Center for Democratic Values

Center for Democratic Values was a think tank project of Democratic Socialists of America.

Founding conference

__________________________________________________ Does the American Economy Serve Democratic Values? A "Left versus Right" Debate at Capital University __________________________________________________

Thursday, November 6, 1997 at 8:00 pm . . .

Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, is sponsoring a public Left-Right debate, featuring Cornel West (Harvard University) and Barbara Ehrenreich (Blood Rites) versus David Frum (Dead Right) and Stuart Butler (Heritage Foundation). In conjunction with the debate, the Center for Democratic Values, the think-tank project of Democratic Socialists of America, is holding its first national conference, "Arguing with the Right," November 6-7 at the Clarion Hotel (Worthington). The conference will include historical and analytical sessions, plus skills workshops for contesting the Right's current dominance of American political discussion.

Contact Ron Aronson, Wayne State University 5700 Cass Avenue, Room 2426, Detroit, MI 48202 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; phone (313) 577-0828; fax (313) 577-8585 ______________

"Arguing with the Right" Tentative Program

9:15 Panel on the Right's Success: Chip Berlet ("Eyes Right"); Eric Vega (anti-proposition 209 and 187 activist and DSA National Political Committee); Holly Sklar ("Chaos or Community")

10:45 The Right's Key Ideas: Jim Aune ("The Rhetoric of the Market"); Harvey Kaye ("Why do Ruling Classes Fear History?"); Jessica Jerome (University of Chicago), Paul Kockelman (University of Michigan)

12:15 Lunch - Keynote address: "Arguing with the Right about Public Schools," C. J. Prentis (Ohio State Representative)

1:45 What is the Left's Core Identity?: Allen Hunter (Haven Center for the Study of Social Change); Herb Boyd (The Black World Today); Barbara Ehrenreich (DSA National Co-chair)

3:45-5:00 A: Reclaiming Religion, Values, and Morality from the Right: Duane Oldfield ("The Right and the Righteous"); Eugene TeSelle (Vanderbilt University Divinity School); Rabbi Melody Johnston

B: Is the Right Attacking Women?: Barbara Bergmann ("In Defense of Affirmative Action"); Chris Riddiough (DSA Political Director); Russ Bellant ("The Coors Connection")

C: How Contemporary Debate Gets Framed and How to Open it to the Left:Ellen Ratner ("101 Ways to Get Your Progressive Issues on Talk Radio"); Rich Schrader (former NYC Commissioner of Consumer Affairs); Mary Jean Collins (People For the American Way)

8:00 Does the American Economy Serve Democratic Values? -Cornel West and Barbara Ehrenreich for the Left, and David Frum and Stuart Butler for the Right

Friday, Nov. 7

8:30 Evaluation of Debate by Capital University Students, led by Guy Molyneux (Peter Hart Research)

9:30 Skills Training A. Talk Radio: Ellen Ratner B. Using TV and Video: Robert Fitrakis and Suzanne Patzer (Host and Producer of "From the Democratic Left" C. How to do Op-Eds: Holly Sklar and Allen Hunter D. Arguing: Devon Burghart (Center for a New Community) and Deborah Halbert (Otterbein College)

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch - Keynote address: "Saving Our Children from Poverty," Barbara Bergmann (American University)

1:30 Issue Workshops: The Right's Key Ideas and the Left's Responses A. Affirmative Action:Barbara Bergmann and James Upton (Ohio State University) B. Arguing for Public Schools: Mary Jean Collins and Mary Jo Kilroy (Columbus Board of Education) C. Living Wage: Dave Reynolds ("Democracy Unbound") D. Arguing for Health Care: David Green (UHCAN!) and Cathy Levine (UHCAN! Ohio Issues Coordinator) E Arguing for Unions: Milt Tambor (Michigan AFSCME) F. Arguing about Racism: Herb Boyd and Ernest Green (Otterbein College) G. Arguing over the Environment: Harvey Wasserman (Greenpeace) H. Arguing about Crime: Kevin Pranis (DSA Youth Section Field Coordinator) and Lynn Chancer

Center for Democratic Values National Conference November 6-7 Columbus, Ohio