Living Voters Guide, Washington 2013 Election

Living Voters Guide, Washington 2013 Election:

About the Living Voters Guide

We have offered the Living Voters Guide as a place for Washington citizens to hear each others' thoughts about ballot measures since 2010. LVG started as a collaboration between Seattle CityClub and a team of Computer Science and Political Science researchers at the University of Washington, funded by a National Science Foundation grant. Three elections later, the LVG is an award-winning civic platform for facilitating community deliberation about ballot measures, drawing participation from over 30,000 Washingtonians.

ConsiderIt , the technology we invented to power the LVG, encourages voters to think through the tradeoffs of a proposed ballot measure by inviting them to create a pro/con list that captures the most important factors in their decision. Beyond a traditional pro/con list, however, participants can also include into their own pro/con lists the points other citizens have already contributed. This encourages people to use the considerations of others to help them reach their own conclusions. From these activities, LVG creates an evolving guide to public thought on ballot issues. By identifying pros and cons that both supporters and opposers recognize as important, LVG draws attention to common ground.

Should we require labeling of genetically-engineered foods?

This measure would require most raw agricultural commodities, processed foods, and seeds and seed stocks, if produced using genetic engineering, as defined, to be labeled as genetically engineered when offered for retail sale.

Should this measure be enacted into law? Results

• Labeling is good practice to improve transparency that benefits consumers
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  Genetic Modification has been shown to benefit large Agribusinesses like Monsanto that use it create monopolies and hurt family farms

  0 comments
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  Reasons to vote YES: 1) Labels ensure transparency and preserve the freedom to make our own decisions about the food we eat 2) full disclosu
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  It's becoming a battle of the corporations with the voter stuck. Vote YES if for no other reason to snub the power of the corporate ad $$$$.
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  Yes, I would like to know if there is BHT, and Red 40 in addition to non-organic ingredients. That's not too much to ask.