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!!!2013%National%Dialogue%Network:%
%
”Where’s%the%Consensus?”%
Viewspaper®%Report%
Summary!of!Opinionnaire®%Survey!findings!to!a!2013!national!conversation!exploring:!Poverty(&(Wealth(in(America!%
2013%NDN%Viewspaper%Volunteers:!John!Spady!([email protected]),!John!Perkins,!Galen!Radtke!2013%NDN%Working%Group%Members:!John!Spady,!Mary!Dumas,!Colin!Gallagher,!Ben!Roberts,!Craig!Paterson,!Roshan!Bliss,!Vanessa!Roebuck,!John!Perkins,!Dyck!Dewid,!Fedor!Ovchinnikov,!Mark!Frischmuth,!and!Michael!Briand!2013%NDN%Advisory%Group%Members:!Linda!Blong,!Stephen!Buckley,!Daniel!Clark,!Lisa!Heft,!Peggy!Holman,!Don!LaCombe,!Stephanie!Nestlerode,!Steve!Strachan,!Sarah!Thomson,!Faith!Trimble,!and!Rosa!Zubizarreta.!!Viewspaper%Design:!Sigurd!Gustafsson!%
Date:%December!2013!
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!2!
1. I’m%too%busy%to%read%all%this%–%what’s%the%bottom%line?%%
1.1
What'is'the'National'Dialogue'Network'The!National!Dialogue!Network!(NDN)!envisions%a%distributed%system%of%loosely%coordinated%
but%collaborative%organizations%and%individuals!that!can!be!used!to!collect!the!opinions!and!values!of!millions!of!people!in!local!scale!conversations!about!important!national!issues!using%any%preferred%methodology%but%which%includes%a%common%survey!element!to!link!all!participant!opinions!and!values.!
The!NDN!is!a!nonpartisan,!voluntary!working!group!of!practitioners,!educators,!and!researchers!in!the!fields!of!public!engagement,!governance,!creative!leadership,!civic!renewal,!dialogue,!deliberation,!and!participatory!decision_making!in!public!issues.!We’re!modeling!a!voluntary!civic!infrastructure!(drawn!from!nearly!50!years!of!practical!models!at!city,!county,!and!statewide!scales!in!Washington!State:!www.bit.ly/NCDD2012_AD)!that!connects!conversations!across!the!U.S.!among!folks!who!wish!to!examine!many!difficult!and!complex!community!issues!with!others!who!see!the!situation!or!challenges!from!differing!perspectives,!disciplines,!or!ideologies.!The!NDN!was!kickstarted!with!a!2012!Catalyst!Award!grant!from!the!National!Coalition!for!Dialogue!and!Deliberation!(NCDD):!www.ncdd.org/10940.!
1.2
Poverty'&'Wealth'in'America:'Participant'Highlights'How!this!topic!was!selected!is!reported!here:!www.ncdd.org/11527.!This!report!presents!all!
participant!responses!to!a!specialized!survey!from!September!21!through!November!23,!2013!(and!still!available!online:!www.is.gd/2013NDNWebSurvey.)!Over!seven!hundered!visitors!came!to!the!NDN!2013!conversation’s!“virtual!front!door”!at!www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!with!free!access!to!the!common!Poverty(&(Wealth(Conversation(Kit!(www.bit.ly/1iRhhCv).!One!in!seven!visitors!(105),!completed!the!entire!process!and!answered!an!Opinionnaire®!Survey!at!an!in_person!forum!or!online.!(An/additional/45/responses/were/contributed/in/late/March/and/early/April,/2014,/but/they/are/not/included/in/this/analysis/of/the/original/105/responses.((
Our!inaugural!process!focused!on!three!topics!regarding!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America,!outlined!as!conversation!starters!in!the!2013!NDN!Conversation!Kit:!
1. What'Should'Be'The'Purpose'of'Wealth?'2.
Conversations'About'Economic'Inequality'and'Opportunity'3.
What'Should'Our'Society'Aspire'to'For'Our'Future'Generations?'
This!report!summarizes!the!results!of!the!national!survey!component!completed!by!the!105!self_selected!individuals!who!fully!engaged!in!the!process.!Information!in!these!analyses!include:!!
PCORating™:!A%proprietary%calculation%of%the%Forum%Foundation%(and%used%with%permission)%that%neatly%relates%both%the%majority%and%minority%responses%to%a%survey%question%or%statement.!It!provides!a!solid!mathmatical!representation!of!the!amount!of!consensus!of!opinions!in!broad!(or!increasingly!specific)!demographic!categories!in!any!official!Opinionnaire®!Survey.!
Response%Demographics:!Specialized!crosstab!of!demographic!categories!that!show!interesting!differences!and!similarities!(primarily!geographic!region!by!political!self!identification!—!see!page!24.)!
Response%Comment%Samples:!All%questions%included%options%to:%abstain,%object%to%the%wording%of%the%question,%and%provide%open%narrative%comments.!Representative!comments!from!participants!for!each!survey!response!are!provided.!!
!
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!3!
Table%of%Contents%
1.'
I’m!too!busy!to!read!all!this!–!what’s!the!bottom!line?!..................................................!2'
1.1'
What'is'the'National'Dialogue'Network'............................................................................'2'
1.2'
Poverty'&'Wealth'in'America:'Participant'Highlights'........................................................'2'
2.'
Process!Methodology!..................................................................................................!6'
3.'
About!the!National!Dialogue!Network!.........................................................................!6'
4.'
What!is!a!PC_Rating™?!................................................................................................!8'
5.'
Survey!Questions!–!Consensus!Summary!.....................................................................!9'
6.'
Observations!on!2013!Discussion!Topics!&!Survey!Responses!....................................!10'
6.1'
What'Should'Be'the'Purpose'of'Wealth?'........................................................................'10'
6.1.1'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"Those'with'wealth'bear'a'social'obligation'to'society.”'(TR4)'.................................'10'
6.1.2'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"A'society’s'abundance'of'resources'should'be'invested'toward'the'creative'and'
adaptive'support'of'that'society’s'wellRbeing'and'sustainability.”'(TR1)'.....................................'11'
6.1.3'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"It'is'an'individual’s'responsibility'to'direct'and'balance'private'accumulation'and'
allocation'of'resources'toward'the'common'good.”'(TR3)'..........................................................'12'
6.1.4'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"There'is'a'lot'of'trial'and'error'with'innovation'and'progress...'so'there’s'risk'
involved.'And'where'there’s'risk,'there'needs'to'be'a'potential'for'adequate'and'appropriate'
return'on'that'investment.”'(TR2)'...............................................................................................'13'
6.2'
Conversations'About'Economic'Inequality'and'Opportunity'...........................................'14'
6.2.1'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"Although'America'is'a'‘land'of'opportunity’'in'principle,'it'fails'to'live'up'to'this'
promise'in'practice.”'(TR11)'.........................................................................................................'14'
6.2.2'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"Large'differences'in'income'are'necessary'for'America’s'prosperity.”'(TR10)'........'15'
6.2.3'
Given'that'education'is'necessary'to'rise'from'poverty,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'
disagree'with'the'statement,'“It'should'be'the'paramount'duty'of'a'state'to'make'ample'
provision'for'the'education'of'all'children'residing'within'its'borders'without'distinction'or'
preference'on'account'of'race,'color,'caste,'or'sex.”'(TR12)'.......................................................'16'
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!4!
6.2.4'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"It'is'essential'that'local,'state,'and'federal'governments'balance'the'needs'of'
humanity'with'the'practices'of'corporations.”'(TR9)'...................................................................'17'
6.2.5'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"Only'consumers'can'increase'opportunity'for'all'people'by'using'the'power'of'the'
market'to'hold'corporations'accountable.”'(TR7)'.......................................................................'18'
6.2.6'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"In'the'United'States,'a'free'country,'people'already'have'all'the'opportunities'they'
need.'Opportunity'is'being'limited'by'encroachment'on'those'freedoms.”'(TR6)'......................'19'
6.2.7'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'"Only'a'wellRregulated'economy'can'provide'opportunity'for'all.”'(TR8)'.................'20'
6.3'
What'Should'Our'Society'Aspire'to'For'Our'Future'Generations?'....................................'21'
6.3.1'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'“I'aspire'to'a'future'in'which'all'citizens'have'equal'opportunity'for'economic'
prosperity.”'(TR15)'.......................................................................................................................'21'
6.3.2'
GENERALLY'SPEAKING,'how'strongly'would'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'idea'that'
society'should'encourage'“familyRsupportive”'policies'just'as'it'might'“businessRsupportive”'
policies?'(TR16)'............................................................................................................................'22'
6.3.3'
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'“Unregulated'markets'and'private'and'corporate'businesses'offer'the'best'
guarantees'for'all'citizens'to'realize'their'‘American'Dream’.”'(TR14)'........................................'23'
6.3.4'
'TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'
statement,'“Regulations'and/or'laws'should'be'passed'(whether'locally'or'nationally)'because'
political'solutions'offer'the'best'guarantees'for'all'citizens'to'realize'their'‘American'Dream’.”'
(TR13)'
'........................................................................................................................................'24'
6.4'
2013'NDN'Participant'Reflections'...................................................................................'25'
6.4.1'
"Overall,'I'believe'that'the'National'Dialogue'Network'is'on'the'right'track."'(PR4)'......'25'
6.5'
Demographic'Tallies'.......................................................................................................'26'
6.5.1'
Do'you'live'inside'or'outside'a'formal'incorporated'city,'town,'or'village?'...................'26'
6.5.2'
Do'you'consider'yourself'to'be'a'religious'and/or'a'spiritual'person?'...........................'26'
6.5.3'
What'is'the'gender'identify'you'most'closely'identify'with?'.........................................'26'
6.5.4'
What'is'your'age'range?'.................................................................................................'27'
6.5.5'
What'is'the'racial'or'ethnic'heritage'you'you'most'closely'identify'with?'.....................'27'
6.5.6'
Which'empoyment'category'best'reflects'your'current'status?'....................................'28'
6.5.7'
What'is'your'primary'employer'type?'............................................................................'28'
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!5!
6.5.8'
What'is'the'higest'level'of'education'you'have'completed?'..........................................'29'
6.5.9'
What'general'income'range'did'you'report'to'the'Internal'Revenue'Service'(IRS)'in'
2012?'
'........................................................................................................................................'29'
6.5.10'
All'things'being'equal,'when'comparing'your'current'income'and'life'style'to'that'of'
your'parents'when/if'they'were'your'age'now,'would'you'say:'.................................................'30'
6.5.11'
Have'you'received'TANF'(Welfare)'or'public'housing'assistance'from'any'source'
during'2013?'...............................................................................................................................'30'
6.5.12'
Are'you'responsible'for'the'care'of'a'vulnerable'child,'adult'child'with'a'disability,'or'
an'elder'family'member?'............................................................................................................'30'
6.5.13'
Do'you'consider'yourself'to'be'“civically'active”'(e.g.'participated'in'a'public'hearing,'a'
petition,'political'campaign,'volunteer,'etc.)?'............................................................................'31'
6.5.14'
Which'formal'political'party'(represented'in'the'2012'presidental'elections)'do'you'
most'closely'identify'with?'..........................................................................................................'31'
7.'
Appendices!................................................................................................................!32'
7.1'
Observations'from'contributor'Galen'Radtke'.................................................................'32'
7.1.1'
Introduction'....................................................................................................................'32'
7.1.2' Participatory
Resistance'..................................................................................................'32'
7.1.3'
Process'............................................................................................................................'33'
7.1.4'
Findings'..........................................................................................................................'33'
7.1.5'
Conclusion'......................................................................................................................'34'
7.2'
Observations'from'contributor'John'Perkins'...................................................................'34'
!
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!6!
2. Process%Methodology%
This!“Viewspaper®(Report”!highlights!the!consensus!and!differences!of!opinion!and!values!observed!in!the!2013!NDN!Poverty(&(Wealth(in(America(Opinionnaire®!Survey.!Perspectives!are!presented!for!each!of!the!survey!questions!asked!with!additional!detail!on!interesting!demographic!differences.!!The!Opinionnaire®!Survey!utilized!by!the!NDN!is!not!a!scientific!poll!in!the!typical!sense!because!it!invites!the!opinions!of!self_selected!participants!–!anyone!who!wants!to!participate!can!participate.!NDN’s!mission!is!to!bring!people!together!to!talk!about!issues!that!matter!in!their!communities!and!across!our!nation.!We!seek!to!coordinate!dialogue!and!information!exchange!among!the!many!local!conversations!already!taking!place!across!the!U.S.!!!NDN!offered!participants!in!2013!an!opportunity!to!share!their!views!through!both!online!and!in_person!conversation!forums!and!provide!feedback!using!either!online!or!paper!surveys.!All!participants!were!asked!to!complete!the!survey,!but!completion!was!not!mandatory.!And!so,!like!voting!itself,!this!report!accurately!represents!only!the!opinions!and!values!of!the!people!who!participated!fully!and!completely.!
%
3. About%the%National%Dialogue%Network%
NDN!is!not!an!advocacy!organization,!it!does!not!make!policy!recommendations,!and!it!does!not!represent!the!policy!positions!of!our!partner!organizations.!Instead,!insights!gathered!from!dialogue!participants!are!meant!to!foster!increased!public!awareness!and!to!assist!creative!thought_leaders!to!address!the!biggest!challenges!we!face!in!communities!throughout!our!country.!!!At!the!heart!of!the!National!Dialogue!Network!is!an!adaptive!and!collaborative!energy!supported!by!a!2012!Catalyst!Award!grant!from!the!National!Coalition!for!Dialgue!&!Deliberation!(NCDD)!to!strengthen!the!civic!infrastructures!of!national!conversations.!The!inaugural!2013!NDN!process!relied!on!the!actions!of!resonate!individuals!and!volunteers!to!help!as!they!could!to!collaborate!with!other!volunteers!and!their!personal!and!corporate!social!networks!while!using!shared!and!common!resources.!At!its!launch!NDN’s!vision!was:!"to!create!an!adaptive!and!collaborative!infrastructure!that!enables!any!participant!to!learn!about,!and!respond!to,!selected!national!issues."!The!following!principles!guided!development!of!the!2013!Conversation!and!Opinionnaire®!Survey.!!Support(existing(civic(infrastructre((community(conversation(organizations(and(volunteers)(with(common(conversation(tools(for(a(national(conversation.(
•
The'NDN'is'responsible'for'developing'a'"core'materials'kit"'on'an'issue'of'national'interest'with'basic'resources'for'engaging'participants.'.''
•
This'"basic'set'of'core'materials"'does'not'attempt'to'convey'all'aspects'of'the'issue'selected'by'citizen'participants.'instead'it'serves'as'a'starting'place'for'the'conversation.'Key'terms,'topics'of'
interest,'and'national'statistics'on'current'conditions'to'get'people'thinking,'talking,'and'
listening'to'insights'and'personal'opinions'of'others,'as'well'as'sharing'their'own.''
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!7!
•
The'core'materials'includes'a'national'scope'survey'to'analyze'and'better'appreciate'local,'regional,'and'national'degrees'of'consensus'or'disagreement'arising'from'participants’'review'
and'interaction'with'the'core'materials.'
!Be(adaptive(to(a(variety(of(conversation(forums,(from(dialogue,(to(deliberation(and(decisionKmaking.((
•
The'basic'set'of'core'materials'can'be'privately'extended'by'local'conversation'hosts,'as'long'as'it'continues'to'be'referenced'or'incorporated'into'new'materials,'and'final'materials'include'the'
core'survey'for'all'participants'to'offer'input.'
•
NDN'offers'participants'an'opportunity'to'share'their'views'on'important'topics'through'both'online'and'inRperson'forums,'encouraging'all'to'voice'their'opinions'The'core'survey'can'be'
extended'to'include'additional'questions,'allowing'local'conversation'collaborators'to'gather'
additional'insights'and'opinions'from'participants'on'the'topics'discussed'and'conversation'
process'used.'This'“child'survey”'or'extension'can'be'easily'incorporated'into'additional'
conversation'materials.''
!NDN(tools(and(processes(will(rely(on(a(citizenKdriven(input(using(transparent,(accessible(processes.((
•
The'NDN'tapped'the'interests'and'efforts'of'a'selfRselected'and'voluntary'“Working'Group”'of'practitioners,'educators,'and'researchers'in'the'fields'of'public'engagement,'governance,'
creative'leadership,'civic'renewal,'dialogue,'deliberation,'and'participatory'decisionRmaking'in'
public'issues.'We’re'building'a'voluntary'civic'infrastructure'that'connects'conversations'across'
the'U.S.'among'folks'who'wish'to'examine'difficult'and'complex'community'issues'with'others'
who'see'the'situation'or'challenges'from'differing'perspectives,'disciplines,'or'ideologies.''
•
The'free,'public'access,'webRbased'platform'supports'participation'in'a'wide'range'of'faceRtoRface,'phone'conference,'online,'and'live'forums'in'each'stage'of'preparing'for'and'conducting'
one'or'more'nationalRscale'conversations'(from'topic'selection'to'issue'naming,'framing,'kit'
development,'survey'analysis'and'documentation.'
!NDN(tools(and(processes(will(be(accessible(to(a(broad(mix(of(civic(and(public(forums,(spanning(political(perspectives(and(values.((
•
As'a'national'public'engagement'platform,'NDN’s'mission'is'to'bring'people'together'to'talk'about'issues.'We'present'different'perspectives'on'topics,'inform'citizens,'and'encourage'open'
dialogue'for'the'purpose'of'discovering'where'we'agree'on'possible'solutions.''
•
NDN'is'not'an'advocacy'organization'and'does'not'make'policy'recommendations'or'represent'the'policy'positions'of'our'partner'organizations.'It'is'our'hope'and'goal'that'insights'gathered'
from'dialogue'participants'are'useful'to'policymakers'in'creating'a'more'solutionsRbased'
approach'to'the'biggest'challenges'we'face'in'our'communities.'
!The!National!Dialogue!Network!was!first!made!possible!by!a!2012!NCDD!Catalyst!Award!grant:!www.ncdd.org/10940!—!Future!rounds!are!possible!with!additional!modest!financial!support.!!Use!@NatDialogue!to!follow!us!on!Twitter!and!/NatDialogue!on!Facebook.!
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!8!
4. What%is%a%PCORating™?%
The!proprietary!“Polarization_Consensus!Rating”!(PC_Rating™)!uses!two!percentages!to!show!degrees!of!participation!and!accord!within!one!or!more!demographics!along!a!scale!from!0%!to!100%.!The!ratings!themselves!can!be!visualized!as!a!seesaw!with!people!sitting!on!it!or!standing!beside!it.!!The%PCORating™%neatly%relates%both%the%majority%and%minority%responses%to%a%survey%question%or%
statement.!
A%Polarization%Rating%of%100%%means!that!all!participants!answered!the!question!and!nobody!"abstained"!or!"objected"!(everyone!sits!the!seesaw.)!
!!!A%100%%Consensus%Rating%
means,!“all!responses!favor!the!original!sense!of!the!question”!(they!are!“in!accord”.)!!!!!!!!
A%Polarization%Rating%of%30%%means!that!3!out!of!10!answered!while!7!out!of!10!abstained!or!objected!(they!stood!away!from!the!seesaw.)!
!
!!A%50%%consensus%rating%means,!“there!is!no!consensus!—!people!were!equally!split”!(no!accord).!!!!Photo!credits:!http://www.themarionchurch.org!/img/p_seesaw_b.jpg!!
!!
A%0%%Consensus%Rating%means,!“all!responses!favor!the!opposite!sense!of!the!question”!!(they!are!still!“in!accord”!but!in!an!opposite!sense).!!
!
Figure%1:%Demonstrates%100%%polarization%(all%are%participating)%
and%consensus/accord%is%stronger%to%the%right.%
Figure%2:%Demonstrates%30%%polarization%(70%%Abstain%or%Object)%%
and%consensus/accord%is%equally%split.%
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!9!
the!PC_Rating™!BLUE!Cloud=!general!consensus!in!agreement!(60_100%)!
!
WHITE!Cloud=!general!consensus!is!neutral!(41_59%)!!
GREY!Cloud!=!general!consensus!in!opposition!(0_40%)!
5. Survey%Questions%–%Consensus%Summary%
The!survey!focused!on!three!topics!regarding!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America,!outlined!as!conversation!starters!in!the!2013!NDN!Conversation!(www.bit.ly/1iRhhCv).:!
1. What'Should'Be'The'Purpose'of'Wealth?'2.
Conversations'About'Economic'Inequality'and'Opportunity'3.
What'Should'Our'Society'Aspire'to'For'Our'Future'Generations?'
This!report!summarizes!the!results!of!the!national!survey!completed!by!105!conversation!participants.!Information!included!in!these!snapshots!include:!!!Survey%Question:!The!survey!question!and!#!is!presented!for!each!of!the!topics!#1_3!above.!!PCORating™:!This!ranking!provides!a!general!sense!of!the!consensus!of!opinions!in!participant!responses!regarding!the!statement!provided.!Survey!questions!are!presented!in!descending!order!with!the!highest%levels%of%consensus%at!the!top,!see!key!below!on!classifications!of!PC_Rating™!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Response%Demographics:!Value!percentages!for!the!question!are!provided!numerically!and!graphically,!and!additional!demographic!details!!Response%Comment%Samples:!All!questions!included!options!to:!abstain,!object!to!the!wording!of!the!question,!and!provide!open!narrative!comments.!Representative!comments!from!participants!for!each!survey!response!are!given!below.!!!
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!10!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 94% had 86 Consensus
6.
Observations%on%2013%Discussion%Topics%&%Survey%Responses%
6.1 What'Should'Be'the'Purpose'of'Wealth?'
6.1.1
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"Those'with'wealth'bear'a'social'obligation'to'society.”'(T\4)''
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!!
“I translate as: Those with power-based wealth bear stewardship
responsibilities to our planet.” ! “Personal moral opinion, not
legal/political - cannot mandate charity without strong
democratic
consensus.” ! “Everyone bears a ‘social obligation’ to the
government which has a ‘social obligation’ to the
society.” ! “And those without wealth too.” ! “Everyone should
give freely as God and their heart directs them—not as an
obligation.”
!! !
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!11!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 90% had 96 Consensus
6.1.2
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"A'society’s'abundance'of'resources'should'be'invested'toward'the'creative'and'adaptive'support'of'that'society’s'well\being'and'sustainability.”'(T\1)'
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!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “I believe in
mindful consumption and that abundant resources should also be
conserved. Those
that are consumed should most definitely go towards society's
well being and sustainability. Sustainability also requires
conservation.”
! “This question assumes its conclusion—that ‘society’ owns
wealth and should therefore decide how to ‘invest’ it through
government taxing and spending.”
! “Abundance is the key word for me—then again getting a
consensus on defining ‘abundance’ might be tough.”
! “Provided there is a component of social justice, I can agree
with the statement.” !!!% %
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!12!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 88% had 81 Consensus
6.1.3
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"It'is'an'individual’s'responsibility'to'direct'and'balance'private'accumulation'and'allocation'of'resources'toward'the'common'good.”'(T\3)'
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “I
feel I need to use my personal resources for the common good, and
society should direct some
resources, but persons should have the right to decide for
themselves how they will behave as individuals.”
! “Government has a role to play in helping to establish this
balance, through tax policy. However, the role of government in
that regard MUST be Constitutionally limited. Otherwise politicians
will inevitably drive the economy into decline.”
! “An individual should promote and develop the ‘common good’
but not necessarily through his accumulated wealth. (Efforts would
be better)”
! “It's good karma. And individuals are always and eventually
affected by the common good or lack thereof.”
! “It it an individuals responsibility to develop the ability to
collaborate with other individuals and create a shared vision for
the use of accumulated resources.”
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!13!
6.1.4
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"There'is'a'lot'of'trial'and'error'with'innovation'and'progress...'so'there’s'risk'involved.'And'where'there’s'risk,'there'needs'to'be'a'potential'for'adequate'and'appropriate'return'on'that'investment.”'(T\2)'
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!!
“The problem is bigness. Big government in particular imposes
excessive risk upon taxpayers.
Trial and error should occur on relatively small scale, to
minimize risk.” ! “Where 'return on investment' of course includes
social good, ecological, and economic and
community good.” ! “In a product based setting I would agree,
but fixation on ROI in regards to the process of evolving
community and society is a barrier. This is because the afore
said functions best when it is an ends within itself. Treating this
process as a means to an ends will ultimately corrupt the process
because the underlying agendas cased by ROI thinking will create
separation.”
! “Risk is not only borne by the investor, but also by the
community as a whole and the employees of the venture, so return on
investment should also be adequately spread among those who take
the risk also. Excessive return on investment should be
curbed.”
! “Not all risks are socially beneficial. Plus, who defines
adequate and appropriate? If someone collects more than that, what
then?”
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Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 86% had 90 Consensus
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!14!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 94% had 79 Consensus
6.2 Conversations'About'Economic'Inequality'and'Opportunity'
6.2.1
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"Although'America'is'a'‘land'of'opportunity’'in'principle,'it'fails'to'live'up'to'this'promise'in'practice.”'(T\11)''
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!!!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “You can be
anything you want to be in this country. With hard work any one can
be successful.” ! “Again, the relevance of privilege must be
understood.” ! “It fails in some respects, but on the whole,
America lives up to the promise of being the ‘land of
opportunity’.” ! “I believe in personal responsibility. There is
opportunity for many that choose not to exercise the
opportunity. I also believe there is much opportunity repressed
by ignorance.” ! “Maybe I am more patriotic than I think. Something
about this question rubs me the wrong way. I
think this is still a pretty great country, and many citizens
and immigrants are able to achieve their goals.”
! “Being human (and the ‘United States of America’ being a human
created system of governance) we will all fail in practice. But
‘the principle’ is still very important and an ideal to recognize
and aspire to. It allows us to judge ourselves and recommit
ourselves individually to the restoration of ‘the principles’ in
our lives. Perhaps overly idealistic... but ideals are like
lighthouses and just as necessary.”%
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!15!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 94% had 9 Consensus
6.2.2
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"Large'differences'in'income'are'necessary'for'America’s'prosperity.”'(T\10)''
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!!!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “Transpose
please: "Small differences in income are necessary for human
prosperity.” ! “I don't want to agree with this, but observation
suggests that some concentration of resources is
necessary for complex economies to work.” ! “Large yes...
obscene no...” ! “Large differences in income create large
disparities in opportunity. It is a myth that people will not
produce if they cannot make exorbitant amounts of money.” ! “I
objected to this question because I have no idea what ‘large’
differences in income are.
Assuming ‘large’ differences is a reference to the current
distribution of income, I do think there will always be some
low-income people. However, I also believe that we can dramatically
reduce their relative percentage of the population by dramatically
improving educational opportunities in urban areas through school
choice and competition. Raising taxes beyond 50% on job creating
innovators will flatten the distribution of income, but it will
also reduce growth and job creation, negatively impacting America's
prosperity.”
! “Nothing has trickled down to me.”'
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!16!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 90% had 98 Consensus
6.2.3
Given'that'education'is'necessary'to'rise'from'poverty,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'statement,'“It'should'be'the'paramount'duty'of'a'state'to'make'ample'provision'for'the'education'of'all'children'residing'within'its'borders'without'distinction'or'preference'on'account'of'race,'color,'caste,'or'sex.”'(T\12)''
[Editor’s!note:!This!statement!was!drawn!from!the!current!Washington!State!Constitution!but!substituted!“should!be!the!paramount!duty!of!a!state”!instead!of!“is!the!paramount!duty!of!the!state”!as!now!exists!in!the!preamble!of!Article!9!of!the!state!constitution.!Ref:!http://is.gd/2013NDNRefT12!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “The question
is constructed to suggest that the key distinctions/issues are
race, color, caste, or
sex. However, the question also slips in ‘all children residing
within its borders,’ which is controversial now due to concern
about immigration. As a consequence, it will be impossible to
interpret the answers. Did the respondent agree or disagree on the
basis of race, color, caste, or sex? Did the respondent agree or
disagree on the basis of citizenship? Can you argue that all those
who answered in agreement also agree that non-citizens should be
educated or did they just skip over that?”
! “But education won't do jack if racism continues to dominate
our criminal justice system, and other components of our
society.”
! “It is the Parents responsibility—not the State.”'
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!17!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 89% had 80 Consensus
6.2.4
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"It'is'essential'that'local,'state,'and'federal'governments'balance'the'needs'of'humanity'with'the'practices'of'corporations.”'(T\9)''
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!!!!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “It is not the
responsibility of corporations to bear the burden of taking care of
people. People
need to care for themselves and if they do not they should live
with the result.” ! “Corporations should serve the needs of
humanity. There should be no balancing between the
corporations wealth for money and the needs of the general
populace.” ! “This question pits people against corporations. Such
a dichotomy is not required. The purpose
should be meeting the needs of humanity. Part of this involves
creating ways of organizing human effort and resources, like
corporations.”
! “I objected to this question because it assumes it own
conclusion. Obviously, the ‘needs of humanity’ outweigh everything
else—especially the ‘practices of corporations’ (whatever that
is).”
! “I think that you'd get strong democratic consensus on this
one, at least after deliberation.” % %
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!18!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 89% had 29 Consensus
6.2.5
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"Only'consumers'can'increase'opportunity'for'all'people'by'using'the'power'of'the'market'to'hold'corporations'accountable.”'(T\7)''
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!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents: ! “Entrepreneurs can
create new opportunities that consumers may not have envisioned.
However,
yes, consumers, acting together through social media, can foster
corporate accountability far better than government
bureaucrats.”
! “Government and corporations themselves have the
responsibility to increase opportunities for the general
population.”
! “Corporations also have responsibility to self-govern and
self-limit, setting minimum standards for giving back to the
community and maximum salary levels for executives.”
! “The word ‘only’ is a problem for me. I think consumers have a
role, but its not only the consumer that can increase
opportunity.”
! “There are many ways to increase opportunity for all people
and to hold corporations accountable. If the word ‘only’ was
removed, I would have strongly agreed with the statement instead of
strongly disagreed.”
! “This is not the only or best way to hold corporations
accountable. Government regulation in the public interest is a
better way.”''
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!19!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 88% had 26 Consensus
6.2.6
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"In'the'United'States,'a'free'country,'people'already'have'all'the'opportunities'they'need.'Opportunity'is'being'limited'by'encroachment'on'those'freedoms.”'(T\6)''
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!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “We don't, for example,
have equal educational opportunity across this country. Even within
my
geographical area, the disparity between public schools is
significant. Even so, opportunity is limited by eroding freedoms
such as voting rights and the right to be represented by your
elected representatives.”
! “Inequality of opportunity, lack of social safety nets, and
unfair distribution of wealth upward contribute to lack of freedom
to succeed for most people.”
! “Opportunities abound if you are a minority or a woman.
However white men are left out of opportunity. They are the ones
who have to work extra hard if they want to succeed.”
! “I feel that we don't have all the opportunities that we need,
because of either unlawful regulation or oppressive governments
(and individuals...) but I do agree that opportunity is being
limited by encroachment on certain freedoms and rights.”
! “Systemically we reward the promotion and acquisition of
wealth and maintain the barriers of poverty.”'
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!20!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 85% had 60 Consensus
6.2.7
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'"Only'a'well\regulated'economy'can'provide'opportunity'for'all.”'(T\8)''
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Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “I expect that regulations
would be fair and ‘blind’ (like Lady Justice) and not favor any one
part of
society over another. The ‘rule of law’ (aka regulations) should
favor no one but promote all opportunities equally.”
! “A well-designed economy has a bigger potential for giving
freedom and opportunity to everyone rather than just a well
regulated one.”
! “Regulation of markets can prevent abuse, but has little to do
with equalizing opportunity.” % %
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!21!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 90% had 98 Consensus
6.3
What'Should'Our'Society'Aspire'to'For'Our'Future'Generations?'
6.3.1
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'“I'aspire'to'a'future'in'which'all'citizens'have'equal'opportunity'for'economic'prosperity.”'(T\15)''
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!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “This is a slippery
slope, for everyone to have equal opportunity some would have to be
helped
and others hindered.” ! “But when individuals are unable to care
for themselves due to issues beyond their control we as
a people should step forward to care for them for the common
good, but providing the honorable opportunities to contribute to
themselves and the communities I which they live (CCC, WPA).”
! “When everyone HAS equal opportunity, then the only set of
problems we have to deal with are the fundamental reasons why some
people do not thrive.”
! “Why ‘equal’? Why not just ‘opportunities’? Again, the
questions are framed in a way that seems to reproduce the tired old
divided arguments.”
! “I have a problem with the word equal opportunities. It is
unrealistic to believe that everyone will have equal opportunities.
Even communism wasn't able to achieve that.”
! “Where a man is not judged by his color or pocketbook, but
rather by the content of his character.” ! “Within reason - we need
a reliable floor and an approximate ceiling.” ! “Economic
prosperity is the very lowest rung on Maslow's heierarchy of needs.
Equal opportunity
for self actualization (and arguably, transcendence) should be
the goal.”'
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!22!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 90% had 95 Consensus
6.3.2
GENERALLY'SPEAKING,'how'strongly'would'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'idea'that'society'should'encourage'“family\supportive”'policies'just'as'it'might'“business\supportive”'policies?'(T\16)''
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!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “As long as family is
construed broadly.” ! “And ‘commmunty-supportive’.” ! “A step in
this direction might be emphasis on cooperative vocation-supportive
policies.” ! “Business should be supportive of families. How
businesses do that is largely up to them.” ! “It is not the role of
government, which itself is governed by politics, to determine how
families or
businesses should be ‘supported’. Rather, government should
strive to do no needless harm to either families or
businesses.”
! “What does ‘family-supportive’ mean? Is it policies like
maternity leave and child care? Is it anti-abortion policies?”
! “I support family policies that support women's rights,
especially reproductive rights. I don't support male-dominant
family policies.”
! “Who is ‘society’? Federal government or your [neighborhood]
church?” % %
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!23!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 90% had 10 Consensus
6.3.3
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'“Unregulated'markets'and'private'and'corporate'businesses'offer'the'best'guarantees'for'all'citizens'to'realize'their'‘American'Dream’.”'(T\14)''
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Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “What got us into this
mess won't get us out of it.” ! “The Great Recession is example
enough of what happens when regulations are relaxed on certain
kinds of
businesses.” ! “Again - this is too polarizing of a question. We
need some regulations to ensure the business and
corporations are thinking about the whole community, not just
profit. But over regulation is not helpful for anyone.”
! “This divides the question. Unregulated is overbroad. I agree
that private and corporate businesses offer the best guarentee, but
unregulated should be limited regulation.”
! “Proper regulation of business provides the best guarantee of
fairness for businesses and for the general population.”
! “Competitive marketplaces eventually lead to monopolies.
Corporations are institutionalized greed. Expecting Corporations
and unregulated free markets to do anything other than exploit
people for profit is like entrusting a wolf to watch the
sheep.”
! “Again, coupling an approach with the notion of guarantees for
all citizens. My understanding is that advocates of unregulated
markets and businesses do so because they feel it is the best
environment for themselves, not necessarily for all. Thus, they may
agree with deregulation, but not because it guarantees the American
Dream for all.”'
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!24!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 86% had 57 Consensus
6.3.4 '
TAKEN'AS'A'WHOLE,'how'strongly'do'you'agree'or'disagree'with'the'following'statement,'“Regulations'and/or'laws'should'be'passed'(whether'locally'or'nationally)'because'political'solutions'offer'the'best'guarantees'for'all'citizens'to'realize'their'‘American'Dream’.”'(T\13)''
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!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “I don't see any other
way at this time to change our direction. And yet, I have little
confidence in
political solutions. Pretty depressing.” ! “The ‘best
guarantees’ bothers me. A lot of change has to happen in people's
hearts, and that
can't be legislated.” ! “This question is too broad. While I
think it imperative for the government to step in and right
wrongs in some circumstances I wouldn't be interested in
unfettered decision making. It is all about balance and working
cooperatively outside of the government structure to allow
individuals the opportunity to give back.”
! “Congress is a joke. Most State governments survive fiscally
only by attacking our rights. Political solutions in the classic
sense are an utter failure. We must tap the creativity of the
crowd, the innovative capacity of individuals and associations, and
make good use of technology as well, to decentralize the
unfortunate concentration of power and wealth.”'
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!25!
Polarization-Consensus (PC) Rating™: 90% had 95 Consensus
6.4 2013'NDN'Participant'Reflections'
6.4.1
'"Overall,'I'believe'that'the'National'Dialogue'Network'is'on'the'right'track."'(P\4)''
'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Selected!comments!from!respondents:!! “I
don't have enough information to say.” ! “I think the issue you are
addressing is of vital importance, and I think you are making a
sincere effort to
address the issue productively. Whether the process you are
using will prove to be effective is yet to be seen.”
! “I look forward to finding ways that thousands of small group
discussions are connected into national dialog and shared
understanding of issues and potential solutions to problems.”
! “No one [else has put] this topic out there and yet [you]
have. NDN has done it for the betterment of all of our
communities.”
! “I'm impressed that you are coordinating these conversations.
Seriously impressed. And I thank you for giving me this positive
opportunity to participate as well.”
! “Certainly dialogue in general is helpful. If the selection of
who is in the dialog is biased, it risks building righteous
indignation of our collective point of view and closes our minds.
Be careful.”
! “This is a good tool and will only improve in future rounds.”
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”Where’s!the!Consensus?”!Viewspaper®!Report!–!Summary!of!2013!NDN!Opinionnaire®!Survey!on!Poverty!&!Wealth!in!America!
! www.NationalDialogueNetwork.org!!|!page!|!26!
6.5 Demographic'Tallies'
6.5.1
Do'you'live'inside'or'outside'a'formal'incorporated'city,'town,'or'village?'
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6.5.2
Do'you'consider'yourself'to'be'a'religious'and/or'a'spiritual'person?''
'
6.5.3
What'is'the'gender'identify'you'most'closely'identify'with?''
'
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6.5.4 What'is'your'age'range?''
'
6.5.5
What'is'the'racial'or'ethnic'heritage'you'you'most'closely'identify'with?''
'
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6.5.6
Which'empoyment'category'best'reflects'your'current'status?''
'
6.5.7 What'is'your'primary'employer'type?''
'
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6.5.8
What'is'the'higest'level'of'education'you'have'completed?''
'
6.5.9
What'general'income'range'did'you'report'to'the'Internal'Revenue'Service'(IRS)'in'2012?''
'
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6.5.10
All'things'being'equal,'when'comparing'your'current'income'and'life'style'to'that'of'your'parents'when/if'they'were'your'age'now,'would'you'say:''
'
6.5.11
Have'you'received'TANF'(Welfare)'or'public'housing'assistance'from'any'source'during'2013?''
'
6.5.12
Are'you'responsible'for'the'care'of'a'vulnerable'child,'adult'child'with'a'disability,'or'an'elder'family'member?''
'
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6.5.13
Do'you'consider'yourself'to'be'“civically'active”'(e.g.'participated'in'a'public'hearing,'a'petition,'political'campaign,'volunteer,'etc.)?''
'
6.5.14
Which'formal'political'party'(represented'in'the'2012'presidental'elections)'do'you'most'closely'identify'with?''
'!!The!Community%Forums!“Opinionnaire®!Survey”!model!was!designed!by!Dick!Spady!and!his!Forum!Foundation,!a!nonprofit!educational/research!foundation!based!in!Seattle.!Opinionnaire®!and!Viewspaper®!are!registered!trademarks!of!the!Forum!Foundation!and!are!used!with!permission.!!!
! %
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7. Appendices%
7.1 Observations'from'contributor'Galen'Radtke'
7.1.1 Introduction'This brief essay is to discuss a new approach
to understanding societal and social
systems that has been made possible by the NDN’s 2013
Opinionnaire® Survey and its polarization/consensus
measurements.
A system and its emerging factors are ultimately derived from
the actions of is smallest components, in the human landscape, this
means individuals. An example of emerging factors might be
portrayed as; lowering crime rates, trash heaps in the ocean,
social movements, culture, economic crisis, etc.
The actions of individuals are driven by the thoughts and values
that the individuals
hold. An example of values might be; the spirit of giving,
sustainability, individualism, human rights, consumerism, displays
of status, etc. Values are subject to the influence of the system
which creates a world where often values are created, bolstered, or
diminished as a reaction to what is happening in the larger world.
Because systems are so complex and interwoven it is near impossible
to identify what is causing what to happen and many attempts at
influencing them are a “best guess.” Consider the proposition that
we could be more intelligent and informed in this process. To do
this, we would need to develop a link that would show the
relationships between the result of a system and the underlying
values that are causing it to emerge. Also we would need to
identify what values are ideal to create an emerging system that
address or even removes the causes that contribute to the main
issues of our society.
This could give us intelligent control enough to empower us in a
long term sense, because we would have proof of what values we
would need to emphasize in education to increase the likelihood of
our society being successful.
7.1.2 Participatory Resistance' Our first attempt at creating
such a link is a measure called Participatory Resistance.
In Participatory Resistance we are not looking for how the
people in one demographic are responding to one question,
favorability or otherwise. Instead we are forgetting the content of
the questions themselves and looking at the behavior patterns found
within a demographic throughout the survey.
Participatory Resistance measures how likely someone in a
demographic is to not answer questions by either objecting to the
way the question was written or abstaining from casting a vote.
This measure may be indicative of a demographics behavior in realms
beyond this survey.
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7.1.3 Process'The process to obtain a Participatory Resistance
score for one demographic follows…
For only one demographic at a time (i.e.. Rural Residents, 25-34
year olds, different political party affiliations) we take EACH
Polarization score (0% to 100%) from EACH survey question and find
the average of those scores. This process was repeated for many
different demographics gathered by the NDN.
By doing this we can conduct a cross category comparison of
Participatory Resistance with demographics such as; politics,
residential location, employment category, religious status, etc.
By looking at how different demographic groups compare when they
are pooled with demographics from other categories, we can get a
sense of how different demographic groups are generating
Participatory Resistance.
7.1.4 Findings'One can now plot the Participatory Resistance
values for various 2013 NDN
demographics.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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We can see that those holding Republican Party affiliation,
people aged 65-74 years of age, and retired people were most
resistant to answering questions (they “abstained” or “objected”
more often, thus lowering the “Polarization” scale of the
PC-Rating™ in each individual question which contributes to a
higher participatory resistance score). People that did not need to
file with the IRS, people aged 25-34 years, and students had the
least amount of resistance (they tended to “abstain” or “object”
less often, thus raising the “Polarization” scale of the PC-Rating™
in each individual question which contributes to a lower
participatory resistance score.)
7.1.5 Conclusion'This shows that, at least within the scope of
this NDN event, different demographic
groups have different behaviors regarding participation.
We could go farther to invent demographic categories based upon
whether people embrace specific values or cultural memes and then
use this kind of methodology to better understand how these values
affect the behavior of larger groups and even systems.!
7.2 Observations'from'contributor'John'Perkins'These personal
comments will address the importance of a national dialogue on
wealth and poverty, my experience of the people, tools and
organization of the project, and
finish with my personal reflections.
Richard Feynman said in his speech accepting the (1965) Nobel
Prize for Physics,
We have a habit in writing articles published in scientific
journals to make the work as finished as possible, to cover up all
the tracks, to not worry about the blind alleys or describe how you
had the wrong idea first, and so on. So there isn't any place to
publish, in a dignified manner, what you actually did in order to
get to do the work.
Whew! Glad we got the pressure to be dignified out of the
way.
This is because living inside the work of doing the work is
messy. This is not a
criticism of NDN or John Spady, just my words to state the
common experience of getting
work done. As time passes my sense of it may be a lot smoother
than is—or was—the actual
case. One theory holds that it is through the saccadic processes
of our minds that we
experience a sense of motion when watching motion pictures. I
want to look between the
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“stills” of this project from my own experience before my mind
“closes the gaps” with a
smooth and simple story of how much fun it was and what I “took
away.”
The philosopher Richard Rorty reckoned that the best activity is
the search for worthy
conversation partners. Establishing a context where conversation
partners can find one
another and also then be able to hold a conversation is the
spirit of the National Dialogue
Network. The right conversation at the right time changes us,
and from our talks we engage
the world better able to effect shifts in ourselves or our
institutions.
The National Dialogue Network, by name and intent, can be a
means of finding those
worthy partners and having the right conversations. My first
contact with the project was a
call from John Spady in July. He invited me to join the project
as one of his “wranglers” on
the section of the Conversation Kit (www.bit.ly/1iRhhCv) dealing
with the impact of our
actions out to seven generations. He said he wanted at least two
people on each portion, and
at that moment there was only one.
I instantly understood how important it was to have at least two
people from my own
frames of reference. First, with two people you have the minimum
conditions for a
conversation and exchange of ideas. Second, as a consultant who
often works with volunteers
on projects, I know that every job or task needs at least two
people assigned to it, even if it’s
understood one of them will do most of the work.
My partner on this section, Dyck Dewid, and I had several long
phone conversations
and an interesting exchange of email messages. A search upturned
a couple of speeches Dyck
had made at various rallies and I felt we were kindred spirits
after seeing his serious yet
playful public speaking style. From one of our “what if”
conversations we arrived at our
format for our section: we would have a short introduction, then
Dyck would compose a
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letter from our time to the seventh generation (around 2188). I
would respond with a letter
back to our time from 2188.
When thinking about my letter back from the future, I wanted to
offer possibilities
based on small or obscure events that already exist. Just as we
have enjoy many things that
began 150 or so years ago as protests or experiments, by the
same logic we might see the
blooming of similar things we have today.
Beyond regular email and phone calls, the cluster of tools that
made this collaboration
work included:
Speek.com – “Makes simple, free and visual conference calls by
creating an easy-to-
remember personal link (i.e., speek.com/YourName) for calls
rather than using a traditional
phone number and PIN.” Free for up to 5 people on a call.
Hackpad.com – “Hackpad is a simple tool to edit, organize and
share documents.
Hackpad eliminates confusion by clearly indicating who wrote
what, and what changes were
made to a document.” Free if left open to the public.
Trello.com – “Infinitely flexible. Incredibly easy to use. Great
mobile apps. It's free.
Trello keeps track of everything, from the big picture to the
minute details.” Free.
John Spady with Mary Dumas bore the brunt of the work for
getting the Kit in good
shape. They did a tremendous job. At the weekly conference call
I managed to join I could
only marvel at the progressive improvements they pulled off. It
helped me understand the
potential benefits and scope of this project to attend the pilot
Mary conducted in Mt Vernon,
WA. Groups were asked to collect the questions that emerged
during their talks. These are a
valuable resource in themselves, and could be of use for
analysis or in additional
conversations.
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The conversations that Ben Roberts hosted, facilitated, nudged,
and fostered are also
a treasure house of thoughts and suggestions. Another resource
that can benefit from further
analysis that is hosted here: www.bit.ly/NDN-R1-BenRoberts.
John Spady’s leadership style can serve as an example of how to
lead a distributed,
virtual team with fluid membership. He practiced a type of Who’s
Here Rules of Order: if
you made it to the call you could participate in the decision
making. It could be 3 people, or
it could be 5 or 6, didn’t matter. Because of our projected
dates to accomplish certain
milestones, John saw that we could not delay a decision to wait
for “more people” or a
specific person. This is radical as it preserves the idea of the
wisdom of group deliberation
without being shackled by rules for a quorum, membership, and
such.
I was surprised by how little attachment John had to the actual
content. I suspect that
while focusing his attentions to getting the Kit and Survey and
Website launched he
simultaneously relaxed his feelings that any particular text or
web page had to be a certain
way. John didn’t always agree, of course, but with this more
relaxed attitude he conveyed he
really did want to know what each person thought or felt.
For all of this, where am I left on the subject of the
discussion of wealth and poverty
in the United States? Well, it’s much more complex than when
John first invited me to
participate.
Late in the conversation I thought to borrow a thinking tool
from the social
anthropologist Mary Douglas.1 Using a 2 x 2 table with degree of
connectedness for one side
and the distribution of wealth for the other, I can generally
see where in the grid any
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!1!Mary Douglas, ND, A History of Grid
and Group Cultural Theory, accessed on 11/25/13 at
http://projects.chass.utoronto.ca/semiotics/cyber/douglas1.pdf
!
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comment in a discussion falls. Those who have, or aspire to
having, more than a
proportionate share of the wealth make a case for the validity
of having unequal distributions
(Cells A & B). Yeah, they sound persuasive, unless you’re on
the bottom getting skewed. I
believe heeding claims to rank or status or excess is a social
decision, not a fact of nature.
As for Cell D, it seems that in our times we have no consensus
to make our
“commons” a source of social pride and enthusiasm. How else to
make sense of charter
schools that siphon to themselves public funds when the current
schools are underfunded?
How else to understand the failure of legislatures to keep parks
open and adequately funded
without the gimmick of “daily use fees?”
My own goals place my comments in Cell C. I live and work for a
world where we
all are connected and evenly distribute the wealth. Will I see
you there?!
RELATIONSHIP
! ! CONNECTED SEPARATE
DIS
TR
IBU
TIO
N O
F
WE
AL
TH
!
SK
EW
ED
A. Status'&'Rank'
MasterRServant
Social'Classes'contest'whether'their'arrangement'is'
“unavoidable”'vs'“unjust'and'unfair.”'
B. Gated'Communities'
Private'Schools'
Social'Classes'hostile'to'one'
another'and'live'apart.'
EG
AL
ITA
RIA
N C.
Cooperative'Organizations'&'Intentional'Communities'
Consensus'
“Cradle'to'grave”'commitment.''
Deliberate'sharing'of'resources.'
D. Anonymous'sharing'
Public'parks'
Public'Libraries'
Social'classes'may'appear'
side'by'side'in'public'but''
seldom'actively'interact.'
!