party faces an important decision over the next four years on whether to fight against Republican majorities or find victories within the existing system.
2) While Republicans control most state and federal offices, Democrats received more total votes nationally in 2016 and won urban centers and diverse counties.
3) Democrats are well positioned to rebound by focusing on growing their base among non-white voters, younger white voters in cities, and voters in diverse and economically successful areas rather than trying to win back white rural voters who supported Trump.
Third parties have played a role in American politics by influencing elections and bringing attention to new issues. However, no third party candidate has ever come close to winning the presidency, with only a few winning electoral votes. Third parties usually form around a specific social cause or issue and aim to influence the major parties rather than win elections. If a major party adopts a third party's ideas, it can cause the third party to lose support over time. The cartoon images show themes of third parties struggling for recognition, influencing major parties, and potentially hurting major party candidates if they gain too much support.
The document discusses various aspects of the US political system and elections, including political parties, interest groups, voting behavior, and campaign finance. It covers topics like the two-party system, the rise of political action committees (PACs), voter turnout rates among different demographic groups, and the impact of media on presidential elections. The document is a study guide or test that asks 150 multiple choice questions testing knowledge of these and related concepts in American government and politics.
Three key findings from the document:
1) Voters are highly dissatisfied with the direction of the country and both political parties in Congress due to the poor economy and lack of results on jobs.
2) Republicans have an enthusiasm advantage going into the midterm elections, especially among young voters, while Democrats face an enthusiasm gap.
3) The economy overwhelmingly dominates voters' concerns, with unemployment the top issue, making voters sensitive to arguments about taxes, spending and deficits.
"It's Jobs, Stupid": Democracy Corps/Campaign for America's Future Pollourfuture
A Democracy Corps/Campaign for America's Future survey examines the top economic priorities of American voters, the extent to which they are rejecting the economic priorities of conservatives and offers insight into what Democrats will have to do in order to regain the support of the public. More details on the poll and links to related material on ourfuture.org/economypoll2011
This document discusses assessing suicide risk and depression in people with gambling disorders for employee assistance professionals. It provides statistics on the high prevalence of suicide in problem gamblers, lists common risk factors like co-occurring mental health issues and substance abuse. Protective factors mentioned include social support and treatment. Assessment tools like the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale are recommended. Treatment approaches discussed include cognitive behavioral therapy, developing a crisis plan, and building hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. Resources for professionals, patients and suicide prevention are also listed.
US Midterm Elections: What Happened, Why it happened, and What it means
Speaker: Paul Sracic
Lecture video is available here: https://youtu.be/UczRVA2TdJY
This document provides an overview of key concepts related to US national party conventions, including:
1) The formal functions of conventions are to choose presidential candidates, vice presidential candidates, and decide party platforms, but these functions have been lost as candidates are now chosen in primaries and caucuses.
2) The informal, but important, functions of conventions now are to promote party unity, enthuse party members, and enthuse ordinary voters in the lead up to the general election.
3) While the formal functions have been lost, conventions still serve important purposes through their ability to rally support and motivate different groups in the run up to the November election.
Donald Trump has maintained his lead in Republican primary polls since announcing his candidacy in June 2015. There are three theories for his success: 1) He has tapped into widespread populism, nativism, and anti-elite sentiment among Republican voters. 2) His controversial statements have driven massive media coverage, correlating his polling numbers to his outsized media presence. 3) The lack of a consensus alternative among Republican elites has created a power vacuum that Trump has filled. Trump's rise is likely due to an overlap of all three factors.
Brian Draxten, Director of Resource Planning at Otter Tail Power Company, discusses how the utility makes resource decisions and how they see the energy future.
City of Morris, Minnesota: Climate Smart MunicipalityJefferson Center
Blaine Hill, the City Manager of Morris, MN, discusses the city’s efforts to make Morris climate-smart, as well as their expanding partnership with the city of Saerbeck, Germany.
Mike Reese, director of the Renewable Energy Program at the West Central Research and Outreach Center provides an "Energy 101" to residents of Stevens County.
The document discusses the importance of voting, especially among young voters, in midterm and local elections. It notes that young voters made up a significant portion of the electorate in 2012 and supported issues like same-sex marriage and immigration reform. The youth vote was important in key swing states and more likely to vote if they lived in battleground areas. The document encourages rocking the vote and correlates the importance of voting in midterm and local youth council elections.
Donald Trump's incredibly unpresidential statement on CharlottesvilleAlicia Garcia
- A white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, VA turned violent, resulting in one death and 19 injuries after a car rammed into counter-protesters.
- President Trump condemned the violence "on many sides" but failed to single out the white supremacists. His statement was criticized for not being strong enough against intolerance and hatred.
- The article analyzes Trump's statement and argues he should have clearly condemned the white supremacists and brought the country together instead of listing his own accomplishments.
This document is a series of short essays by Gerald J. Furnkranz on the topic of corruption. The essays discuss the seeds of corruption taking root in institutions and society through corrupt leadership. They describe the "deep state" and extreme corruption within the government, including the FBI, DOJ and Congress. One essay argues that honesty and truth have been lost due to personal agendas, making it difficult to discern facts. Another criticizes "political experience" and argues indoctrination has replaced education in schools and universities. The document promotes a critique of corruption across different levels of government and other institutions.
This document provides an outline of key concepts related to US presidential elections, including primaries, caucuses, and campaign financing. It discusses the multi-stage process of electing the president from pre-primaries over a year before elections to the electoral college vote and inauguration. Notably, it outlines how the pre-primary period has increased in importance, with front-runners often being determined over a year before the actual primaries begin.
2017.04.06 how should we elect our leadersNUI Galway
Dr Ashley Piggins, Economics, gave this talk entitled "How should we elect our leaders?" on behalf of the Group Decision Making research cluster as part of the 2017 Whitaker Institute Research Day on the 6th of April 2017 at NUI Galway.
2010 11-4 election slides hot topic finalJim Reynolds
This document summarizes analysis of social media conversations around 2010 US Senate and gubernatorial election races. It finds that Christine O'Donnell received the most mentions in Senate races while Meg Whitman received the most in gubernatorial races. Trends in favorability and volume of conversation are presented for key races in California, Florida, Delaware, Kentucky, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Massachusetts. The analysis correctly predicted most outcomes, with some exceptions like the Texas gubernatorial race.
The US elections- the most awaited event of the year, is now out of the way. It should be in the rear-view mirror for us, already looking forward and contemplating what a Biden Presidency will look like; perhaps musing on the legacy of the most erratic, divisive and possibly dangerous presidency in living memory. But that is not to be. The elections are over. Check. The results are known. Check.
A2 G&P the electoral college and how it worksOliver Pratten
This document provides an overview of the US Electoral College system. It describes how electors are chosen and allocated to each state based on representatives. It explains that electors vote for president and vice president, and the candidates who receive an absolute majority of electoral votes win. If no candidate achieves a majority, the House of Representatives and Senate decide the winner. The document outlines arguments both for and against the Electoral College system.
A2 G&P presidential elections and candidate requirementsOliver Pratten
The document discusses the process and requirements for US presidential elections. It explains that presidential elections occur every four years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. There are four main stages: primaries and caucuses from January to June where parties choose candidates; national conventions in August/September where candidates are officially nominated; the general election campaign from September to November; and election day in November followed by the electoral college vote. Constitutional requirements to be president are being a natural born US citizen, at least 35 years old, and a 14 year residency. Other helpful requirements include political experience, major party endorsement, personal characteristics like being married, ability to raise money, effective organization, public speaking skills, and having relevant policies.
This document outlines key concepts and ideas related to congressional elections in the United States. It discusses primary types, campaign strategies, the role of money, and differences between congressional and presidential elections. Specifically, it notes that congressional elections are held every two years for one third of the Senate and all House seats, and that midterm elections can impact a sitting president's ability to pass legislation.
Where do we go from here - the democratic party opportunities over the next f...Eric Foster
1) The Democratic party faces an important decision over the next four years on whether to fight against Republican majorities or find victories within the existing system.
2) While Republicans control most state and federal offices, Democrats received more total votes nationally in 2016 and won urban centers and diverse counties.
3) Democrats are well positioned to rebound by focusing on growing their base among non-white voters, younger white voters in cities, and voters in diverse and economically successful areas rather than trying to win back white rural voters who supported Trump.
Third parties have played a role in American politics by influencing elections and bringing attention to new issues. However, no third party candidate has ever come close to winning the presidency, with only a few winning electoral votes. Third parties usually form around a specific social cause or issue and aim to influence the major parties rather than win elections. If a major party adopts a third party's ideas, it can cause the third party to lose support over time. The cartoon images show themes of third parties struggling for recognition, influencing major parties, and potentially hurting major party candidates if they gain too much support.
The document discusses various aspects of the US political system and elections, including political parties, interest groups, voting behavior, and campaign finance. It covers topics like the two-party system, the rise of political action committees (PACs), voter turnout rates among different demographic groups, and the impact of media on presidential elections. The document is a study guide or test that asks 150 multiple choice questions testing knowledge of these and related concepts in American government and politics.
Three key findings from the document:
1) Voters are highly dissatisfied with the direction of the country and both political parties in Congress due to the poor economy and lack of results on jobs.
2) Republicans have an enthusiasm advantage going into the midterm elections, especially among young voters, while Democrats face an enthusiasm gap.
3) The economy overwhelmingly dominates voters' concerns, with unemployment the top issue, making voters sensitive to arguments about taxes, spending and deficits.
"It's Jobs, Stupid": Democracy Corps/Campaign for America's Future Pollourfuture
A Democracy Corps/Campaign for America's Future survey examines the top economic priorities of American voters, the extent to which they are rejecting the economic priorities of conservatives and offers insight into what Democrats will have to do in order to regain the support of the public. More details on the poll and links to related material on ourfuture.org/economypoll2011
This document discusses assessing suicide risk and depression in people with gambling disorders for employee assistance professionals. It provides statistics on the high prevalence of suicide in problem gamblers, lists common risk factors like co-occurring mental health issues and substance abuse. Protective factors mentioned include social support and treatment. Assessment tools like the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale are recommended. Treatment approaches discussed include cognitive behavioral therapy, developing a crisis plan, and building hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. Resources for professionals, patients and suicide prevention are also listed.
US Midterm Elections: What Happened, Why it happened, and What it means
Speaker: Paul Sracic
Lecture video is available here: https://youtu.be/UczRVA2TdJY
This document provides an overview of key concepts related to US national party conventions, including:
1) The formal functions of conventions are to choose presidential candidates, vice presidential candidates, and decide party platforms, but these functions have been lost as candidates are now chosen in primaries and caucuses.
2) The informal, but important, functions of conventions now are to promote party unity, enthuse party members, and enthuse ordinary voters in the lead up to the general election.
3) While the formal functions have been lost, conventions still serve important purposes through their ability to rally support and motivate different groups in the run up to the November election.
Donald Trump has maintained his lead in Republican primary polls since announcing his candidacy in June 2015. There are three theories for his success: 1) He has tapped into widespread populism, nativism, and anti-elite sentiment among Republican voters. 2) His controversial statements have driven massive media coverage, correlating his polling numbers to his outsized media presence. 3) The lack of a consensus alternative among Republican elites has created a power vacuum that Trump has filled. Trump's rise is likely due to an overlap of all three factors.
Brian Draxten, Director of Resource Planning at Otter Tail Power Company, discusses how the utility makes resource decisions and how they see the energy future.
City of Morris, Minnesota: Climate Smart MunicipalityJefferson Center
Blaine Hill, the City Manager of Morris, MN, discusses the city’s efforts to make Morris climate-smart, as well as their expanding partnership with the city of Saerbeck, Germany.
Mike Reese, director of the Renewable Energy Program at the West Central Research and Outreach Center provides an "Energy 101" to residents of Stevens County.
Clearing the Error: Patient Participation in Reducing Diagnostic ErrorJefferson Center
To generate new, patient-centered insights into diagnostic error, we convened diverse groups in public deliberation to recommend and evaluate actions that patients and/or their advocates would be willing and able to perform to improve diagnostic quality.
The Stevens County Climate Dialogue is the first in a series of projects aimed at supporting rural citizens to assert leadership and build resiliency in the face of extreme weather and changing climate conditions.
The Winona County Climate Dialogue is the third in a series of projects aimed at supporting rural citizens to assert leadership and build resiliency in the face of extreme weather and changing climate conditions.
The Itasca County Climate Dialogue is the second in a series of projects aimed at supporting rural citizens to assert leadership and build resiliency in the face of extreme weather and changing climate conditions.
Informed Citizen Akron Report #3: Improving Candidate-Focused Media Coverage ...Jefferson Center
In the final deliberation, Akron-area citizens generated their recommendations for how local and Ohio-based media partners can improve issue-based coverage during the 2016 presidential election.
Informed Citizen Akron #2: Improving Candidate-Focused Media Coverage in the ...Jefferson Center
Following the momentum of the first Informed Citizen Akron, 18 Akron-area residents continued to learn from media experts, to deliberate, and to generate recommendations for how local and Ohio-based media partners can improve issue-based coverage during the 2016 presidential election.
Informed Citizen Akron #1: Improving Candidate-Focused Media Coverage in the ...Jefferson Center
This the first out of three reports in the Informed Citizen Akron project. A demographically-balanced panel of eighteen Akron-area residents met at the University of Akron Student Center to participate in the Informed Citizen Akron project, and were given the charge to learn from media experts, to deliberate, and to generate recommendations for how local and Ohio-based media partners can improve issue-based coverage during the 2016 presidential election.
In our Rural Climate Dialogues program, we work with rural communities to develop and implement plans to strengthen community resilience in the face of climate change. The state convening took place in Saint Paul, inviting residents of Winona, Itasca, and Stevens County to discuss sustainability goals and collaboration with state agencies.
2016 was another transformative year at the Jefferson Center. We’ve strengthened our existing partnerships and forged new relationships both in the United States and globally. We’re expanding our reach, deepening our impact in all our program areas, and advancing citizens and citizen power as the foundation of our democracy. In this report, you'll find our program highlights from this year and our outlooks for 2017.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
AHMR is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed online journal created to encourage and facilitate the study of all aspects (socio-economic, political, legislative and developmental) of Human Mobility in Africa. Through the publication of original research, policy discussions and evidence research papers AHMR provides a comprehensive forum devoted exclusively to the analysis of contemporaneous trends, migration patterns and some of the most important migration-related issues.
RFP for Reno's Community Assistance CenterThis Is Reno
Property appraisals completed in May for downtown Reno’s Community Assistance and Triage Centers (CAC) reveal that repairing the buildings to bring them back into service would cost an estimated $10.1 million—nearly four times the amount previously reported by city staff.
karnataka housing board schemes . all schemesnarinav14
The Karnataka government, along with the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), offers various housing schemes to cater to the diverse needs of citizens across the state. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the major housing schemes available in the Karnataka housing board for both urban and rural areas in 2024.
2. Executive Summary
Democracy only works when people can talk to each other about important collective
decisions. This is the central claim of deliberative theories of democracy, which argue
that the quality of public debate preceding a vote is as important as the vote itself. It’s an
idea that resonates with many of our most cherished political institutions, from the New
England town hall meeting to the Constitutional Convention. Today we find ourselves in
the midst of the most heated presidential campaign in recent memory, taking place
against a backdrop of growing polarization along partisan lines. In this environment, is
it possible to have the kinds of conversation that makes democracy meaningful?
We sought to answer this question by launching the Twin Cities Election Forum. This
event brought together 52 Twin-Cities area residents, representative of the 7-county
metropolitan area in terms of their demographic characteristics and political views, for
five hours of discussion about the 2016 Presidential Election. The group’s formal charge
was to produce a list of reasons why Twin Cities voters might support each of the major-
party presidential candidates. The goal of this process was not to change participants’
favored candidate, but rather to cultivate understanding across the partisan divide. This
forum was a joint project of Professor Dan Myers of the University of Minnesota
Department of Political Science and the Jefferson Center, and was supported by a grant
from the College of Liberal Arts Joan Aldous Innovation Fund.
The forum’s result was a list of ten reasons in favor of each candidate (Table 1). The top
reason for each demonstrates a key cleavage in the race: Supporters of Trump view him
as change agent who will shake up the way that politics works. Supporters of Clinton
view her as a competent, experienced public servant who has the personality and
temperament to represent the nation. Beyond these qualities, most of the reasons cited
for supporting each candidate fell upon surprisingly familiar ideological lines: Taxes,
immigration, judicial appointments, and the Affordable Care Act all appear on the lists.
Beyond creating this list of reasons, a key test for the power of deliberation is whether it
helped supporters of each candidate understand the perspective of the other side. We
find that it did. By the end of the event, nearly all Clinton supporters said that they could
understand the perspective of someone who found the pro-Trump reasons convincing;
similarly, a large majority of Trump supporters said that they could understand the
perspective underlying the pro-Clinton reasons.
Deliberation is not a panacea. The Twin Cities Election Forum did not produce
consensus on which candidate is best for the country. However, by asking supporters of
each candidate to sit down and talk about the candidates, this forum helped both sides
understand each other and recognize one another as fellow citizens deserving of respect.
This mutual respect is sorely lacking in our current political debates, but is essential to
maintaining a functioning democracy.
3. Deliberative Procedure
Participants in the Twin Cities Election Forum were recruited through a two-stage
process. First, we mailed a letter to ten thousand addresses, randomly drawn from the
list of registered voters in the seven-county metro area, inviting the addressee to apply
to participate in the forum. 240 people applied to participate by completing a brief
survey that asked them their candidate preference alongside with several demographic
questions. From this pool of 240, we selected 60 participants who matched the metro
area’s demographic and political make-up. 50 of those who were selected agreed to
participate and attended the forum. These, along with two applicants added at the last
minute, comprised the final set of participants. Participants were paid a $75 stipend in
recognition of the five-hour time commitment required to take part in the forum
The event started by seating participants in groups of five to seven, with each group
containing at least two Trump supporters and at least two Clinton supporters. Each
group was led by two student moderators who had spent the previous month training
for political facilitation with Jefferson Center staff. After an opening presentation by
Professor Myers about the role of the President in our constitutional system, the
participants heard Chris Fields, Vice-Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party, and Ken
Martin, Chair of the Minnesota DFL, make the case for their respective presidential
candidates, followed by a question and answer session.
The rest of the forum was spent discussing the candidates in small groups. Each group
was charged with producing a list of three reasons why a voter in the Twin Cities area
might support each candidate. After all nine groups finalized their lists, event staff
consolidated them into a top ten list for each of the candidates.
After these lists were finalized, we asked participants to express their individual opinion
about each of the reasons. Specifically, we asked participants to tell us whether they
found each reason convincing, and, regardless of whether they found it convincing,
whether they could understand the perspective of someone who did find that reason
convincing.
Results
Why Clinton? Why Trump?
The top ten reasons touch on a wide range of issues, but for each candidate the top
reason had little to do with policy and more to do with what the candidate represented.
Nearly every group identified Trump’s positioning as the anti-establishment candidate
as one of the top reasons to support him. Clinton, on the other hand, was seen as a
4. Top Ten Reasons Favoring Clinton Top Ten Reasons Favoring Trump
C1. Hillary Clinton has dedicated her career
to public service and has a tremendous
amount of political experience.
T1. Donald Trump represents political
change. He isn’t a career politician, he isn’t
beholden to special interests, he has new
perspectives, he would run things
differently, and he’s anti-establishment.
C2. Hillary Clinton has extensive foreign
policy experience and respect from foreign
leaders.
T2. In all realms of decision-making, Donald
Trump wants to put America first.
C3. Hillary Clinton has a strong policy on
health care reform and will work to fix the
Affordable Care Act.
T3. Donald Trump has business experience.
C4. Hillary Clinton will nominate liberal
pro-choice justices to the Supreme Court.
T4. Donald Trump will appoint conservative
justices at all levels of the judiciary.
C5. Hillary Clinton will continue progressive
domestic policies (e.g. economic policy).
T5. Donald Trump has a strong plan for
immigration and border security.
C6. Hillary Clinton has a stable personality
and temperament.
T6. Donald Trump represents fiscal
responsibility. He will run government more
efficiently, pursue a balanced budget, and
lower taxes.
C7. Hillary Clinton would be the first female
President of the United States.
T7. Donald Trump will be tougher on
terrorism.
C8. Hillary Clinton supports comprehensive
immigration reform.
T8. Donald Trump supports policies to
create more American jobs.
C9. Hillary Clinton advocates for equal
rights for women, transgender individuals,
and same-sex couples.
T9. Donald Trump will support the repeal of
the Affordable Care Act.
C10. Hillary Clinton advocates for action on
climate change.
T10. Donald Trump is the law and order
candidate.
Table 1: Top 10 reasons in favor of each candidate
5. competent, stable, experienced public servant. While this dynamic is sometimes lost in
the day-to-day campaign coverage, our forum participants made it clear that the
primary way they saw the race was between one candidate who promises to shake things
up and another who promises to keep things sailing smoothly forward.
Percent finding this reason
somewhat or very convincing
Percent finding this reason
somewhat or very convincing
Reason Clinton
Voters
Trump
Voters
3rd-
Party
Voters
Reason Clinton
Voters
Trump
Voters
3rd-
Party
Voters
Clinton #1 96% 62% 40% Trump #1 35% 100% 80%
Clinton
#2
96% 67% 80% Trump
#2
15% 100% 80%
Clinton #3 88% 29% 20% Trump
#3
38% 95% 60%
Clinton
#4
88% 52% 40% Trump
#4
46% 90% 40%
Clinton #5 88% 57% 60% Trump #5 19% 95% 20%
Clinton
#6
92% 29% 60% Trump
#6
15% 90% 40%
Clinton #7 88% 29% 40% Trump #7 50% 95% 80%
Clinton
#8
96% 33% 20% Trump
#8
12% 100% 80%
Clinton
#9
88% 33% 80% Trump
#9
31% 95% 100%
Clinton
#10
85% 33% 60% Trump
#10
23% 90% 60%
Table 2: Percent of participants who found each reason convincing
6. Beyond these broad characterizations, most of the remaining reasons describe familiar
ideological divides. Despite talk of the race scrambling traditional political coalitions,
forum participants expect Trump to appoint conservative judges, lower taxes, and repeal
the Affordable Care Act. Clinton was expected to appoint liberal, pro-choice judges, fix
the ACA while maintaining a commitment to universal health care, and generally work
towards progressive goals on economic and social issues.
It is worth remembering that these lists do not represent an endorsement of these
reasons by the
forum participants.
Instead, they
represent reasons
why forum
participants
thought metro-
area voters might
support each
candidate. Which
of the reasons did
forum participants
find personally
convincing? Table
2 shows the
percent of forum
participants who
found each reason
to be a convincing
reason to vote for
that candidate. We
divide the results
by the candidate
supported to show
which reasons
favoring each
candidate were
most convincing to
their own
supporters, as well
as to the other
candidate’s
supporters.
Percent who
could understand
why others find
this reason
convincing
Percent who
could understand
why others find
this reason
convincing
Reason Trump
Voters
3rd-
Party
Voters
Reason Clinton
Voters
3rd-
Party
Voters
Clinton #1 76% 100% Trump #1 96% 100%
Clinton #2 67% 100% Trump #2 77% 100%
Clinton #3 57% 60% Trump #3 92% 100%
Clinton #4 76% 40% Trump #4 77% 100%
Clinton #5 71% 80% Trump #5 69% 60%
Clinton #6 47% 60% Trump #6 73% 80%
Clinton #7 62% 40% Trump #7 84% 100%
Clinton #8 52% 40% Trump #8 77% 80%
Clinton #9 62% 100% Trump #9 58% 80%
Clinton
#10
62% 60% Trump
#10
65% 60%
Table 3: Percent of participants who could understand
reasons for the other side
7. Unsurprisingly, nearly all participants found the reasons listed in favor of their
preferred candidate convincing. Interestingly, a large majority of Trump voters found
arguments about Clinton’s political and foreign policy experience (Clinton #1 and #2)
convincing, despite also endorsing Trump’s outsider appeal (Trump #1). Fewer Clinton
voters found any of the Trump reasons convincing, though half of Clinton voters found
Trump’s stance on terrorism convincing (Trump #7). Supporters of 3rd-party
candidates, most of whom favored Gary Johnson, tended to find more of the pro-Trump
reasons convincing than the pro-Clinton reasons.
Understanding the Other Side
The central goal of the forum was not only to produce a list of reasons why people might
support each candidate, but also to help participants understand how supporters of the
opposing candidate made their decision. To understand whether this forum achieved
this goal we asked participants whether they could understand the perspective of
someone who did find the each of the reasons convincing, regardless of whether they
themselves found the reason to be convincing. Table 3 shows the percent of Trump and
3rd-party voters who could understand the perspective underlying each reason in favor
of Clinton and the percentage of Clinton supporters who could understand the
perspective underlying each reason in favor of Trump.
In general, forum participants reported a high level of understanding of perspectives
different from their own. In all but one case, a majority said they could at least
somewhat understand the perspective underlying the reasons in favor of the other side.
Notably, a large majority of Trump supporters said they could understand the
perspective of those who found Clinton’s experience to be a convincing reason, while
nearly all Clinton supporters said that they understood the perspective of those who
found Trump’s outsider status to be convincing.
In general, Clinton voters reported a better ability to understand the perspective of
Trump voters than the other way around. The average pro-Clinton reason was only
understandable to 63% of Trump supporters, while the average pro-Trump reason was
understandable to 77% of Clinton supporters. Still, both sides had several reasons they
found particularly unintelligible. For Trump supporters, these were Clinton’s stance on
the Affordable Care Act, her temperament, and her stance on comprehensive
immigration reform (Clinton #3, 6, and 8). For Clinton supporters, it was most difficult
to understand why some found Trump’s border security plan, his vow to repeal the ACA,
and his law and order rhetoric to be points in his favor (Trump #5, 9, 10).
9. Evaluating the Twin Cities Election Forum Procedure
We evaluate the deliberative procedure along two dimensions. First, we examine
whether the recruitment process met its goal of producing a group of metro-area voters
who were demographically and politically representative of the Twin Cities metro area.
Second, we draw on participants’ evaluations of the event to judge whether deliberation
was unbiased, respectful, and informative.
Demographic and Political Balance
As Table 4 shows, the recruitment process largely succeeded in bringing together a
group of Twin Cities-area voters that matched the political and demographic
composition of the metro area as a whole. Perhaps most importantly, the distribution of
candidate support largely matched the distribution of metro-area support in the
September 12 Star Tribune poll. Our panel also matched or came very close to matching
the metro area’s demographic balance in terms of gender, race and county of residence.
Participants in the forum were slightly better educated than the county as a whole,
though this may be somewhat balanced by the fact that they had slightly lower incomes.
Finally, the panel skewed somewhat older than the metro-area as a whole.
Participant Evaluations of the Process
We measured the quality of deliberation by asking participants to indicate how much
they agreed or disagreed with a battery of statements about the event. Across all
measures, participants provided very positive evaluations of the process and the quality
of deliberation in the forum.
92 percent agreed or strongly agreed with the statements “I felt comfortable at
the event” and “the meeting today was fair and unbiased. No particular view was
favored.”
87 percent agreed or strongly agreed that “other participants seemed to hear and
understand my views” while 92 percent agreed or strongly agreed that “people at
this meeting listened to one another respectfully and courteously.”
87 percent agreed or strongly agreed that “even when I disagreed with them,
most people made reasonable points and tried to make serious arguments.”
90 percent agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I had fun today. Politics
should be like this more often.” 94 percent agreed or strongly agreed that “I
would participate in an event like this again.”
10. Finally, 81 percent of participants agreed or strongly agreed that voters should take the
conclusions of the meeting into consideration when choosing who to support in the 2016
Presidential Election.