Countywide : Forums to Probe Political Change

With elections less than two months away, the National Issues Forum of Orange County will host a series of public meetings over the next two weeks focusing on ways to improve the political system.

Forum participants will examine the influence that wealthy “special-interest groups” have on politics and discuss how to streamline government bureaucracy.

Other topics include promoting personal responsibility and encouraging people to participate in government.

Nine forums will be held in at sites around Orange County. They are sponsored by the National Issues Forum as well as local PTAs, libraries, colleges and civic groups.

The first forum takes place tonight at Mission Viejo City Hall from 7 to 9. Other evening forums are scheduled Wednesday at the United Way in Laguna Hills, Thursday at the San Juan Capistrano California Federal Savings building, Sept. 27 at Dana Hills High School and Sept. 29 at Laguna Beach City Hall.

Afternoon forums will be held Friday in San Clemente and Sept. 29 at Laguna Hills Leisure World.

People interested in attending one of the forums should call the National Issues Forum at (714) 724-1412 to receive reading materials that will be discussed during the meetings.

At the end of each forum, participants will fill out a ballot that lists how they’d like to change government. Information received at the forums will be complied by organizers and presented to lawmakers.