In less than three months, tax increases from the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and spending cuts resulting from the terms of the Budget Control Act of 2011 are predicted to send the country off a "fiscal cliff" and the economy into a tailspin.
Fed up with the political stalemate preventing action on major issues like this in Washington, three accomplished entrepreneurs recently founded the Common Sense Coalition. It's a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to supporting moderate, "common sense" policies. "Both political parties are more interested in pandering to their bases than in addressing any of the substantive issues facing the nation," said Ryan Morgan, Common Sense Coalition Digital Director. "We support common sense proposals that everyone should be able to agree with."
The video below does a great job of explaining the country's current fiscal conundrum and the Common Sense Coalition's views on what needs to be done about it.
The founders started the Common Sense Coalition after seeing that many people shared in their frustration with the polarized, uncompromising stances of the parties. "They were fed up with the political process and realized that there were other Americans who didn't feel that they had anyone on their side in Washington," said Morgan.
Morgan has used NationBuilder to create a highly interactive platform for supporters to learn about the coalition, sign on, and share with their networks.
And while policy statements are important, the Common Sense Coalition acknowledges ideas are not enough. Morgan said they are also working to hold politicians accountable for making progress on solving the country's most pressing problems and to find and support candidates committed to doing so. “We really need to demand that our elected officials solve the country's problems, or we'll get rid of them and elect problem solvers who will. We need people who are willing to compromise and to deal with the issues - not politicians who just tow the party line."
"It doesn't matter what party you're in," said Morgan. "What matters is whether you’re able to take a look at these issues and think about them with the country's best interest in mind. We need people who have common sense solutions, and will act on their own beliefs, not just do what their party or donors tell them.”
One reason the Coalition chose NationBuilder is because it's open to anyone and everyone to use. "The NationBuilder platform is open to both parties which is directly in line with our philosophy and methods," he said. "We feel it's important for everyone to get their ideas out there so that the people can be the judge - not just the parties."
