The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - Stop Political Calls BLOG

Launch Press Release --> New Free Political Do Not Contact Registry Lets Voters Tell Politicians to Stop Calling Them at Home

      New Free Political Do Not Contact Registry Lets Voters Tell       Politicians to Stop Calling Them at Home    

   

           

      Website Allows Voters to Opt Out of Receiving Political Calls    

     

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Voters can now take action to stop unwanted political calls by       registering for free at, www.StopPoliticalCalls.org,       launched today by the National       Political Do Not Contact Registry (NPDNC). The non-partisan,       non-profit organization is designed to stop politicians from calling       voters at home, particularly with automated (or “robo”)       calls.    

   

      The NPDNC fills a void       in the Federal Trade Commission's National Do Not Call Registry (DNC).       Because the First Amendment protects political speech, political calls       are specifically excluded from the DNC. While Americans have registered       nearly 150 million phone numbers with the DNC, Georgetown University       research determined that 3 out of 4 voters do not know that political       calls are exempt from the DNC. This gaping loophole has become a       national problem. In the final weeks of the 2006 election, 64 percent of       voters received recorded messages, according to the Pew Internet &       American Life Project. Approximately 40 percent received between three       and nine automated phone calls during the campaign.    

   

      “I started the registry to improve the quality       of life for the average American during the election season,”       said Shaun Dakin, founder and CEO of the NPDNC.       “Many voters consider their homes to be a       sanctuary and therefore consider calls from politicians and political       groups to be invasive. That experience alone can turn people off from       the entire electoral process. If the NPDNC       can help significantly reduce political calls during the 2008 election,       we will have delivered a significant win for the American family and for       our political system overall.”    

   

      To sign up for the free service, voters simply visit www.StopPoliticalCalls.org       and register their contact information. The organization will then       notify political campaigns of the registrant's preferences.    

   

      If politicians and political campaigns fail to honor the voter requests,       they risk losing votes. Because the NPDNC       has no legal authority to regulate candidates' behavior, it must rely on       the influence of large numbers of individuals to force the necessary       change. The organization is asking the candidates to take a “Do       Not Contact” pledge and promise not to call       the numbers listed on the registry.    

   

      Market research conducted by the NPDNC       during the summer of 2007 overwhelmingly confirms that U.S. voters want       to stop candidates from abusing their right to political speech. Almost       three-quarters of respondents said they are likely to sign up for a Political       Do Not Contact Registry.    

   

      “There is currently a real lack of civil       discourse in American politics that drives voters away from the       political process and voting,” said Wilson R.       Abney, Senior Partner of Ethics Counts, LLC, and a board member of       Citizens for Civil Discourse (CCD), the parent organization of StopPoliticalCalls.org.       “This registry is a great first step toward       bringing back civil discussion in politics, and I believe it will       encourage voters to once again become active participants in the       political process.”    

   

      “What campaigns understand is numbers,”       Dakin said. “The more voters who register       with the NPDNC, the       louder collective voice we will have to make sure they listen to us.       While the organization cannot guarantee to stop unwanted calls, our goal       is to reduce the volume of unwanted calls from an average of 10 per day       to less than three. Ultimately, my goal is to increase voter       participation in the political process by encouraging a civil dialogue       between the public and politicians.”    

   

      Privacy and Security    

   

      The NPDNC takes an       individual's right to privacy very seriously. All information provided       by registrants will be shared only with the politicians who are being       asked not to call. Absolutely no personal data will be sold to a third       party without the registrant's express permission. The website is highly       secure, using state-of-the-art data encryption with servers located in a       secure environment that is monitored 24/7. Only screened and approved NPDNC       employees are allowed access to the system.    

   

      About the National Political Do Not Contact Registry    

   

      The National Political Do       Not Contact Registry is a program of Citizens for Civil       Discourse (CCD), non-partisan non-profit organization (federal       501(c)(3) status pending) dedicated to elevating political discussion in       the United States. CCD is based on the premise that the decline of       civility in American political dialogue has diminished our nation's       capacity to address urgent problems. Founder and CEO Shaun Dakin       believes that citizen action is required to restore decency, respect and       common sense to public debate in this country. CCD created the National       Political Do Not Contact Registry as a first step towards its goal       by reducing unwanted political phone calls, particularly automated       messages (“robo”       calls), which frustrate and annoy voters regardless of party and       ultimately reduce political participation. Because the U.S. Constitution       protects political speech, CCD advocates addressing this issue not by       enacting new legislation but by encouraging voters to talk back and make       free speech a two-way exchange. Learn more at www.StopPoliticalCalls.org.    

Why Tuesday? - What The Heck Is The Iowa Caucus? The Animated Edition!

Why Tuesday?  One of my favorite orgs that is working to make America's democracy stronger through increased voter participation. They work to make election reform an issue that our politicians cannot afford to avoid.

They are very good at putting out interesting and entertianing videos about the U.S. political system.

Ever wondered how those Iowa Caucuses actually work?

Here is the animated video to explain it all for you.

 

Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) Harrased by Protester - Civility? No.

Join us at Citizens for Civil Discourse and register your phone number for free at The National Political Do Not Contact Registry.

POST:

This video from the Daily Kos is a good example of what passes for "protesting" and questioning.  A protester, though obviously not a man off the street, videos his encounter with Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and his staffer, Trent Wisecup in a grocery store.

While the protester has legitimate questions for Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), it becomes quickly clear that this is not the first time, nor the second time that this individual has encountered the Congressman.

In fact, the protester admits to protesting outside the Congressman's home and harassing his Wife.

This will get us as a nation no closer to solving our most difficult problems.  The protester mentions SCHIP and the war in Iraq as but two of the most difficult.   He offers no real solutions, other than grandstanding and videoing.

What are your thoughts?

 

Project Vote Smart - The Nation's Leading Non Partisan Organization With Info On 40,000 Candidates For Public Office

Project Vote Smart is a great resource to learn about candidates from a non partisan source.  Check it out by going to this site.

Civil Discourse starts with understanding the candidates, the issues, and where they receive funding from. 

With Project Vote Smart, there is no excuse now to not know what you need to know before you vote.

Select your state below and get started.

 

Choose a State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Penssylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconisn Wyoming

What is Civility? First in a series. The Dignity Agenda

Join Citizens for Civil Discourse and register your phone number for free on the National Political Do Not Contact Registry.

BLOG Post:

David Ignatius, an op-ed writer at the Washington Post, had a terrific column today entitled "The Dignity Agenda".   

It got me thinking about creating a series of posts that attempt to explore what "civil discourse" really means?  People ask me, "What do you hope to accomplish with Citizens for Civil Discourse and the National Political Do Not Contact Registry?"

Aren't you actually limiting discourse by allowing voters to remove their phone numbers from politicians voter contact databases?

My answer is an empathic, NO!  No, no, no!  You just don't get it.

Voters today get their political information from a myriad of sources and communication channels.

There is T.V., radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, friends, email, events, the mail, and many other ways (including TEXT messaging).

In fact, phone calls are but one of many ways politicians can reach voters.   They just happen to be very efficient (read cheap) and particularly easy for campaigns to execute.   

It is my contention that phone calls, particularly automated or robo calls, are actually doing more harm than anyone can imagine.   

Phones are considered in a different light by most voters.

T.V.'s, radios, and the Internet can all be turned off.

The phone can not.   As a result many voters have told me that they consider political phone calls a violation of their home, their castle as it were.   

One voter told me that in 2006 they received 37 calls in one day.  Yes, one day.

Now imagine if you received 37 calls in one day.

Would you respect politicians?  Would you believe that politicians actual listen to you?  That they care about you?  That they have solutions for you?

No.  Instead, these voters (64% of whom received robo calls in 2006) are hanging up and tuning out of politics, of voting, of caring, and finally of thinking that they can actually DO something; preferring not to engage and, often, not to vote.

How does this get back to the "Dignity Agenda" by David Ignatius?

Well, I believe that civil discourse starts with giving people dignity, with listening to them rather than shouting at them.  It means that people "don't' like to be told what to do by outsiders".  That means the same thing in Iraq as it does in West Virginia, Ohio, Florida, California and every other one of these United States.

Civil discourse can not occur without dignity.

clipped from www.washingtonpost.com The Dignity Agenda By David Ignatius Sunday, October 14, 2007; Page B07   "We talk about democracy and human rights. Iraqis talk about justice and honor." That comment from Lt. Col. David Kilcullen, made at a seminar last month on counterinsurgency, is the beginning of wisdom for an America that is trying to repair the damage of recent years. It applies not simply to Iraq but to the range of problems in a world tired of listening to an American megaphone. As we think about a "dignity agenda," there are some other useful readings. A starting point is Zbigniew Brzezinski's new book, "Second Chance," which argues that America's best hope is to align itself with what he calls a "global political awakening." The former national security adviser explains: "In today's restless world, America needs to identify with the quest for universal human dignity, a dignity that embodies both freedom and democracy but also implies respect for cultural diversity."

The Attack on Graeme Frost - Any Pretense of Civility Is Gone - America and Americans Can Do Better

Join Citizens for Civil Discourse and register your phone number for free at the National Political Do Not Contact Registry and take back control of the political conversation.

BLOG POST:

Washington is sometimes a never land where normal people with normal lives suspend belief and go after 12 year old boys because they have nothing better to do; and because they have nothing positive to offer our nation.

Is this where American politics has plummeted?

If you don't already know, the Democrats asked a young boy named Graeme Frost to respond to the President's veto of the children's health care program, AKA SCHIP.

According to E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post:

Frost is the 12-year-old from Baltimore who delivered the Democrats' reply to a radio address by President Bush in September. The seventh-grader pleaded -- in vain, it turned out -- that the president not veto Congress's $35 billion expansion of the children's health care program known as SCHIP. A car crash in December 2004 left two of Halsey and Bonnie Frost's children comatose, Graeme with a brain stem injury and Gemma, his sister, with a cranial fracture.

The kids were treated, thanks to SCHIP. The Frosts spoke out so the public would know that real people lie behind the acronym.

He has been trashed by the GOP and the right wing blogosphere.  A 12 year old boy.

This is what happens when a political party and a system has nothing left of value to say to the country.

This is also why so many in America are turned off by politics, politicians, and Washington.

No one is actually solving problems that all Americans care about, regardless of party:

• Healthcare costs
• Public safety
• Education
• Security of our nation
• Social Security
• Energy costs and supply
• Job security
• etc..

The point is, both parties are doing this.  Instead of actually sitting down and working together to get the tough problems resolved, it is easier (and you can raise more money) simply to shout at each other and, in this case, bring down a 12 year old boy.

A 12 year old boy.

For what?

Because he was not, in some people's eyes, "poor enough".

E.J. Dionne has it right:

The real issue here is whether uninsured families with earnings similar to the Frosts' need government help to buy health coverage. With the average family policy in employer-provided plans now costing more than $12,000 annually -- the price is usually higher for families trying to buy it on their own -- the answer is plainly yes. All the conservative attacks on a boy from Baltimore who dared to speak out will not make this issue go away.

This is why Citizens for Civil Discourse and the National Political Do Not Contact Registry are fighting to bring back politicians who, regardless of ideology, can actually sit down and get things done.

After all, America and Americans are a pragmatic people. 

We want to get things done. 

Now.

Ron Paul's Intriguing Candidacy - Will he take the "do not contact pledge"

Join us:  Register your phone number for free at The National Political Do Not Contact Registry and tell politicians to stop calling you at home.

BLOG POST:

I'm intrigued by the Ron Paul candidacy.  He is a small government, low taxes, libertarian, anti war Republican that is out of step with the mainstream GOP candidates and he raised $5 million in the last quarter; just behind Fred Thompson.  Amazing stuff and not to be dismissed.

I wonder if Mr. Paul would be interested in taking the "Do Not Contact" pledge?   That is, do you think that he would pledge to not contact people via phone if they asked not to be?

What are your thoughts?

Here is a Ron Paul campaign video that clearly articulates his appeal to a wide variety of people from all sides of life and politics. I encourage you to watch.

Shameless Promotion - NPDNC Registry Online Store Is Up and Running

The National Political Do Not Contact Registry Online Store is up and running.

Where else can you buy amazing products that can change your life?  Products like:

• t-shirts
• Hats
• Stickers
• Mugs

Help support the Registry and show politicians what you think each and every time you work out, shop, or simply walk down the street with your dog.  Shop now for the holidays!

Thanks,

Shaun Dakin
CEO and Founder

Legislators Start to hold telephone townhalls using automated conferencing systems (robo calls)

A somewhat positive article in the last day or so in Congressional Quarterly about how legislators, mostly in the US House, are starting to use "telephone town halls" to interact with their constituents.   

What are these town hall meetings?

Essentially, like a regular 'in person" town hall meeting, Representatives can ask their constituents to call into a phone number (often toll free) so that they can participate in a question and answer session with their representative from the comfort of their own home.

Or, like robo calls, the Representative can call constituents without their permission.  Indeed, according to the article:

When House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland conducted a telephone town hall on May 1, his vendor dialed nearly 40,000 phone numbers. Only about 5,500 of the households, or 14 percent, answered the phone; roughly 2,000 agreed to take part in the call, and an average of 700 callers stayed on the line throughout the course of the discussion. But that’s far more than most lawmakers say they could ever get to attend an in-person town hall.

I think that if these calls are made with the permission of the voter, then these could be a very helpful and useful tool in getting people interested in politics and engagement with their Representatives.

However, if they become yet another "robo call" interrupting people at dinner, then these could further alienate voters from engagement in the political space.

What do you think?

The National Political DNC Registry gets on Facebook and Gather!

Citizens for Civil Discourse, the non partisan non profit, and home of the National Political Do Not Contact Registry recently created groups on two of the fastest growing websites in the country!

• Facebook
• Gather

To join CCD's Facebook group you will need to either be or become a member of Facebook (free) and search for "Citizens for Civil Discourse".   Once you see it listed (the first one) simply "add to friends" and you'll be part of the group!

To join CCD's Gather group you will need to either be and become a member of Gather (free) and enter in:

http://stoprobocalls.gather.com/

You can then join the group.

What are these websites?

These are "social networking" or Web 2.0 websites where people of all ages, backgrounds and locations can get together online to discuss issues and make friends.

What is Facebook?

Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

Anyone can join Facebook

All that's needed to join Facebook is a valid email address. To connect with coworkers or classmates, use your school or work email address to register. Once you register, join a regional network to connect with the people in your area.

Discover the people around you

Facebook is made up of many networks, each based around a company, region, or school. Join the networks that reflect your real-life communities to learn more about the people who work, live, or study around you.

What is Gather?

A Message from the CEO

Do you remember that thing the other day that really caught your attention? You heard it on the radio on your drive home, or perhaps at a dinner party last weekend. It made your heart beat in excitement or made your blood boil. You were distracted by it all night long, and kept coming back to it the next day. Maybe it was a lyric in a song, just one phrase that connected. Perhaps it was a sound bite from your congressman, or a court ruling that affects you, your family, your church, or your friends. Whatever it was, it touched you. It clicked with you. It mattered.

Well, it mattered to a lot of other people, too. And you can meet them on Gather. Gather is a place where you can share the things that are important to you with the people who are important to you, too. You can connect around a Supreme Court nominee, an Umbrian chicken recipe, a new album by Aimee Mann, or your child's soccer game. You can share your thoughts with the entire world, or exchange ideas, photography, audio (even podcasts), or video with just your friends, your family, or your work colleagues. You can connect with your book club, your PTA, your management team, or your committee to elect a new great leader in town on Gather. We will give you a place where your group can share information with one another or with the world.