From Campaigns Wikia

The Campaign Wikia is a tremendous concept with a flawed execution.

The issues-oriented articles that almost immediately sprung up are simply here to rehash what we already know, and do not bring us together to seek common ground on how to improve campaigns or politics in general. Instead, they break us into camps we can defend against other camps.

We already do that in political campaigns, and on NUMEROUS blogs and boards across the Internet. This was supposed to be a different place with a different mission.

The issues articles are a huge distraction that will hijack this Wikia's purpose, probably for months or even years. The failure to set clear standards and guidelines for the use of this site makes it a very flawed project, and that's too bad because the ideas behind it are VERY GOOD, positive and relevant.

I suggest that the issues article category links be removed from the front page, with one link linking them to a secondary page. Debating issues such as the environment, gay rights or the high price of gasoline was (I believe) not the intended focus of this Wikia.

In their place I would suggest ten to twenty article pages - each with discussion pages so they can be fleshed out - that explore REAL ways to improve campaigns, increase candidate-voter contact, and explore the use of New Media in campaigns.

Reforming the political process, including term limits, new ways to draw Congressional districts, campaign funding, ballot access, and ending voter fraud are among the many possible topics that could make this Wikia a VERY valuable and positive site for political campaigners and politicians alike. Reforming government itself would be another excellent, on-topic set of articles.

The Wikia founder(s) should also require the simple act of registration - which could cut vandalism in half, if not by more - and should create a short, clear mission statement - then enforce it by deleting or sidelining off-topic articles. Yes, those are "rules" and some see all rules as "heavy handed." But without rules, the mob rules, and mobs only destroy, they don't build.

If action isn't taken to reign in the bitter partisan battles over the same old issues the "real world" is battling over, then this site will simply be one of MANY other partisan sites where people can go to yell at one another.

And that would be a shame.

(Comment on the Talk page please. Not here)