Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 07:54:27 -0400
From: Rachel Hazlett
Subject: Support for open discourse on the Chatlist
I’ve found the Chatlist to be a wonderful platform for true public discourse. The Chatlist serves as a great tool for accessible news and connection at a time when we often feel disconnected from our media, our government, and our community.
I encourage those who engage in heated political discussions to continue. The facts and opinions expressed by citizens and politicians are vital to the health of democracy. The fact-checking by fellow members is also vital to the health of democracy. This open dialogue is not a common medium for exchange between citizens and politicians, I hope to see it continue, particularly through the election season.
Also, if a member’s email addresses were being “harvested”, they should use the Chatlist to announce that. I have never received any personal emails from anyone off the Chatlist. If this is truly an issue, it could be dealt with openly through the forum of the Chatlist, rather than passively alluded to.