Political discussion today is poisonous, but some people and organizations are trying to make it more substantive and constructive.

My friend Les Francis highlights several projects. Running to Govern is a group of “young, skilled political organizers and policy wonks who will labor only for candidates–Republican or Democratic–who are pledged to work toward solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems.” Les also mentions a bipartisan group of retired Members of Congress, including John Porter (R-IL) and our former colleague David Skaggs (D-CO), who are working together on proposals regarding “budget deficits, entitlement reform, infrastructure, and national security, the threat of terrorism, global competition and education reform.”

Finally, here is a highlight tape from “AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy,” this past summer’s national citizens’ deliberation.