Rules of the Road

In order to allow broad audience participation on a wide range of topics, the Roundtables on this Website are structured in the following manner:

General Discussion (Discussion on Values). A General Discussion, which started as a Discussion on Values underlying the Social Security system, is being conducted for people to provide submissions which:

Introduce themselves to the group.
Explain in personal terms why they are interested in the reform of Social Security.
Raise questions about the need for reform.
Point out problems with the system.
Offer suggestions for reform.

Guidelines. As with all Internet discussion groups this site will encourage and enforce certain rules of behavior. The idea behind these rules is to invite socialization of a group of individuals who can work together to advance the cause of Social Security reform, educate themselves on the issues involved and talk to subject experts and key political figures in the larger national discussion of Social Security reform. Participants are invited to explore each other's viewpoints and to offer constructive criticism of competing proposals. We do not expect to reach a consensus on these proposals, and we do not hope to advocate any particular position on the reform of Social Security. What we do hope to create is an environment where people can learn about the options that are available, discuss these options in an intelligent manner and express their opinions on the proposals that have been offered. To this end we will encourage the following elements in our discussions:

Be concise.
Avoid repetition.
Encourage others to participate.
Don't use this forum to sell your ideas or products.
Be polite.
Avoid using loaded language and hyperbolic rhetoric.
Avoid personal attacks on people inside or outside of this forum.

Roundtables. A number of nationally known experts and leading politicians have generously agreed to participate in the National Dialogue Roundtables. The format of the Roundtables is one that mixes remarks from our Roundtable panelists with those of the general public. Since there is a general discussion area available, we ask that you limit your remarks in the Roundtable discussions to brief questions addressed to our panelists and brief comments on the issues at hand. Feel free to provide follow-up questions, but please avoid postings which are lengthy, repetitious or off-topic.

Summaries. Daily summaries will be provided in the Roundtables to help focus the discussion and provide input for the Roundtable panelists. Weekly summaries will also be prepared for the General Discussion and the Roundtable on Current Legislative Proposals. All summaries will be sent to relevant Congressional Committees at the completion of the National Dialogue.