Greg Wolf is onto something important here. It echoes recent contributions by Angus Duncan and Tim Nesbitt (and others). It is too often overlooked that voting and representation get in the way of true democratic participation, which at the end of the day comes down to one big ongoing conversation. I have long believed that a super power for Portland State University would be developing itself into a powerful convening force in the metropolitan region. Note that on the same day Greg's column appeared, Kevin Frazier extolled the Wisconsin Idea, historically a compact between Wisconsin public universities and the state in which the universities would become active players in solving public problems in exchange for strong support from the state. We should try it.
Greg, great to see you joining The Oregon Way contributors. Like you, I'm a big believer in convening power of the kind you describe. Well said. But there's another, more glib version that we often hear from candidates who say they'll get everyone around the table and not let them leave until they reach agreement. Ugh, no. The convening power you describe is project-based and results-oriented. The other kind is transactional and negotiation-based. Two different dynamics. I think it helps to distinguish the two. What you describe gets results. The other kind is just a version of conflict management involving competing groups.
Greg Wolf is onto something important here. It echoes recent contributions by Angus Duncan and Tim Nesbitt (and others). It is too often overlooked that voting and representation get in the way of true democratic participation, which at the end of the day comes down to one big ongoing conversation. I have long believed that a super power for Portland State University would be developing itself into a powerful convening force in the metropolitan region. Note that on the same day Greg's column appeared, Kevin Frazier extolled the Wisconsin Idea, historically a compact between Wisconsin public universities and the state in which the universities would become active players in solving public problems in exchange for strong support from the state. We should try it.
Greg, great to see you joining The Oregon Way contributors. Like you, I'm a big believer in convening power of the kind you describe. Well said. But there's another, more glib version that we often hear from candidates who say they'll get everyone around the table and not let them leave until they reach agreement. Ugh, no. The convening power you describe is project-based and results-oriented. The other kind is transactional and negotiation-based. Two different dynamics. I think it helps to distinguish the two. What you describe gets results. The other kind is just a version of conflict management involving competing groups.