American Citizens’ Summit
What's Transpartisan?
Transpartisanship acknowledges the validity of truths across a range of political perspectives and seeks to synthesize them into an inclusive, pragmatic whole beyond typical political dualities. In practice, transpartisan solutions emerge out of a new kind of public conversation that moves beyond polarization by applying proven methods of facilitated dialogue, deliberation and conflict resolution. In this way it is possible to achieve the ideal of a democratic republic by integrating the values of a democracy -- freedom, equality, and a regard for the common good, with the values of a republic -- order, responsibility and security.
Featured Video Media
Austrailian Citizen Parliment
Transpartisan News
Win-Win PoliticsConservatives and Dialogue
Thanks to Sandy Heierbacher, Director of the National Coalition on Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD),
I was invited to the October 2008 NCDD Annual Conference in Austin
Texas to participate on a panel entitled “Walking Our Talk: What Our
Field Can Learn From Conservatives.” I joined Grover Norquist
(President of Americans for Tax Reform), Pete Peterson (Executive Director of Common Sense California) and Joseph McCormick (Director, Transpartisan Alliance)
We spoke about conservatism, conservatives and the various reasons why
conservatives may be hesitant to participate in dialogues.
Launching the American Citizens Summit
Amidst the current financial and foreseeable political turmoil, it's time responsible citizens from all points of view convened to reasonably assess where we are as a nation, where we want to go and most importantly, how we want to get there.
Think Integral: Building Transpartisan Campaigns
Free Liberal: In the last edition of the Free Liberal, you discussed
integral thinking and how you look at the underlying psychological,
cultural, behavioral and social aspects of any issue. You suggested
that by looking at the totality of the issue you are able to generate
more comprehensive approaches to problem solving and solution
generation. That was a helpful introduction to the thinking behind your
work. I know that your company, Global Integral Solutions (GIS) offers
a few services based on these ideas including leadership training
programs and the organization, support and management of transpartisan
initiatives. Tell us about these transpartisan initiatives.
Michael Ostrolenk: The transpartisan initiatives are social and political change programs that respect the strengths of partisan belief systems while at the same time transcending narrow interests and embracing deeper common values. They are programs that are characterized by issues where partisan divides created by concentrated political and social power, limiting cultural forms and narrow individual mindsets impede progress and blocks meaningful responses for addressing real problems. We seek opportunities to diminish that divide by empowering individuals and communities.
Transpartisan Citizen Empowerment
The consequence of political polarization, our "house divided," is
citizen disempowerment. Disempowered citizens blame unaccountable
government on "those liberals" or "those conservatives." Empowered
citizens have skills to communicate and cooperate across political
divides to hold government accountable.
In the course of my time spent building political bridges, I have discerned three sets of skills needed for true citizen empowerment – personal, inter-personal, and trans-personal. Personal citizen empowerment skills are developed when I look deeply at myself and examine my belief systems. I need to question my assumptions about "liberals" or "conservatives" or "greens” or “the government." I need to examine my tendency, for example, to feel victimized by power. I need to do my best to understand people who don't look at the world the same way I do. I need to learn to forgive others who I perceive as hurting my community, my country or the world. These are the results of personal development and personal transformation and it is my responsibility to do this work myself.
Transpartisan Washington Watch
Transpartisan: The art and skill of addressing political problems by integrating core values and strategic approaches from the great American conservative and liberal traditions. Based on a wide range of polling and voting data, this nation is not only far from split it is in fact broadly united. While the country is united, its political debate is contentious and out of touch with the American people. This is because the structure of American politics constrains the political discourse.
Transpartisan Alliance Blog
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This week the Transpartisan Alliance began
organizing a Board of Advisors of citizens and leaders from across the
political spectrum. Confirmed advisors include:
