I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII

V. The Process

b.) Change the Public Debate

The Structure: Organizing Common Sense California

Table 1: Roles and Responsibilities of the Board and the Organizing Committee

Conclusion: The Time is Now

A Fuller Discussion Roadmap (PDF)

Based on the results of dialogues with average Californians, shift the center of gravity of the public debate to a clearer focus on the future of California.

We intend to reach out to the California media early in our work. Common Sense California will be attentive to that rapidly growing portion of the media rooted in, and serving, immigrant communities and communities of color. Often overlooked, these outlets play an increasingly important role in shaping public opinion in a state that is ever more diverse. We expect to find shared concerns with many publishers, editors, editorial writers, columnists and reporters. Their active interest in the work of CSC will be essential. For this reason, we also plan to seek professional assistance regarding media and communications.

We place a high priority on establishing a strong internet strategy both to inform the public and to attract support.

Among the items we hope the media will cover include:

The Critical Agenda, along with periodic updates. These might be accompanied by the release of a "dashboard," a small number of key indicators (much as a dashboard shows fuel level, engine temperature, battery charge and essential warning lights) to help the public understand the "state of the state" in simple, quantitative terms.¹
Top Ten List. Each year, Common Sense California will solicit the good counsel of experienced experts in a variety of policy areas to construct a list of the "Top Ten Good Ideas to Improve California." In turn, the "Top Ten" can be the basis for discussions held as part of "circuit riding" and as a basis for earned and paid media.

A "Top Ten" list might include fresh ways of looking at how the tax system might be improved, how public services can be delivered at lower cost, how to improve the morale and effectiveness of public employees, how to secure public and private support of efforts to achieve important public goals (for example, the creation of the "Amber Alert" system), or needs for public services and/or government intervention not previously recognized (the importance of protecting the California coast line being one example from the recent past).

¹ The Oregon Progress Board, consisting of 12 citizens and chaired by the Governor, now publishes a set of indicators, on-line, documenting the progress and problems of that state. See http://egov.oregon.gov/DAS/OPB/