America has lost her political way. The point of democracy is to work out our values in the public forum. However, with all the focus on "red states," "blue states," and the dangerous offhand dismissal of people one disagrees with . . .

America has lost her political way. The point of democracy is to work out our values in the public forum. However, with all the focus on "red states," "blue states," and the dangerous offhand dismissal of people one disagrees with as "idiots," dialogue has become a preciously rare commodity. Let's bring it back.

This group is for liberals, conservatives, libertarians, anarchists, free marketeers, internationalists, public policy wonks, nonprofit activists -- anyone at all. There's only a few requirements: civility, well reasoned debate, and a willingness to confront and be confronted in an environment of mutual respect.

For this reason, I am making this group moderated.

Still, I have great hopes. Perhaps on Gather, in this unusual environment of applied intellectuals, of people who read and write, people who think critically, we can be a center of -- not moderates (or dead armadillos, as Hightower would have it) -- but a center of people who understand that our goals are similar, if our methods differ.

We all want this to be a great country, to have a better life for our children, to have a world that isn't in chaos, an environment that will support our grandchildren. If our values have so much in common, then why can't we talk reasonably about how to get there?

Even if we agree to disagree, perhaps we'll come away with a better understanding of why, and better clarification of where our paths are irreconcilable or where compromise is possible.

For our children, we must find liveable compromises. Please contribute to that end.