User:Cameo~enwikinews/Eli Pariser
Setting down ground rules[edit]
Let him know I am an Independant author/researcher
Story about evolution of his priorities in light of evolving public concerns
Ask if it is ok that every aspect of this story will be "on the record" and will be published in the public domain.
Ask if it is ok to audio record and broadcast this story on WBCR Berkshire Community Radio and Wikiaudio
Conversational openers[edit]
"I really appreciate the way you are raising awareness about the Bush administration's proposed $82 billion dollar budget for 2005 to maintain the US presence in Iraq, especially your efforts to create awareness for Americans that our government leaders have no timeline for exiting Iraq, nor any rigorous guidelines on the building of only temporary buildings and military structures."
"But, I'm going to ask you the most difficult questions I can. I want to give a neutral approach to your personal record on Iraq policy as the executive director of MoveOn PAC, because I personally care about the issue so much.
Info links[edit]
Questions[edit]
Eli's Stance on "Corporate Rights"[edit]
In 2000, Chomsky gave a speech where he challenged "trade rights" and stated that, "trade has no value itself," and also said that trade only has, "value if it increases human welfare." In your thesis, The Argument from Silence, completed in the same year, you ended with the statement that corporations are able to destroy communities and economies, pollute the environment, and kill people without legal sanction. And then you stated that corporations, "cannot, cannot be stopped" and that the Supreme Court case of Santa Clara must be revisited. Do you still hold this view?
Political Kuhnian paradigm shifts in the last 5 years[edit]
Also in your 2000 thesis, you discussed "kuhnian paradigm shifts of political prioritisation." What have been the major paradigm shifts within politics in the last 5 years since you have been executive director of Moveon PAC, and do you believe that since the election, there has been a priority shift within Moveon from forign policy to national politics?
The Victimisation of Moveon[edit]
During the last election, Colorado Secretary of State responded to complaints from Colorado Republicans that Moveon workers were involved in allegedly improper activities. You denied these allegations as "scurrilous" and "false" to ABC News and stated that these allegations could be an attempt to victimise Moveon in the future. In retrospect, did the Colorado Secretary of State's response to remind all counties of the state law barring any election-related activity within 100 feet of any voting location victimise Moveon's goals or activities? [1]
Abandonment of Iraq[edit]
Two months ago the Berkeley Beacon noted that although no formal poll had been taken in a year, Moveon has not chosen the withdrawal of troops in Iraq as a major issue. You were quoted in this article as saying that this was because Moveon members were largely divided on when to leave Iraq, although 83% of Iraqis are opposed to the US occupation. [2]
However, just two years ago, you stated that more than 90% of your membership has grown, "solely through our work on Iraq." [3]
Why did such a change occur? Would you say that this is a paradigm shift of society or an ideological shift for Moveon?
Misinformation[edit]
Last year, Moveon solicited ads from the public to criticise the president, and then chose two that compared Bush to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. David Keating, the executive director of the Club for Growth went on record saying that the contest was another attempt by Moveon.org to misinform the public, and that "Moveon has already been branded ... as running misleading ads about Social Security, so I wouldn't trust anything that they put up on the issue as being accurate or fair." In addition to the recent disputes regarding the factual accuracy of Moveon statements by Factcheck.org, are future plans for advertising or information dissemination going to reflect a new methodology?
In closing[edit]
Is there anything that he would like to add?