How Does The League Select Issues for Emphasis?
In League, Program means the issues that we choose for concerted study, education and action at local, state and national levels. Program can include both education and action.
The Program Planning process is part of what makes the League a grassroots organization; each League member has the opportunity to influence the selection of issues where the local, state, and national League will focus time, talent and money.
Every two years, members of local Leagues engage in Program Planning. Based on the results of this, the Board of Directors makes recommendations to the biennial convention delegates about the program to be adopted for the coming two year period.
Current Local Issues
League of Women Voters, Cooperstown Area
Reducing Political Polarization Project
League Embarks on Reducing Polarization Project
Can we reduce polarization? Our League wants to give it a try. At our annual meeting in April, this topic was a major concern among members and it was selected as the number one priority for additional local League programming.
The objective of the reducing polarization project is twofold: 1) to educate participants about the history, nature, and consequences of political polarization, and 2) to help participants engage in activities that will help reduce political polarization on local, state, and national levels. Learn more about the project.
The project will begin with a book discussion of Ezra Klein’s Why We’re Polarized. (The book is available at the Village Library of Cooperstown.) After reading the book, the group will participate in two or three conversations based on Klein’s book. Reading and conversation will continue on a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly basis, as decided upon by the group. Based on the needs and energy of participants, we plan to continue through the 2024 presidential election.
After the reading and discussions, participants will be encouraged to engage in events, activities or research either organized by the League or sponsored by other organizations to reduce polarization.
The first conversation was held in mid-September. The group decided to meet again after the midterm election. You can attend the November discussion even if you missed the first session. I’ll also keep open the option of meeting via Zoom in case of bad weather.
We decided to frame the November 15 (6 pm at the Clark Sports Center) conversation around the question: “How did a theme/idea/chapter topic from Ezra Klein’s book manifest in a midterm election?” So choose a theme (campaign finance, media coverage, identity, etc), then choose a midterm race (21st or 19th NY Congressional district, NY governor, Ohio Senate, Pennsylvania Senate or governor, Georgia governor, etc.), then observe what happens. This will give us, collectively, a good look at a cross section of American politics, adding real-life insights to Klein’s analysis. Another point: by no means do you have to read the book from cover to cover. If you want, look through the index and choose one theme to read about.
Below are list of resources about political polarization. Several of the books are academic studies. Amy Chua’s book is a very engaging and though provoking read. Thomas Frank is one of my personal favorite writers who critiques the liberal establishment from within. The websites are self-explanatory. Several of them provide opportunities for reducing polarization that you can do right now. There is some interest in watching Michael Smerconish's speech as a group and discussing it. Maybe that’s how we’ll resume the discussion in the new year, perhaps inviting some neighbors/family/friends who might expand the political diversity of the group.
The project is open to all members of the League and their families and friends. If you are interested in participating or have a question, please email Tom at tompullyblank [at] gmail.com. Check out our website for complete information on the readings and possible activities.
Books:
Sustaining Democracy: What We Owe the Other Side by Robert Talisse
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell
Listen Liberal: Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People by Thomas Frank
Websites:
C-SPAN programs, especially Washington Journal (c-span.org)
The BiPartisan Policy Center (bipartisanpolicy.org)
More in Common (moreincommon.org)
Living Room Conversations (livingroomconversations.org)
Braver Angels seminars and forums (braverangels.org)
AllSides seminars and forums (allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news)
Open Secrets: Following the Money in Politics (opensecrets.org)
Unite America (uniteamerica.org)
Daily Caller, especially the Two Sides column (dailycaller.com)
Michael Smerconish, esp. 9/21 speech at the Reagan Memorial Library (Smerconish.com)
The Unconvention--October 7, 2022 (unconvention2022.com)
If you know other resources, please email them to Tom Pullyblank.
Gun Safety
The LWV of the Cooperstown Area and the LWV of the Oneonta Area are currently working to oppose the passage of legislation by the Otsego County Board of Representatives to make Otsego County a "Second Amendment Sanctuary," which would mean that individuals in the county would not be prosecuted for actions that violate New York State's SAFE Act.
Read articles describing our stance on the Second Amendment Sanctuary.
