Maren Showkeir's Page

Here are some documents that attendees shared from the October 2010 BK Authors' Retreat outside Baltimore, Maryland.

Everybody has a theory on why things went down the way they did. But now we have what we have. In light of that, what are the top 3 things that you think would get this country moving in a positive direction? To get things started, here are three I changes I think would make a big difference:1. Removing corporate money from elections (legislation to fix the pandora's box unleashed by the Citizens United ruling would be a start, along publicly funded elections.) This would allow politicians to…See More

2010 BK Author Retreat

How can citizens come together in ways that foster civility and collaboration to begin solving the serious problems facing our countries? How can our conversations promote what we have in common, rather than our differences? How do we get unstuck?

I was about to post something snarky on facebook about starting a national club called Good People in Bad States, but decided it would be too divisive. But it did get me to thinking, how do you cope when you live in a state where the politics/culture are way out of step with your views, especially when people make assumptions about you? People are always talking about red states vs. blue states — are there any states you would consider purple?See More