DiaBlog

Dialogue hosts/producers Joan Cartan-Hansen and Marcia Franklin write about Idaho public affairs.

December 23, 2008: (Marcia): This week on Dialogue marks a bit of a diversion from our usual topics, and at the same time a bit of a tradition. I interview bestselling inspirational author Richard Paul Evans about his new book, Grace. It is my third interview with Evans, who is best known for his first book, The Christmas Box. Although his books are centered around the Christmas season, he often includes serious themes, and Grace is no exception. It deals with a runaway girl who has been molested by her father, and is harbored by a young male friend.

Evans has donated some of the proceeds of his books to a foundation that helps abused children, and is particularly interested in children who are “aging out” of the foster care system. For more information on his books and charitable organization, or to watch this program and past Dialogues with Evans, check out our website.

December 15, 2008: (Marcia): I must admit that when I read Ethan Watters' book, Urban Tribes, parts of it irked me a bit. In it, Watters tries to dispel the thesis of sociologist Robert Putnam, put forth in Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. In that book, published in 2000, Putnam posits that American society and families are becoming more and more fragmented, and less and less involved in societal activities. He bolstered his theory in part by looking at the dramatic decline in bowling leagues.

Watters, who began writing his book to explore why he was in his thirties and still unmarried, argued that there were new social networks that Putnam had ignored. The informal groups form around shared events, such as "Burning Man" in the Nevada desert, shared job interests, or mutual friendships. These "urban tribes," populated by singles in their 20s and 30s living in cities, provide not just companions for entertainment, but also job connections, therapy and solace for those not yet in a marriage. In short, they are a type of family.

All well and good. But at the same time, Watters also seemed to criticize the "old" forms of associations, such as the League of Women Voters and Rotary Clubs, saying that they are nothing more than lunch bunches. Having worked with the League on projects, and having seen firsthand the effect of Rotarians all over the world, I would beg to differ.

Also, in Urban Tribes, Watters appeared to celebrate the liberating nature of belonging to groups that have no social cause, and that in fact exist only to help their own. It seemed quite self-indulgent to me.

And so, for our interview at the 2008 Sun Valley Writer's Conference, I came armed with questions about these subjects. I found Watters disarmingly, and charmingly, aware of the criticism. Indeed, he said his own mother, who had been a member of the League of Women Voters, had leveled the same complaints. And he agreed that the new friendship networks needed to broaden their reach and start helping others instead of just themselves.

Watters himself is living that mantra, as part of the "San Francisco Writer's Grotto," which grew out of a small group of freelance writers and now owns a building with workspaces for more than 30 authors, filmmakers and other "narrative artists." Their theme: that community is conducive to productivity. The artists share contacts, ideas and even jobs with one another.

While much of his book is spent defining and promoting urban tribes, some of the best parts are when he talks about how tough it can be to be single in American society, and when he blows away the myths surrounding why people are marrying later and later in our culture. For instance, it's not that women are "too picky," and even if they are selective, perhaps that's a good thing. Statistics show that later marriages have a better chance of surviving. As a single person in my 40s, that sounds like good news to me.

And Watters also has a personal stake in the numbers: he wrote the epilogue to Urban Tribes on his honeymoon!

December 8, 2008: (Marcia): Like millions around the world, I was about to enjoy Thanksgiving with family when I heard about the bombings in Mumbai, India. For days, I was riveted to the coverage (mostly on my computer, which is still amazing to me.)

Besides the human emotions I had at the tragedy, I was also thinking about this week's program. It is a pre-taped interview with Shashi Tharoor, a longtime Indian diplomat at the United Nations who in 2006 ran to succeed Kofi Annan as the head of that agency, losing to the current Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.

I had spoken with Tharoor, who is also the author of numerous books about his native India, at the Sun Valley Writers' Conference. Since 1995, the conference has brought together writers from all over the world to give talks about their work and current social issues. I first attended the conference as a volunteer for several years, and then in 2005, 2006 and 2008 have been fortunate enough to interview some of its participants (the conference took a hiatus in 2007 while the beautiful Sun Valley Pavilion was being constructed.)

In my interview with him, Tharoor talks about his fears about the instability of Pakistan, and the "double game" that he feels that country has played by taking money from the U.S. to fight terrorism while at the same time harboring and even encouraging the same terrorists. The words seem eerily prescient.

I had already recorded my introduction and close to the program, but with the Mumbai situation, I felt compelled to re-record those elements with a reference to the situation. I tried to contact Mr. Tharoor, but was unable to reach him, so I in my final comments I quote from an article he wrote in the Times of India.

I hope you enjoy the conversation and learn more about this fascinating country, as I did.

December 2, 2008: (Marcia): On our next edition of Dialogue, I interview John Hockenberry. The longtime journalist talks to me about adaptation, both in the media and in his own life. Hockenberry, who has won numerous Peabody and Emmy awards for his work in both commercial and public broadcasting, was paralyzed in an auto accident when he was 19. His memoir of his personal and work travails and successes is Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence. It's a great read — both serious and absolutely hilarious at times.

Hockenberry and I discuss how traditional media entities such as the nightly news will have to continue to modify their delivery systems to reach viewers who are now getting much of their content off the internet and expect a more interactive experience.

This interview is part of a series I taped at the Sun Valley Writers' Conference this past summer. The first in that series, an interview with journalist George Packer, aired October 5th.

Hockenberry is the new program director for the conference (www.svwc.com), and hopes to find ways to attract a younger and more diverse audience to the event, which began in 1995 and has become a major literary gathering.

Next week is another in that series, an interview with Indian author and former U.N. diplomat Shashi Tharoor. Although the conversation was taped last summer, some of Tharoor's comments unfortunately presage the violence we have seen recently, as he talks about the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and India.

November 25, 2008: (Joan) Happy Thanksgiving! This week, we are airing an interview I did last month with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Katherine Jefferts Schori. We picked this date to air the interview for lots of reasons. She is a fascinating woman facing challenging times. I was especially interested to learn how she lives with paradox. The Episcopal Church is facing a battle between those who support the ordination of women priests and gay clergy and those who refute one or both of those ideals. Jefferts Schori's challenge is to keep both groups together within one church. Now we all struggle with holding conflicting views or values at times, but our struggles are usually intensely personal. She deals with paradox head-on every day and in a very public way.

We also wanted to air the interview on this day because faith is part of our American Thanksgiving tradition. We don't get many chances to really talk about faith and its role in our lives. It seemed appropriate to use our show this day to take that opportunity. We also picked this day with a slight sense of irony. As Father David Wettstein of St. Stephens Episcopal Church likes to jokingly point out, the Pilgrims of Thanksgiving lore came to America to get away from the Anglicans. Watch the interview and let me know what you think.

Jefferts Schori was in Idaho for the ordination of Idaho's newest bishop, Brian Thom. If you would like to learn more about him, listen to an NPR News 91 interview of him.

With this week's interview, we begin a series of taped conversations. Marcia will no doubt tell you more about them in her next blog entry, but it does mean we won't have a live call-in show for a while. Don't despair. Send us an email if you have a question or comment. Enjoy some good Dialogues and have an extra helping of pie! Happy holidays!

November 14, 2008 (Marcia): As we mark Veteran's Day this week, I talk with a reporter who has seen many future veterans in action. Martha Raddatz is the current chief White House correspondent for ABC News, but she's been to Iraq more than 15 times. She explains why she has made that a priority, and talks about the motivation for her book, The Long Road Home, which chronicles a battle in Sadr City that marked a turning point in the war.

Raddatz has worked for ABC since 1999, first at the State Department, and then at the Pentagon, where she had also reported for National Public Radio. Idaho Public Television viewers see her regularly on "This Week with Gwen Ifill." Her work has garnered numerous awards, including a Peabody and several Emmys.

Raddatz, who was born in Idaho, jokes with me about a failed job interview with a TV station here. She can't remember which station it was, but if that news director remembers his or her decision, they may regret it! That's because Raddatz is a news director's dream: both adventurous and low-key, interested both in statistics and in people. In particular, she's concerned that Americans are too disconnected from this war, a war which is costing lives and trillions of taxpayer dollars.

It is tradition that the White House correspondent relinquishes their post to whoever has covered the incoming president on the campaign trail. So Raddatz will soon move on. But it will allow her to concentrate even more on her first love, international affairs. We talk about her trips to Pakistan, a country to which she hopes to return, and in a special web-only exclusive, we discuss her recent trip to Iran, a country I also have visited.

Next week, we discuss some of the people from war-torn countries who now make Idaho their home, as we look at the refugee population in our state.

November 7, 2008 (Marcia): 14 years ago this week, Idaho Public Television launched a new program, Dialogue. The idea was to unify the state by not only presenting issues that affect all our citizens, but to allow them to weigh in by calling in to speak with our guests.

More than 600 programs later, Dialogue is still going strong and celebrates its 15th season the way it began — with a conversation between the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties about the recent election, and phone calls from viewers.

Keith Roark and Norm Semanko are both attorneys, and both passionate about their political persuasions. Roark sees hope for the Democrats in the election of Rep. Walt Minnick, and Semanko points to the fact that President-elect Obama couldn't even win Ada County as an example of Republican clout.

We hear from voters who are worried about Obama, but also several others who are excited and who urge bi-partisanship, which is certainly the tone that both Obama and Senator-elect Risch have sounded. It remains to be seen if that goal can be attained.

The program, as many do, went too quickly, but was a vibrant discussion. You can also watch our inaugural 1994 program, with Mike Reynoldson, executive director of the Republican Party at the time, and Bill Mauk, the chair of the Democratic Party. They discuss the "Republican Revolution," which 14 years later has reversed course, at least nationally.

And you can see a much younger me, with no gray hair, a funny outfit, and a very bad haircut! Thanks to everyone who has worked on Dialogue as we enter our 15th season, and to the viewers who call with their support, program ideas, and yes — even helpful criticism at times. We welcome it all.

Next week we bring you a discussion with Martha Raddatz, the chief White House correspondent for ABC News, who talks about her many trips to Iraq.

October 15, 2008 (Joan): We continue our look at American politics with this week's show. I interviewed two of the nation's leading political writers: conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg and progressive columnist Peter Beinart. These two men are touring college campuses with their Red vs. Blue debate. They are old friends and they truly disagree with each other's political views. Together, they discuss the issues of the day, argue for their points of view and yet remain friends. I think it is an amazing lesson for today's politicians. The loss of civility in politics is perhaps one the biggest problems facing America. Politicians paint each other with mud and then cannot or will not govern together. Nothing gets done. Our problems are too serious in this country to just do nothing. To disagree without being disagreeable, to fight for what you believe in without framing your opponent as just an enemy, that is what these two men do and that is what we should expect of the men and women who lead our nation. Consider that when you vote in November.

You'll have a chance to consider civility. Dialogue will be pre-empted on October 23rd for the last of The Idaho Debates. Now, I have nothing to do with the debates this year, but I know how hard everyone else has worked on these candidate forums. I encourage you to watch and to vote. I'll be back on October 30th to lead a discussion on mining in Idaho. Tune in!

October 9, 2008 (Marcia): This week's Dialogue provided me with an opportunity to tie into a national production, "The Choice," as I talked with Michael Kirk, that program's producer.

Kirk, an Idaho native who cut his public television teeth at KUID in Moscow, went on to found Frontline, the longest-running documentary series on public television. I've interviewed him before about that professional journey, but this time I wanted to focus on his upcoming and recent work.

We talked about the process of producing "The Choice," which for 20 years has given viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the presidential candidates. The program airs on October 14th at 9 PM, and will be re-aired several times before the election.

One interesting production element: the documentary is made without ever talking to the candidates on camera. Also, there's so much interest in this election that the program has already been sold all over the world, including the Middle East.

We also discussed some of Kirk's 10 films on the "war on terror," including "Cheney's Law," "The Torture Question" and "Bush's War." And he told me what he'd like to tackle next.

Michael Kirk's probing, insightful and thorough work sets a high bar for all television producers. Certainly, as a former employee of Idaho Public Television, he is also a personal role model for me. Boy, would I like a peek at his Rolodex (or BlackBerry, as the case may be!)

Typical of many in our business, Kirk works insanely long hours, sets high expectations for himself and those around him, and worries. He wrote me recently and said:

"The Choice" has been hard to make. In some ways almost every part of it is known . . . and yet, in so many ways, it seems viewers/voters don't really know about the candidates. We've tried to tell some familiar stories in a fresh way and to tell a few stories that are new . . . and mostly, we've really tried to make clear what the differences are between these two men. I sincerely hope you and your viewers find the program useful."

I have no doubt the program will be more than useful, will, in fact, become a must-see of political biographies. I'm looking forward to watching it.

In keeping with the election theme, tune in to Dialogue next week as Joan Cartan Hansen interviews two national magazine editors on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Then the following week, on October 23rd, I will host a statewide debate for the U.S. Senate position.

September 30, 2008 (Marcia): This week's program deals with one of those topics that make you feel as if you're drinking from a fire hose. Or, not having done that, whatever that's supposed to feel like! So much information was coming so quickly. We originally had another program planned, but when the news broke on Monday, September 15th, that America's financial system was in crisis, I decided to change the program to that subject.

Fortunately we had some great guests step up to the plate to help explain this very complex issue. And in the week before the show, I had the opportunity to read some excellent articles on how we got into this mess. The financial reporters were able to explain complex derivatives in a way that even I, who is not adept at numbers, was able to understand. They are proving that this type of news should be more mainstream, i.e., on front pages of newspapers and websites. We all need to know more about our financial system. I only wish that more attention had been paid prior to this maelstrom. I hope to do more economic programs in the future.

Before the program, we received some poignant emails from viewers about their concerns. Several were from state employees wondering about their PERSI retirement, which we discussed on the program. We also received emails like this one from Joe:

Taxpayers' money and savings should not be used to bail out financial institutes. This is WRONG. People work hard for their money and save what they can to survive, not to lose it for nothing. People are so money hungry now, especially the rich, the middle guy can't make it anymore even on two incomes and poor are even poorer. The U.S. needs to start helping the U.S. for once and even it out for everyone not just the rich. Whatever happened to doing what is right?

Or Kathy:

Where is the responsibility in these companies? As long as the higher positions in the companies get their outrageous amount of income and benefits why should they care about the rest of the people? When is this going to stop for the taxpayer of middle class income? This has been going on too long and has been out of control. What can the middle income class do to stop this?

Clearly opinions like those of Joe and Kathy reached the halls of Congress, which, as I write this, has not approved a rescue plan. I encourage you to send emails before future Dialogue programs; we are often able to get to them more quickly than phone calls.

If you missed the program, you can watch it online.

September 18, 2008 (Joan): September is back-to-school month, and we like to schedule a program to discuss key issues facing educators as they start the new school year. The past few years, we have been talking about No Child Left Behind. But this year, we took on a different topic. In January, legislators created a task force to look at teacher performance evaluations. A committee has been working over the summer and today came up with a specific plan to present to the public.

This topic doesn't have the heat that No Child Left Behind does, but finding and keeping good teachers will do more for students than standardized tests.

The task force is about to have meetings statewide to gather public comments on the plan. If you are interested, contact the Department of Education for the time and place of the meeting closest to you. By the way, we produced a Web Extra on the topic: Supt. Luna and Pres. Woods stayed on after the 30 minute show to answer more questions from viewers.

Next week, Marcia is producing a program looking at Wall Street's woes. It is a very timely show and an important topic. Be sure to tune in.

September 8, 2008 (Marcia): September 7 was national Grandparent's Day, but for millions of children all over the country, it's Grandparent's Day every day. The last census found that 2.4 million grandparents are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren, an increase of nearly 20% since the 1990 census. The West has the highest number of these parenting situations.

As the number of "grandparents as parents" has grown, so have their concerns. Many feel they are caught in a maze of regulations that prevent them from providing the best care possible for their grandchildren, and from accessing public funding. An increasing lobby has worked to change laws to give grandparent care providers more rights.

"Generations United" is one group involved in those issues, and this week I talk with its executive director, Donna Butts, about its role. The group, which was formed more than 20 years ago by the National Council on the Aging and the Child Welfare League of America, now provides an umbrella for more than 100 local, state and national groups. Their mission: advocating for intergenerational programs such as community centers and housing projects that serve both young and old.

Some of their positions, though, seem more directed towards youth, such as supporting increased funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. That's because the group believes that the health of older Americans depends on the viability of the younger generation. I talk with Ms. Butts about that link.

I encourage you to visit the website for "A Parent Again," a special Dialogue program we produced in 2004 to help illustrate the issues of these caregivers, and provide resources for where to go for help.

July 24, 2008 (Joan): This week, we repeat the interview I conducted with Forrest Church. Church is one of our nation's best theological historians as well as the son of Idaho's late Senator Frank Church. The topic at hand was his book, So Help Me God, a fascinating look at how our forefather's viewed religion and why they established a separation between church and state. I am also pleased to present this interview because it honors Church. He announced earlier this June that his cancer had returned and he was unsure how many more months he would have left. Church has just released his newest book, Love and Death: My Journey through the Valley of the Shadow. He gave a stirring speech (.pdf) about life and death when he recently accepted the UUA Distinguished Service Award. I encourage you to read it.

We would all be blessed to come to grips with life and death as Church has done. So enjoy this week's interview. I am hoping to speak with Church again about his newest writings. If I can arrange the interview, I will let you know.

July 11, 2008 (Joan): "Sustainable Development." "Going Green." These phrases are certainly popular these days, but not everybody walks the walk. This week's guest, however, not only does "green," he practically invented the idea.

It was a great honor to speak with architect and designer William McDonough. His work is internationally recognized for its sustainability. I recommend his book, Cradle to Cradle. By the way, even the book itself is constructed and printed in such a way as to fit that cradle-to-cradle philosophy. The pages are made of a recyclable plastic and the ink is environmentally friendly. I can also recommend the documentary, The Next Industrial Revolution. It explains McDonough's work. You can view the show and learn more about McDonough from the links on the show's site.

We are hearing from lots of interesting folks this July. Last week, we re-aired the interview I did with Michael Beschloss, and July 24th, we'll air the latest interview I conducted with Forrest Church. Both of these men wrote about the courage and strength of our founding fathers and the best actions of U.S. Presidents. I did these interviews fairly closely together, and it was fun to compare these two men's work. Both books are good reads, though totally different in style and approach.

Marcia and I are working on some future shows. Our new season starts in the fall. I'll start off with a discussion about Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's plan to change teacher evaluations. I'm also trying to book the new conductor of the Boise Philharmonic, Robert Franz. He was recently honored nationally for his music education efforts. If you have an idea for a show, send me a note. I'd love to hear from you.

June 30, 2008 (Marcia): There are quite a few lawyers in my family, and I've always admired not only their intellectual skills, but also their work. In many cases they've taken on cases that didn't bring them much in the way of money, but which helped other people a great deal.

So I've always wondered why folks are so quick to make jokes about attorneys. Sure, there are the ambulance chasers and the oily types, who take your money and run. But every field has those, and it seems to me that a lot of the over-litigation in our country isn't caused by lawyers, but by people who are quicker to sue than to mediate.

I mentioned the phenomenon of lawyer jokes in my introduction to my Dialogue program with Don Burnett, the dean of the University of Idaho's College of Law. But it wasn't until right before the show that I thought to ask him what he thought about all the ribbing. I scribbled the question on my script.

You might be interested to hear his response. It's at the beginning of the half-hour program, the bulk of which is Dean Burnett defending his plan to expand the law school from Moscow to Boise. It's an idea that's been about studied to death. Indeed, Burnett was on the blue-ribbon panel in 1999 that looked at it, when he was dean of the University of Louisville's School of Law.

But now it's on the cusp of being approved by the State Board of Education and forwarded on to the legislature for appropriation. Your tax dollars (an estimated $6 million), increased tuition (at least $4,000 a year) and private donations would pay for the new classes. The money would be used for an additional 15 teachers and an expanded law library for 200 more students. Even more funding would be needed for a building, which university officials hope to share with the Supreme Court.

Both the Moscow and Boise campuses would have introductory courses, and each location would specialize in upper-level courses. Moscow would continue to concentrate on natural resource and tribal law, and Boise would have sections on business and administrative law.

Burnett says that Boise is the only state capital in the country without a law school nearby. Concordia University out of Portland has picked up on that gap, and is considering locating a law school here. But Burnett says that a public law school is imperative so that students can graduate with less debt, and then be more able to go into lower-paying governmental or non-profit law.

Why? Those areas of the law are high priority to him. In his commencement address to graduating University of Idaho students in 2006, Dean Don Burnett exhorted them to pick a date every year to ask themselves, "Am I truly happy?" Not, he said, "Am I successful?" But, "Do I know the abiding happiness that comes from service to something larger than myself?"

"We want you to do well," he told them. "We also want you to do good."

For Burnett, 62, "doing good" for lawyers means being involved in your community as well as providing pro bono, or free assistance. After taking over as dean of the University of Idaho's College of Law in 2002, he instituted the only mandatory pro bono program at a law school. In order to graduate, all students are required to perform 40 hours of uncompensated law-related service.

When he required a similar course in Louisville, he said one of his students objected, calling it "slavery" that he had to do work without pay. A few months later, after completing the course, he was back in Dean Burnett's office with the same fervor. This time, though, it was to urge the dean to start free law clinics around the state for people who needed help with basic legal needs.

The student went on to set up those clinics, says the dean. Then shortly after Burnett moved to Idaho, he received a phone call from a man. The voice was raspy but Burnett recognized it as his former student. "I did good, didn't I?" said the man. "Yes, you certainly did," said the dean.

A few days later, the former student died. He had called the dean from his hospice.

To this day, Dean Burnett is moved telling that story. To him, the study of law is one piece of becoming an informed and involved citizen. It remains to be seen whether his case prevails with those who actually pass the laws in Idaho, 90% of whom are not attorneys.

June 19, 2008 (Marcia): One of my simple pleasures each month (when I can make it) is going to my book club. We’re known as "The Ladies of the Club," and at 46, I think I'm the youngest member. Never mind that these women can read me into the ground!

We spend about an hour talking about the book that we've all (ahem) read, and then we spend another 45 minutes talking about the world, our state, and our lives. We rejoiced when one of our members was saved from a near-drowning, and we grieved when the adult son of another member died suddenly. All of the women had, or have vibrant, successful careers and continue to contribute to our community in a myriad ways. I always learn from them.

But isn't that what makes book clubs so special? Sure, it's ostensibly about the books, and believe me, we have a lively tussle about our selections every year. But it's just as much about the camaraderie, the intellectual discourse and the support.

I've always been an avid reader, and early on in my career at Idaho Public Television, I had an idea for a regular "book club of the air." Unfortunately I wasn't able to interest our underwriting folks in the concept. But a few years later Oprah proved that such a program would have legs. Indeed, an Oprah "pick" virtually guarantees an author success, even if they do sometimes fudge the facts as author James Frey did.

When Dialogue began in 1994, I decided to try out the book club concept, with authors talking about their works, recommending some of their favorite books, and taking phone calls from viewers. My first guests were author and professor Mary Clearman Blew and suspense writer Ridley Pearson, who flew in on his private plane for the show!

This will be our 12th "Good Reading" show, and they're always a blast. I particularly enjoy hearing from viewers during the live program, and notice that women call in more on these shows than the others.

My pick for a "good summer read?" It's not even close. Buy or borrow All Over but the Shoutin', by Rick Bragg. A former New York Times reporter, Bragg grew up poorer than dirt poor in Alabama, and rose to win a Pulitzer Prize. His memoir is dedicated to his mother, who pulled cotton, took in laundry, did without food and medical care, and battled horrific abuse to try and give her children a better life. Bragg's descriptions, dialogue and in particular his metaphors stunned me with their jagged beauty. It's a tale you won't want to end, and I'm looking forward to reading the two additional books Bragg has written about his family.

Happy summer, and happy readin'!

June 5, 2008 (Marcia): As with so many dire situations, statistics just can't do justice to the individual pain involved. As our country sinks deeper into a recession, the stories are heart-wrenching, with people desperate to at least keep a roof over their heads. Whether it's due to a medical crisis, a job loss, poor financial decisions, or the rising cost of just about everything, the economic downturn is now affecting Americans who previously weren't as worried about their finances.

The increasing number of people in financial distress in our country will provide journalists with material for stories for years to come. And it's a story increasingly hitting close to home. I have four friends who are near bankruptcy themselves, who are only surviving due to the grace of their parents.

It's far too complex a problem to discuss in its entirety on a 30-minute program, but this week's Dialogue offers some ideas for keeping afloat during these hard times. It's advice that holds water in better times as well.

This is one program where the additional web materials are as important as the broadcast. Check out the show's webpage for links to information on a variety of financial topics, including advice on foreclosure and bankruptcy, and where to find an attorney to review your financial situation for a reduced fee.

May 8, 2008 (Joan): Can Idaho be powered by nature? That was the topic of tonight's show, and of the newest episode of Outdoor Idaho. Idaho is rich with opportunities to develop renewable energy, but it still supplies only a fraction of our electrical needs. Why? This show's two fine guests, Bill Rogers from the Idaho National Laboratory and John Gardner from BSU, are frustrated by the lack of a national energy policy that supports research and development of renewable energy sources. They are doing their part to change things and I encourage you to read more about it. There are lots of links available on this show's site or on the Outdoor Idaho Powered by Nature Web site. You can also check out a Web site we did a few years ago as part of our FocusWest series: The Price of Power.

I did receive one email asking a question about hydrogen use for transportation. This show concentrated on electricity so I did not have the opportunity to ask it, but I will hold on to the question. Energy policy as it relates to transportation is certainly an important enough topic for us to do another show on just that issue. If you have some other facets of energy policy you would like us to discuss, send me an email.

Dialogue will be preempted for the next couple of weeks. The Idaho Debates will air in our time slot. Be sure to watch the debates and check out the Web site. We'll be back on May 29th with a new show discussing the results of the May primary and how its results set the stage for November. Be sure to vote on May 27th and then call in with your questions on the 29th.

April 21, 2008 (Marcia): Reporters aim for objectivity. But the subjective nature of journalism is revealed in the very stories reporters choose to cover, and the questions they ask. Those differences were highlighted recently in three different interviews with Tim Egan, who is my Dialogue guest this week.

Marc Johnson, a former Idaho Public Television host, interviewed Egan as a guest host on Boise State University President Bob Kustra's public radio show. Johnson focused on how Egan's view of the Northwest, particularly its environment, had changed over the past 15 years since he wrote The Good Rain, a collection of essays about the region.

In his interview with Egan, Shea Anderson of the Boise Weekly emphasized his take on Northwest politics.

I, in turn, was fascinated by Egan's book, The Worst Hard Time, which chronicled the struggles of several Dust Bowl survivors. As a child, I pored over the Depression-era photos of hard-luck Americans and dreamed up stories about them. Those photos were, in fact, part of the motivation for my becoming a documentary maker.

Like many people, my vision of "Okies" was from those 1930s photos, as well as from the characters in The Grapes of Wrath. But, as Egan shows, the vast majority of people in the High Plains stayed during the decade-long disaster that ruined the land and lives. His book, which won a National Book Award, brings that era to light (or dark, as it were) as he describes the horrifying black clouds of dust that traveled as far as the East Coast and choked people to death.

Just as the other reporters, I also talked with Egan about Northwest politics. One would be remiss not to do so, as that is the emphasis of his New York Times column! But I was drawn first to his historical work. I found it intriguing how three different journalists emphasized different aspects of Egan's work. It is the measure of his multifaceted career that we can each pick and choose what we'd like to discuss with him. I hope you enjoy the interview, and check out the web extra, too!

April 14, 2008 (Marcia): As frustrating as it is to try and cover the issue of Idaho's uninsured in just 30 minutes, I'm sure it's nothing compared to the frustration that doctors who help these patients feel every day. In fact, I decided to produce a Dialogue edition on this topic after having lunch with a physician friend. She said she had recently spent a panicked weekend trying to get help for a patient that she felt would die if he didn't either get admitted to the hospital or get specific medication immediately. But he was in between jobs and hadn't started new insurance yet, so she couldn't get him help.

Fortunately, the patient lived. But my friend, who doesn't normally get involved in politics, was so shaken by the experience, as well as some other cases, that she testified before the Governor's Select Committee on Health Care. That committee has been traveling the state hearing from Idaho residents about the state of health care here, and will draw up recommendations for Governor Otter.

A typical Dialogue program on this type of issue might include guests from competing points of view, or different sectors of the health field, such as insurance companies and hospitals. But after talking with my friend, I decided I wanted to try something different and just invite three primary care physicians who work directly with the uninsured to be on the program. In this way, we could spend the full half hour looking at the issue through their eyes. Even then, we had to take an additional 15 minutes after the program to answer all the calls. You can view that segment in our Dialogue web extra.

Coincidentally, Frontline aired an episode the same week about health care coverage in other developed countries. I encourage you to watch the program.

In the future, I intend to host programs on the subject from other perspectives, including the patients themselves. It is just impossible to do justice to this topic in one program.

April 7, 2008 (Marcia): Toni Hardesty is an example of two overused, but nevertheless illustrative clichés — working your way up the ladder and breaking glass ceilings. She started her environmental career in the 1980s as an intern at what was then the Division of Environmental Quality. Now she's in charge of the DEQ, which became a cabinet-level department in 2000 and has a budget of $63 million. She's also the first woman to run the agency.

Hardesty, married to an EPA employee and the mother of two school-aged children, could be making a lot more than her current $105,000 salary if she worked in private industry, which she has in the past. But, as the Kimberly, ID native says in her Dialogue interview with me, "You go there because you believe that it needs to be done. And so everyday, even though it is challenging, you walk away thinking you're doing the right thing."

Hardesty, a personable, down-to-earth individual who meets with reporters directly instead of employing a press secretary, was appointed in 2004 by then-Governor Kempthorne. She was re-appointed by both Governors Risch and Otter. It's a rare feat, with Labor Director Roger Madsen and Finance Director Gavin Gee being the only other agency heads I can think of in that category.

Clearly, one of the reasons Hardesty's managed to navigate those political waters (sorry, another cliché) is that she's able to answer political questions in a non-confrontational way that doesn't antagonize either side. She showed that skill in our interview, politely circumnavigating, as it were, some questions until pressed. She did, however, indicate that she wishes that counties had been given more options to raise taxes for public transportation during this session. And she said she thought nuclear energy should be part of our utility mix.

There's hardly an issue that touches our lives that the DEQ doesn't have some role in regulating, from our air, to our water and our land. I encourage you to watch the streaming of the program. We had some great questions from viewers. In addition, Director Hardesty stayed after the program as part of a "Web Extra" to answer some more calls holding on the line. You can also stream that segment. Check it out!

March 24, 2008 (Marcia): There are microbrews, microloans, and microhistory. That's history from the inside out, showing how small events and items affect large trends.

For author Mark Kurlansky, my guest on this week's Dialogue, it means taking something as seemingly mundane as salt, or codfish, and aligning those commodities' histories with human culture. Salt, for instance, was once so precious that whole kingdoms rose and fell on its taxation. The root of the word "salary" comes from the Latin word "salarium," money given to Roman soldiers to buy salt. Similarly, fortunes were made on cod, whose decline Kurlansky mourns in his book Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World.

Kurlansky has also turned his sights to the year 1968 as a pivotal one in both only American and world history. He's looked at the concept of non-violence through the ages, and has been honored by the Basques for the books he has written about their important culture.

And yet in my interview with him, interestingly, he cannot put his finger on why he's always been interested in starting small and working out to the great moments and trends of history. Of course, most theses are exactly that, looking at slices of history or science, for instance, and positing their relative importance in a larger schema. Malcolm Gladwell has looked at how seemingly small trends get adopted in his classic book The Tipping Point. Many journalists, (Kurlansky having been one himself) have the same fascination with small stories.

Kurlansky, as you will see if you watch the program, is anything but diminutive. A large man with Hemingway-like features who, like Hemingway, is addicted to the sea, Kurlansky's next book will look at the life of the famous fishing town of Gloucester, MA. He can't talk about his next book after that, but let on that it may be a children's book drawing on his previous book on non-violence. I think you will learn something from hearing him talk about his various works. I know I did from reading them.

March 20, 2008 (Joan): This week's show harkens back to my first assignments for Idaho Public Television. I was hired to be a reporter for Idaho Reports, which was a daily show back then. I had been covering the Idaho Legislature for five years before joining the Idaho Reports staff, so covering politics and the Idaho Legislature is familiar ground. Yet each year, I am fascinated by all the comings and goings at the Statehouse. While I may shake my head at what some legislators say or do, I always respect the men and women who commit their lives to this public service.

This week, we had a chance to comment on breaking news. Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter had just vetoed funding for the Office of Drug Policy and for substance abuse treatment. It was the first time President Pro Tem Robert Geddes and House Minority Leader Wendy Jaquet could make a public comment. Sen. Geddes suggested that the issue might have more to do with internal disputes than the desire to not fund substance abuse treatment. Yet, if things stand as they are, the funding will be cut.

That news prompted one viewer to call in. While fighting back his tears, this viewer told how drug courts had saved his daughter's life. He asked legislators to act. Geddes and Jaquet both said they expect the Legislature to act to restore funding, though at what amount is still unknown. Many people don't think what happens at the Legislature makes much of a difference. This show and this viewer's call remind all of us that there is a personal side, perhaps even a personal cost, to much of what goes on at the Capitol. We should all pay attention.

February 29, 2008 (Joan): To steal a phrase from our commercial colleagues, "Are you ready for some football?" It isn't our typical Dialogue topic, but when you have the chance to talk with BSU Head coach Chris Petersen, you have to, ahem, tackle it. Petersen graciously came on the show last year after the big Fiesta Bowl win and was so well received that I decided to invite him back. He is a warm, genuine person, dedicated to what he is doing, and very open to sharing.

Coach Petersen doesn't think switching from the current bowl game series to a play-off system would benefit any of Idaho's teams. If you want to learn why, click here to watch the interview. After the show, one viewer complained that I didn't say the abbreviation of the bowl game series correctly. Just for the record, it is the BCS (Bowl Championship Series); my apologies. On the flip side, I also received a nice compliment about the interview: "It was a fun to see the coach asked something other than the usual questions, and to see it done in a thoughtful manner." If you have a compliment or a complaint, send us an email.

Because of Festival, we are preempted on March 6th. But Marcia will be back on March 13th with a fascinating program on the ecological effects of climate change. I will be back on March 20th with an interview with Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter.

February 18, 2008 (Marcia): OK, I have to admit to being a bit of a TV "Luddite." Despite the fact I've worked in the television industry for the past 24 years, I've always had a television set from the Dark Ages. For a long time, it was a teeny black and white set. Then a kind Idaho friend, appalled that I was watching my own programs on such a thing, took pity on me. A small color television set appeared on my doorstep, gratis of him. I still have that set, which makes a loud whine once it warms up.

My main television set is my grandmother's, which I got upon her passing. It's too bulky for me to move without help, and there are lines going through some of the stations. I've never had satellite, or anything but the most basic cable. So I've never seen HBO or Cinemax anywhere but in a hotel. I was never good at programming the VCR, so it's sitting in the garage, and I got my simple DVD player from a pawn shop.

And you know, I've never really seen a good television picture of myself except in our studios. Then again, maybe I don't want to, since the new high-definition cameras and sets magnify every little flaw!

Very soon, though, I'm going to have to get with the 21st century and buy a new television set. That's because in one year, most television broadcasters will be sending their signals exclusively in a digital format. And while I would still be able to see the programs because I have cable, they're not going to look very good on Grandma's set. So this seems as good a time as any to upgrade.

There are millions more like me who don't have cable or satellite, though, and who won't be able to see digital television without a converter box. And those converter boxes are having problems of their own.

So how did this whole "digital transition" come to be? And if you're like me, what's the best way to muddle through with the least amount of cost and effort?

To learn more, tune in to this week's Dialogue. In addition to our very knowledgeable General Manager Peter Morrill, I'll be speaking with representatives from the FCC and the NTIA about the issue. All three will take your phone calls live on the Thursday night broadcast (and yes, Idaho Public Television is already broadcasting digitally, even if you can't tell!), or you can email your question ahead of time to dialogue@idahotpv.org.

February 15, 2008 (Joan): Since we started producing Dialogue in 1994, the show has fallen on Valentine's Day only once before. The last time I did a show on a Fish and Game initiative. This year, I decided to produce a show about relationships. We would have just finished a series of shows talking with the heads of various state agencies, and I thought it would be nice to do something less political. Associate Producer Jody Lee did the basic research and came up with some great guests, Dr. Roger Olson and Dr. Carla Jensen. We also decided to add some relationship quizes. If you haven't taken them, you should: Dr. Carla Jensen's quiz   |   Dr. Roger Olson's quiz. My thanks to Rick Penticoff for his help getting the quizes on the website.

Now, a few folks around here thought a show about relationships was too "namby-pamby." So, if you want something tougher, tune in on February 28th for an interview with BSU Head Football Coach Chris Peterson.

I did receive an email I wanted to pass on about my interview with Richard Armstrong, the head of the Department of Health and Welfare. The following came from Stormy Stanek of Emmett:

I noticed that you did a show with the Department of Health and Welfare. Bringing the public's attention to this matter is vital to its survival. However, a matter is in an urgent state.

The foster care program provides care for children that are victims of abuse and neglect. These are children that need a loving home while the birth parents receive help with their personal issues. The problem is there are not enough homes to provide the care that these innocent children need.

I am a foster parent and know first hand how wonderful these special children are. These are not just children of their birth parents; they are Idaho's children and future. These children need and want to be cared for in a safe and loving environment.

We need to get the message out to the caring people of Idaho that being a foster parent is not only a responsibility, but also the most rewarding job they could ever have.

Could you please find the time to help these abused and neglected children find the caring homes that they so desperately need?

This is indeed an important topic and is on our list for a future show. Thank you for the email, Stormy.

February 5, 2008 (Marcia): Last Friday, I listened to the budget presentation of Cal Groen, the director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. As he breezed through his PowerPoint presentation of the issues facing the agency, he momentarily paused on a picture of wolves. "It's time," he said. "It's time for state management of wolves."

At the end of this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will issue its final rule governing the Rocky Mountain wolf population, taking them off the endangered species list and allowing the states involved to manage them. That means, among other things, there will be a controlled hunting season for wolves in Idaho.

After Groen's presentation, there was only one question for him about the wolf program. Lawmakers seemed more interested in whether the gun range in Lewiston would be closed.

What a far cry (or howl, as the case may be) from just a few years ago. Wolves were first re-introduced by the federal government to central Idaho in 1995. I was covering the legislature on a daily basis, and if there could have been a collective voice from the lawmakers, it would have screamed, "Over my dead body!" Lawmakers were so set against even acknowledging the presence of wolves that the federal government paid the Nez Perce tribe to manage the program. It was the first time a tribe had been asked to manage an endangered species.

The legislature turned its back on the wolf program for nearly a decade, passing resolutions railing against the feds, and even allowing testimony from citizens who said they were poisoning wolves illegally and wouldn't mind taking a few shots at Fish and Wildlife folks either.

But resolutions didn't get rid of the wolves, and they multiplied handily. Finally, statesmen like former Sen. Laird Noh convinced their fellow lawmakers that Idaho really couldn't keep turning a blind eye to the issue and that it would have more control if it took over management of the animals. The state came up with a management plan, which was approved by the federal government. Although it will go into effect at the end of March, the department anticipates the plan will be stalled by lawsuits.

We'll talk about the wolf plan this week on Dialogue with Director Groen. But don't be surprised if he "tags" another issue as even more pressing on the agency's docket. According to Groen, it's taking up to 20% of his time. Can you guess what it is? Tune in and find out!

February 4, 2008 (Marcia): On January 17, Idaho Department of Commerce Director Jim Ellick was scheduled to be on Dialogue. A few hours before the program, he cancelled, and was replaced by Don Dietrich of the same agency. The press secretary for the department gave no specific reason for Ellick's cancellation. Monday, February 4th, Governor Otter's office announced that Ellick had taken a leave of absence for "personal reasons." Mr. Dietrich has taken his place as acting director. You can read more about the story at: http://www.newwest.net/city/article/controversial_idaho_commerce_director_goes_on_leave/C108/L108/

January 31, 2008 (Joan): The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has a budget of more than a billion dollars. It is easy to see that every Idahoan uses the services provided by this agency at some point in his or her life. This week, I talked with Richard Armstrong, H&W director. Check out the program here on the website.

Mr. Armstrong is obviously a man carrying a big burden. It must be a tough job managing programs as diverse as food inspections, health care for thousands of Idahoans, disease prevention, and birth certificates. Of everything he said, two things stood out for me.

Meth now tops alcohol as the biggest substance abuse problem. And, requests for food stamps in December were among the highest ever. Neither fact bodes well for our state's health or its economy.

Next week we finish up this series of interviews with state agency heads. Marcia will be interviewing the head of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. After that, we'll take a break from government issues for something a bit more personnel. The show falls on Valentine's Day, so I thought it might be a good opportunity to talk about relationships. More on that as it develops, but if you have a question, send me an email.

January 24, 2008 (Marcia): In his State of the State address [Read text | View video ], Governor Otter made a pitch for better roads and bridges in Idaho. "We must leave no stone unturned," he said, in efforts to make those assets safer and less crowded.

Yet a few moments later, he vowed that one major boulder would remain in place, saying he would not support a gas tax increase. That's an easy sell, because virtually no one — not lawmakers, and certainly not the average driver paying more than $3.00 at the pump — wants to pay even more.

Yet almost half of the state's contribution to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) budget comes from the state gas tax. That tax, which has not been raised since 1996, is set at 25 cents a gallon. (Drivers pay another 19 cents a gallon in federal gas taxes, with Idaho a sizable beneficiary of those taxes, getting back a higher percentage than its citizens pay at the pump.)

Even with all the newcomers to the state, though, the Highway Distribution Account has only grown 22% over the past decade, compared to more than 120% for state sales tax revenues. In part, says the ITD, this is due to more fuel-efficient cars.

Otter is more willing to support an increase in registration fees. But at an Idaho Press Club event Wednesday, Senate Pro Tem Robert Geddes and House Speaker Lawerence Denney sounded lukewarm on the idea, focusing more on the fact that the ITD still has tens of millions of unspent GARVEE dollars in the bank. Those are the bonds that the state sold for road construction, which will be paid back with future federal gas tax receipts.

ITD says the process has been slowed down by environmental planning, right-of-way acquisition, and changes to the original project list.

So, with no increased fuel tax, and the possibility of static registration fees, where does that leave the agency? The Idaho Transportation Board says ITD needs an additional $200 million a year to just keep up with employee costs and road maintenance. The agency isn't requesting any of that money, perhaps figuring they'll do well to get an additional $134 in GARVEE bonding authority, which the Governor supports.

On a special hour-long edition of Dialogue, we'll talk with ITD Director Pamela Lowe and Idaho Transportation Board Chairman Darrell Manning about potential solutions "down the road." Other states are experimenting with toll roads, for instance. The Governor indicated he'd support a bill to allow local option taxation for roads. And of course, many other states are further along with alternate transit options, such as trains.

What are your thoughts? Be sure to tune in at 8:00/7:00 p.m. Thursday and let us know. Or, before the show, email me at dialogue@idahoptv.org or use our web email form.

January 14, 2008 (Marcia): Anyone who has lived in Idaho for even a few years has experienced this state's growth. No longer can you be assured you'll see familiar people when you're waiting at the airport luggage claim, or that you'll pass a fragrant mint field on your favorite bike route. That field is more likely now to be a subdivision with an artificial waterfall gracing its entrance.

For the past decade, Idaho has consistently been one of the fastest-growing states in the country. But according to Idaho Department of Commerce Director Jim Ellick, marketing and selling the Gem State "has been in the freezer."

Ellick, 64, who took over the 57-person agency last July, was wooed by Governor Otter after he met Otter's son at a party. A veteran not only of the Vietnam War, but the entrepreneurial world of the Silicon Valley, Ellick doesn't mince words when he says we need to not to just accept, but "embrace change," and "stop thinking that we can live in the 1950s."

He is asking for more then $5 million to enhance the agency's marketing and business recruiting budgets. And still, that's only a drop in the bucket for what he says Idaho needs to compete with surrounding states like Utah and Washington.

Ellick will be my guest on Dialogue this week. He'll talk about why he traded in his consulting gig for an $85,000 job in a state where he'd never lived. We'll also discuss his goals for promoting the state to both businesses and tourists, and his thoughts on the downturn in the fortunes of Micron, one of the state's largest economic drivers.

Do you have thoughts on where and how the state should develop? Send me an email, or call in the night of the live program on Thursday, January 17 at 1-800-973-9800.

January 7, 2008 (Joan): This week we continue our look at the ins and outs of Idaho's state government with a conversation with the head of Idaho's Correction department, Brent Reinke. This agency faces a big problem — too many prisons and not enough space. Many states are trying alternatives to building big new prisons. What will Idaho do? Be sure to send your email questions before the show or call in live on Thursday.

The State Legislature starts this week. Be sure to check out Legislative Live and Idaho Reports for all the happenings at the Statehouse annex. It should be interesting to see how everyone deals with the reduced space. Save yourself some trouble. Watch the legislature on Idahoptv.org!

December 31, 2007 (Joan): We decided to use our airtime this month to kick off a public discussion about some of the big policy, and hence big-ticket items, that the Legislature will face. So why, you may ask, are we starting a look at how government agencies that spend your tax dollars with an interview with the relatively new head of the Idaho Historical Society? That's a fair question, and one Marcia asked me as we discussed using all the shows in January to focus on state agencies. Why look at such a small entity when there are enough bigger state agencies to take up every show in 2008?

Well, according to A. Whitney Brown, the past actually happened, but history is only what someone wrote down. I think it is worthy to spend a little time finding out what the folks who are "in charge" of Idaho's history are doing. Their work preserving our past is in jeopardy because of a lack of funding. So what are this agency's priorities? What will be saved and what will be lost? It is your money and your history. Send me your questions and tune in!

December 24, 2007 (Joan): In a time so holy for so many people, it seems right to have a discussion about religion on this week's show. We are wrapping up our series of author interviews with a discussion with religious historian Forrest Church.

Church is the author of a number of books on religion, but his newest, So Help Me God, is especially interesting. He writes about the relationship our first Presidents had with religion and religious leaders and about the issue of separation of church and state in our nation's founding. Church is an amazing man as well as a gifted writer. Before our interview started, he was telling me about what was new in his life. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with cancer. His doctors told him he had a few weeks to live. A deeply spiritual man, Church said facing such a pronouncement forced him to look at his beliefs in a whole new light. He did what he could medically and also what he could do spiritually, and today he is still alive and doing well.

Months after he should have died, Church is writing and looking forward to the future. Enjoy the interview and check out the links on this show's web site to learn more about Forrest Church and his writings.

May we all find the peace Church has found. Happy holidays to everyone!

December 10, 2007 (Joan): This week, I have a chance to discuss the life of a man I admire, Idaho Senator Jim McClure. As a native Idahoan, I followed his career, and he was among the first politicians I interviewed as a new reporter. McClure and his biographer, William Smallwood, will be in the studio for a live show Thursday. McClure's biography, McClure of Idaho, was published earlier this year and is an interesting read. McClure, for those of you who don't know, was a Congressman and then Senator from Idaho, serving from 1966 until 1991. He was part of many of American history's greatest and worst events of the last 50 years. It should be a good show, so tune in! If you have a question for Senator McClure or William Smallwood, send me an email before the show, or call in live at 1-800-973-9800.

Next week, Marcia takes the host's seat with an interview with author Richard Paul Evans. We wrap up our series of author interviews on December 27th with my conversation with Forrest Church, one the nation's leading religious historians.

December 5, 2007 (Joan): This month, Marcia and I are focusing on some big topics via a series of conversations with leading authors. This week: What is Presidential courage? With about a month to go before the Iowa caucuses and the official kick-off to the 2008 presidential campaign, it becomes all the more important to understand what qualities make a great President. Author and historian Michael Beschloss names those chief executives who acted in the best interests of our nation, despite the personal costs, in his newest book: Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989.

Beschloss is an engaging speaker. Doing this interview was lots of fun. He was in Idaho to speak to the Idaho Humanities Council and I appreciated the Council's generosity in arranging the interview. Because this show was taped, we won't be taking any phone questions, but if you have a comment, send me an email. I'd love to know what qualities you think a President should have.

Next week (December 13th), tune in for an interview with Sen. Jim McClure and his biographer William Smallwood. This show will be live, and we will take email questions before the show and phone calls during the program.

November 28, 2007 (Marcia): Dialogue covers both breaking news and historical subjects of interest to our state. This week's program falls into the latter category. Most of us have no realization of how many items we use every day are mined. Idaho, which had some of the richest silver mines in the world, also had one of the worst mining disasters. This edition of Dialogue explores that event.

In May, 1972, 91 silver miners lost their lives in a fire in the Sunshine Mine near Wallace, ID. This program revisits that disaster with an author who has written about it, and two people intimately involved. I feel fortunate that we are able to bring these kinds of stories to light, especially for newcomers to the state, and I think you'll be particularly moved by the comments of guest Peggy Delange-White, who lost her father, uncle and brother-in-law in the tragedy.

The area is rebounding from its own economic disaster after the mines closed — locals can't believe the prices of houses now — but the scars from the accident are still very real for many who live there, and there are still many miners around the world who work in extremely dangerous situations to bring us the products that we enjoy every day.

November 26, 2007 (Joan): We received the following email about our recent program "Open Idaho," a program that looked at Idaho's Public Records and Open Meeting law:

I noticed on your website you have the video heading as "THE LAW HAS TEETH" . . . are you kidding me?? If it had teeth there would be more incentive for those not to ignore the law. The ONLY remedy, as the AG READ . . . is for private citizens to take publicly funded entities to COURT . . . and wow, if the average citizen does . . . the fine is ridiculous!! The AG is the legal representation for many of these entites . . . all he has to do is advise his client to FOLLOW IDAHO'S law . . . the excuse he gave was ridiculous. As long as we have weak ethic laws for elected officials . . . and WEAK LAWS regarding open meetings and public records . . . the citizens will not be served. Just because one says it . . . does not make it so. If the AG was truly wanting openness . . . he could ask legislators to pass legislation that would truly PUT "Teeth in the LAW." I would have never expected to see such rubbish on your site. If the Law has Teeth . . . they must be teeth made out of a jello mold!

Sheesh . . .

Laurie

Laurie: I feel your pain. I too am frustrated that it can be difficult to hold public officials accountable for violating the state's Open Meeting and Public Record laws. If citizens don't like it, they need to contact their legislators and work to change it. Groups like Idahoans for Openness in Government (IDOG) and The Idaho Press Club will be working to strengthen the penalties for the Open Meeting law this next legislative session. In the meantime, education about the laws and why it is important to keep our government open and accessible is still very important. That's why we produced the "Open Idaho" DVD, its Web site and the Dialogue program.

November 13, 2007 (Joan): Our Thursday program is pre-empted this week due to the airing of Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century. I encourage everyone to watch this program produced by Bruce Reichert. It had its premiere on Wednesday, November 7th at the Egyptian Theater and was well received. It even has its own amazing website. Check it out.

On Sunday, Marcia talks with PBS President Paula Kerger about public broadcasting and its place in a rapidly changing media environment.

In the meantime, I have been getting some feedback from our "Open Idaho" Program.

Sandy from Boise writes:

The short acts shown on your recent Open Records show, showing different situations for public records, had a mistake. The County clerk does not give information on property tax; that would be the Count Assessor.

While Sandy is quite right that the County Assessor would have all the information about property taxes, not every county in Idaho has separate staffs for the County Clerk's office and County Assessor's office. Also, the Referee character points out that the clerk in question is new to the job and has little training on public records. So, while I think we could have made that clearer in the video piece, I think the piece is still okay. Watch it and let me know what you think.

November 8, 2007 (Joan): "Let the people know the facts, and the country will be safe," President Abraham Lincoln wrote in 1861. An open and honest government is fundamental to a free society. But that is only possible when citizens, public officials, the media and government employees are all aware of their rights and responsibilities. It has been my experience that public meetings are closed and public documents are withheld all too often. Usually, it happens because someone doesn't understand what Idaho's Open Meeting and Public Records laws require.

Idahoans for Openness in Government, a non-profit citizens group, decided to do something about this education gap. IDOG, in association with Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and his office, presents seminars across the state teaching citizens, media, elected officials and government employees about the Open Meeting and Public Records laws. The seminars are in such demand that, last spring, Betsy Russell, IDOG President, approached Idaho Public Television about producing a DVD version of the event. That's how the Open Idaho project got started.

With a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through the National Freedom of Information Coalition, we produced the DVD, added a companion website, and presented the most recent Dialogue program — all to teach everyone about these important statutes. The Fool Squad, Joe Golden and Tom Willmorth, adapted the skits first developed by IDOG and the Attorney General's office. Joe and Tom, along with fellow actors Christina Lang and Danny Peterson, brought the characters to life with the help of the outstanding crew here at Idaho Public Television.

Once the DVD is duplicated, Betsy and IDOG will be distributing them or you can check out the website to see all the content. Either way, residents now have an important "new users' guide" to Idaho's Open Meeting and Public Records laws.

October 30, 2007 (Joan): What is artificial intelligence? Stanford computer scientist John McCarthy defines it this way: Artificial intelligence (AI) is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines. Most of us view AI through the lens of Hollywood science fiction movies and TV shows. We picture the robot that answers all our demands or tries to take over the world. But AI in the real world is found on the Internet, in appliances, even your kid's toy box. This realm of science fascinates me. The men and women who are innovating in the field will decide a lot about what our future will look like.

Boise resident Caleb Chung is one of those creative inventors who finds new ways to apply AI. He is already famous for inventing Furby, the first widely released robot. His new creation, Pleo, may well find its way into your home soon. His inventing skills are impressive. John Sosoka, Chief Technology Officer for UGOBE, the developer of Life Forms robotic technology, will join him. Both men are excited about talking about their passion, AI. And it is nice to take a break from politics!

This should be an eye-opening conversation about the future of technology and humanity. Be sure to email before the show or call in live on Thursday.

October 30, 2007 (Marcia): I received about 30 email questions for Tom Luna before and after our program last week. Most were about his merit pay plan for teachers. I was able to read some of them on the air, but not all of them, so here they are. I think they give an interesting preview of some of the questions that will arise in the legislature as Supt. Luna advocates for his plan, called iSTARS.

I also received a few emails criticizing me for asking Supt. Luna about his brother, who had just been indicted by a grand jury on a charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. I had asked Supt. Luna what he would say if he could reach his brother, who at the time had still not been located by law enforcement and was potentially armed. Luna said he had no comment.

Todd in Sandpoint was "appalled" that I had asked the question. "Why on earth, in a half-hour program supposedly focusing on important Idaho education issues did she feel it necessary to bring that up, and just how did she expect Mr. Luna to respond?" he wrote. "Shame on you, Ms. Franklin," he continued, "for . . . sinking to the level of Jerry Springer in the first thirty seconds of the program!"

Irene in Boise wrote that I was "totally unprofessional" in asking Luna the question. She said it was "a cheap shot which served no other purpose than to try to embarrass and humiliate your guest. Shame on you . . . "

I did not ask the question to embarrass Supt. Luna.  He was aware that he would be asked about his brother. Earlier in the day, reporters in North Idaho had also asked him about the situation.

I can't speak for the other journalists, but I asked the question because his brother was still on the run and considered potentially dangerous. I wanted to know if he had anything to say to encourage him to return. Even if his brother had not been watching our program, the quote might have been picked up by other media entities and heard by him. I also asked because Supt. Luna is an elected official paid by the taxpayers, in charge of the safety of more than 250,000 students. The question was brief, and then we moved on. I spoke with Supt. Luna afterwards and he said that he felt the interchange had been respectful.

Of course, Luna is not the only public official to have a sibling in trouble. Many viewers probably remember the exploits of both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton's brothers, both of whom were alcoholics. The brother of William Bulger, the former president of the Massachusetts State Senate, was indicted on multiple charges, including murder. He is still on the run. The brother of Providence, RI Mayor David Cicilline was indicted earlier this year on extortion charges.

Reporters asked all of those public officials about their siblings. Do the officials say much? Usually not. As longtime Boston Globe reporter Martin Nolan said about Bulger's silence, "Family is the oldest political association that we know of. It's the deepest root." But that doesn't mean the questions shouldn't be asked.

When Bulger, who became the president of the University of Massachusetts, finally broke his silence about his brother in 2003, he admitted to having talked to him over the phone shortly after he had disappeared. Pressure from then-governor Mitt Romney prompted Bulger's resignation. Earlier this year, federal prosecutors decided not to charge Bulger with obstruction of justice.

As I do with other questions like this, I had talked with several of my colleagues about the situation before the program. All agreed I should ask Supt. Luna about it. It is never easy or fun to ask these types of questions. But I believe that it is valid to ask an elected public official about a family member charged with a serious crime. Are elected officials held to a higher standard? Yes. We choose our leaders in part for their character, and how they deal with these types of situations can reflect that.

Early Monday morning, Supt. Luna's brother turned himself in to authorities. At this time, Supt. Luna does not have any formal comment on the situation.

October 23, 2007 (Marcia): Exactly one year ago, on October 25, 2006, Tom Luna and his opponent, Jana Jones, met in our studios for a debate for the position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Tom Luna would win that election. It seems only fitting that after a year we would have Supt. Luna on Dialogue to talk about his first (nearly) year in office.

Sometimes there's a push to be "the first" to interview a new official, but that doesn't always work out for the viewer. The person may simply not have enough experience to be able to answer the questions cogently. Recently, I talked to Paul Kjellander, the incoming "Energy Czar" (I dislike that title, but that's for another blog) about being on Dialogue. He said that honestly he wasn't ready yet to discuss his plans for the office, because it was so new. I think that's fair, and we'll ask him again to be on the program.

In the meantime, Luna certainly has enough months in office to be able to field questions. So what will he and I discuss? We will surely touch on his proposed budget, which includes a potentially controversial plan to pay some teachers more, but also have them, according to the Idaho Education Association, give up some of their job security in exchange. We'll talk about testing, the re-authorization of No Child Left Behind, and about his math initiative.

But this is also the chance for you to submit your questions for Supt. Luna, either by email, or by calling us the night of the live show (Thursday, October 25th) at 1-800-973-9800. You are the ones who know your local school district best - so let us know what you think!

October 18, 2007 (Joan): This week's show came about because of the determination of one man to save tigers, elephants and all the creatures currently listed as threatened or endangered. Steve Burns, the Zoo Boise director, came to me almost a year ago saying he wanted us to help publicize the Zoo's conservation efforts. Last year, he pushed the idea of increasing the zoo's admission by a quarter to start a conservation fund. Now, he says, every time someone goes to the zoo, they are helping to save an animal. Over time that conservation fund has grown to about $60,000 and six applicants are vying for funding. Now it is your chance to do one small thing to help save a species. Check out the grant applicants and vote for your favorite three. The vote isn't limited to Boise area folks. Anyone can participate. The winners of this very public vote will receive the money. The change in admission, the conservation fund, the vote — these are all efforts to get people talking about conservation and to realize that they can make a difference. And it is not just for adults. Endangered species and conservation were the focus of the latest D4K program. Have your kids check out D4K Endangered Species website and show. Get them into the discussion.

Steve Burns is passionate about the idea that each of us can make a difference, that the problem is not so large that there is no solution. He invites everyone to vote for their favorite conservation effort, to think of it as one easy step in a long journey to save the world's endangered species. I think the next step on that journey is to talk about the problem and learn what else you can do. That's why we are focusing on this topic this week.

UPDATE: On October 4th, I did a show about the federal SCHIP program. The U.S. House of Representatives today failed to override the President's veto of this program, which provides health insurance for four million children across the country. If you want to learn more, check out the links on that show's page.

COMMENTS

Thursday, October 18, 2007 8:41 PM | Charles (Boise)

I love the outdoors, and admire all creatures of the world. Some are offensive to humans, while some are adorable. Extinction is a process the world takes to weed out the weak, or those that cannot cope with change. Who was around when the dinosaurs died out? Who will be around when the human race dies out? I feel it is all in the progress of the changing world, and no one really has any control over what happens.

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October 9, 2007 (Marcia): I'm sure the question will arise, "Why have another program about Senator Craig?" (see our September 6th show, "Senator Larry Craig's Scandal"). And it's a fair question, as I'm sure many people have tired of the story.

I, too, juggled with that issue as I tried to decide whether to do this week's Dialogue program on the Senator's decision to stay in office, despite a judge's ruling that he cannot rescind his guilty plea to disorderly conduct in a men's restroom. I talked with several of my colleagues in the newsroom here about it, weighing whether there was enough new information for us to discuss since our first program on the subject on September 6th.

Ultimately I decided that there was enough "new news" to proceed. For instance, how will an ethics committee investigation play out-out in the open or behind closed doors? Could it vindicate Senator Craig or hurt him more? How is this situation affecting the Republican Party, particularly in Idaho? Do the Democrats in Washington actually want Sen. Craig to stay? Also, he says he's not resigning because he can still be effective for Idaho; is that the case? How does his continued employment change the amount of his pension?

And frankly, fatigue with the story is also part of the story. Have voters tired enough of it and have they heard enough jokes about it that they are anesthetized against having any particular feelings? Have they "forgiven" Craig and just want to move on, or are they still angered enough to try and recall him?

There are many stories that exhaust people, including me. For instance, it is difficult to read or hear about the continual strife in certain parts of the world. But that does not make those stories less important. I do not believe the media is keeping this story alive to "sell papers." It's alive because Senator Craig has kept it alive, and because it involves an elected official paid by the taxpayers who is taking on a cause against his own party. It's also an issue many other people would hide from, so there's a fascinating psychological component to it, in my view.

I look forward to talking with my guests, all accomplished reporters covering this story, and from viewers, about where they think the Larry Craig situation is, or is not, taking us.

COMMENTS

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 6:28 PM | Jesse (St. Maries)

This entire Larry Craig affair is a disgrace and an embarrassment. Not only has his conduct been unacceptable since its beginning, but the reaction of the "Good Old Boy" club of Idaho has made it even worse. It's little wonder that the masses of us have lost confidence in our political system and our government . . . I think it's past time for him to go and I think he should realize that and act on his own, rather than force the rest of us to tolerate his disgrace until we can find other ways to get rid of him…. This, as all things, should be about what's good for Idaho - and none of us should be held above that. Not even Larry Craig.

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Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 10:44 PM | Karen (North Fork)

If Senator Craig was a sick-minded pervert, why have we not heard from his sexual partners? He has been in office a long time and has a good record. The State of Idaho is too small to hide that kind of perversion for very long. It all comes up. I believe he is innocent, but when he was in Minnesota it was just "Okay, you say I committed disorderly conduct. I have a life and am too busy to get a lawyer, go to court, etc." He only made the mistake of not telling someone when he came home. I guess he was embarrassed and hope it wouldn't surface. He needs to stay on the job. Our country has too many problems. Let's not waste any more time with this issue.

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October 4, 2007 (Joan): Welcome to Dialogue's new blog. Each week, Marcia Franklin and I will take turns adding our thoughts, your comments, and tidbits of information about the show. We hope this will be another chance to have an open Dialogue. So break a bottle of virtual champagne (or sparkling apple cider) and launch this blog!

October 4, 2007 show: SCHIP Update: Idahoans have had a love-hate relationship with this particular federal program for a long time. I sat through the legislative hearing when Idaho first adopted the Children's Health Insurance Program. It was just "CHIP" back then. Awhile later, I covered the JFAC decision to continue the CHIP program, but not fund any publicity about it. Legislators hoped that if no one knew about, no one would sign up. It didn't work. More than 20 thousand Idaho kids get their health insurance through CHIP.

This past summer, I attended a training session for Statehouse reporters sponsored by Capitolbeat. The seminar about SCHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, was one of the most heavily attended. It is a big story everywhere. I learned a lot, including that fact that Idaho's SCHIP is very well thought of by experts across the nation. But all health care costs are escalating, include SCHIP's, and that's not good news. In the Congressional reauthorization, CHIP became SCHIP and the price tag went up.

Congress wants to expand SCHIP. The President doesn't. The kids are caught in-between. It is up to citizens to get informed. Watch the show on-line, check out the links, and let your voice be heard. Let me know what you think too. Send me an email and get the Dialogue going.

Next week, Marcia will lead a discussion about the future of Idaho's Senior Senator Larry Craig and the impact of his decision to stay on the job. Email your questions in before the show.