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Step One: Read Garth Should Stay Home, Step 2: Head down to the legion tonight

September 27, 2007

As we mentioned earlier, Garth Turner will be in Owen Sound tonight holding a “Town Hall” meeting at the Legion. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of discussion is brought up by the area residents. The event kicks off with an informal meet and greet, followed by presumably a more structured presentation and question period starting at 7:00.

My personal interest in tonights event has less to do with the local issues (although it should provide some food for thought on local stories to cover) and more to do with the style of the event. Further to that I am very mush interested in Garth’s efforts to promote an open conversation with our political leaders. I am personally interested in what Garth has to say about the emergence of the digital democracy and a how new web based tools are changing the conversation we engage in with our local MP, MPP, Mayor , councilors…

For an example you should definitely stop by Garth.ca and read a few posts from Garth’s daily weblog.

A great article to start with might be Garth Should Stay Home, the most recent post on the site which addresses the town hall meeting going on in Owen Sound tonight. While you are there be sure to scroll all the way down to the comment section. In my mind that’s where the real action is. At the time I read the article there were 30 responses, some insightful, others not, but 30 voices all the same.

What do you think about the use of the web as a tool for communicating with our political leaders? You can freely add your Comments below and if 30 of you respond then we are truly onto something.

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Written by Ryan · Filed Under The Area, Community, Politics, theOwen 

Comments

5 Responses to “Step One: Read Garth Should Stay Home, Step 2: Head down to the legion tonight”

  1. Rural Says:
    September 27th, 2007 at 5:23 pm

    Hey , this blog got mention on Garth Turners Blog!
    “I am personally interested in what Garth has to say about the emergence of the digital democracy and a how new web based tools are changing the conversation we engage in with our local MP, MPP, Mayor , councilors…”
    And THAT is where Garth has it over most other MPs and MPPs, I read his blog daily and just wish our local elected representitives and the “leaders” would use the internet as a communications tool rather that a “spin” output!!

  2. Lauren Says:
    September 27th, 2007 at 6:02 pm

    Although I love the accessibility+convenience and sheer speed of web-based communication, I would worry that a barrage of email, especially considering how easy it is to send (and how easy it is to be anonymous) might water-down whatever communication is being made with political representatives. I would think that a discussion in person, over telephone, or perhaps even a traditional posted letter (!) might make a greater impact with political leaders personally, and thus politically.

  3. tommyboy Says:
    September 27th, 2007 at 6:22 pm

    Well…that was fun…I highly recommend going to the Garth link…and reading the comments…..

  4. Geo Says:
    September 28th, 2007 at 5:52 am

    Greetings from the left coast,

    TH are quite something aren’t they? Garth held one here on the the North Shore of Vancouver a few weeks ago and we are still talking about it.

    Garth has brought something very special, a combination of the old and the new. The face to face of the old Town Hall meeting and the almost instant gratification of the blog community. He’s made Canada a much closer, smaller place for many of us. The whole place is Garth’s constituency now

    It’s late now. Your TH is over now. I understand Larry couldn’t make it. Too bad:) Maybe next time. I look forward to reading your review.

    All the best,

    Geo

  5. MB Says:
    September 28th, 2007 at 6:41 am

    I’ve been reading Garth’s blog pretty well daily for the last year and a half. Sometimes I put in my two cents, and sometimes there are really good debates in the comments section, but the key thing to me is that Garth personally reads every single comment sent to his website.

    On occasion I have emailed Mr. Turner at garth@garth.ca with an idea or a private comment. If you state in your email that you do NOT want the email published then Mr. Turner will not publish it, otherwise your comment or idea gets published in the comments section.

    Anyhow, check it out, as tommyboy said, “that was fun”… Garth Weblog

    Sincerely,
    MB

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