Jump into the public policy debate!

The Rio Grande Foundation has just launched an exciting new project designed to spur a more robust public policy debate in New Mexico. While we certainly appreciate the print media outlets as they exist, we felt there was something lacking. Specifically, that was an opinion website that allowed both sides of the various public policy issues to square off, making their best arguments and allowing average New Mexicans to engage and participate in discussions.

The website is NMPolicy Debate and the first debate topic “Addressing the federal deficits and debt” has been posted. The debate is between my previous sparring partner Nick Estes (formerly of Voices for Children) and myself.

This is a brand new project and a work in progress. We are looking for new participants to write on policy issues from both sides (the most important rule at the site is that each issue must have both sides represented). If you want to write a column, please send a message to info@riograndefoundation.org with a brief note on potential topics. We will work to match writers with their counterparts, but if you know of someone on the opposite side of the issue, that is great.

As Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “An informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will.. . . The People cannot be safe without information. When the press is free, and every man is able to read, all is safe.” I hope you’ll read and participate in this exciting project.