Web Dialogue Participant Quotes

• Sometimes people simply have to experience Web Dialogues in order to appreciate their power and potential. –Mike Ricketts, Chief Consultant, California Assembly Education Committee
• Web Dialogue is an exciting and potentially valuable extension of the democratic process. It permits policymakers to bridge geographical gaps between citizens and the legislature in the development of policy. Charles Ratliff, Executive Director, California Education Master Plan Alliance
• Legislators want to keep up on what's happening throughout the country. Web dialogues are an option that gives access to the information and people without the investment of time or money." Bruce D. Hamlett, Chief Consultant, California Assembly Higher Education Committee
• It was great to read other peoples comments and a definite bonus to bring back some of these ideas and stories to my state policymakers and fellow board members.
• A useful experience and tool for policy makers… the cutting edge of democracy.
• Dialogues can be a means of equal access to elected officials and policy makers…
• The nice thing about this is that the more time you take with it, the better it becomes.
• I was interested in other people's experience and suggestions. I got some good ideas from all the responses. –Panelist
• I found this a very helpful way to practice civic responsibility.
• …easy to fit in to work schedules, kids and errands....very user friendly, and very. informative. … couldn't resist checking back in to see what else was said…
• Thank you very much for this opportunity to participate in our democratic process.
• People were able to share ideas and to hear other's opinions and facts we would not normally be exposed to without a great deal of research… a great idea.
• It was good to hear the thoughts, idea, and philosophies of a diverse group of respondents. –Panelist
• It was helpful to me to see the different points of view represented, and to gain a better understanding of those that differ from mine.
• It felt, and read, like a real conversation between individuals who care about the topic and bring professional knowledge and experience that legislators cannot have.
• Even in the more confrontational exchanges with individuals with whom I have huge political disagreements, the outcomes generally tended to elucidate some new lines of thinking and options that may help.
• The most important thing I received from this was the opportunity to view ideas from people who agreed on the main issue but were able to comment how the same policies/issues affect each of them or the entities they represent.