Indicator 9: Discuss Politics with Family and Friends

Pennsylvania Civic Health Index 2010

December 22, 2010
Political Discussion: Staying informed is one component of civic health. What are Pennsylvanians doing with the information they receive through various media? Are they discussing the implications of the news they read or hear with one another? The data shows, in fact, they aren't. Pennsylvania ranks 45th out of the 50 states, its lowest rank among all civic indicators, in political discussion. We are not talking about what we hear and what we believe. Democratic deliberation is a key component of being an active, engaged citizen.

Opportunity for Growth:
1. Encouraging all Pennsylvanians to engage in political discussion
• Discussing politics with family and friends is an opportunity to share and to process the information provided by news sources and to exchange knowledge drawn directly from experience. Pennsylvanians discuss politics at a rate of ve percentage points lower than the national average.
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