ProCon....(Pros and Cons) great website

[SoCalDem]

http://www.procon.org/

The guy who started this site has a very solid background
http://www.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=1475


..............................
1. Who We Are



ProCon.org is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit public charity that has no government affiliations of any kind.

Our purpose is educational. We do not express opinions on our research projects ("issue sites"), and we believe that most people care about their community, their state and their country, have common sense and good judgment and can make better decisions if the large volume of data and rhetoric on an issue is reduced to a fairly and reasonably crafted pro-con presentation.

Our goal is to research issues that we feel are complicated and important and work to present them in a balanced, comprehensive, straightforward, and primarily pro-con format for free and without advertising on the internet.

Benjamin Franklin commented on the practical use of pros and cons over 235 years ago:

"When these difficult Cases occur, they are difficult chiefly because while we have them under Consideration all the Reasons pro and con are not present to the Mind at the same time... To get over this, my Way is, to divide half a Sheet of Paper by a Line into two Columns, writing over the one Pro, and over the other Con.... And tho' the Weight of Reasons cannot be taken with the Precision of Algebraic Quantities, yet when each is thus considered separately and comparatively, and the whole lies before me, I think I can judge better, and am less likely to take a rash Step..."
Benjamin Franklin
(September 19, 1772 letter to Joseph Priestley)

2. Mission Statement


"Promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan primarily pro-con format."
....

a sample of the issues they have researched
1.
2008 ELECTION
Which candidate would make the best US President?
2.
ACLU
Is the ACLU good for America?
3.
BIG THREE AUTO
Should the Big Three car manufacturers be bailed out by the US government?
4.
BORN GAY
Is sexual orientation determined at birth?
5.
DEATH PENALTY
Should the death penalty be allowed?
6.
EUTHANASIA
Should euthanasia be legal?
7.
FELON VOTING
Should felons be allowed to vote?
8.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
What are the solutions to illegal immigration in America?
9.
INSIDER TRADING
Should insider trading by Congress be allowed?

10.
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN
What are the solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
11.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Should marijuana be a medical option?
12.
MILK
Is drinking milk healthy for humans?
13.
PROSTITUTION
Should prostitution be legal?
14.
SPORTS AND DRUGS
Should performance enhancing drugs (such as steroids) be accepted in sports?
15.
UNDER GOD
Should the words "under God" be in the US Pledge of Allegiance?
16.
US - IRAQ
Should the US have attacked Iraq?
17.
VOTING MACHINES
Do electronic voting machines improve the votin

[Brazenly Liberal]

1. Wow thanks!

I checked out one subject I'm fairly knowledgeable about and was impressed with their evenhanded treatment of it. If the others are equally well documented and presented, this site could be a real asset.

[SoCalDem]

2. Too bad most of the media must not know of the site

They just regurgitate the same ole lies & tweaked "facts"..over and over and over and over

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. I am impressed.

I wadered thru the Iraq Oil history which led to links and timelines of the area, of oil.
Very good site for history timelines on a variety of subjects, lots of drill downs.
Quite extensive.

Thanks.