Jul 23, 20215 min read

Election Year Education

Updated: May 30, 2022

#chrisevans #politics #education #exclusive #asp #astartingpoint #election #republican #democrat #AskASP

A Starting Point aims to show "both sides" of political issues.

Our Founding Forefathers

In 1776, when our founding forefathers were signing the Declaration Of Independence, there was not a man, woman, or child that was labeled Democrat or Republican. Our forefathers talked and conversed and educated about what this piece of insignificant paper would be about. They delegated on how the wording must sound promising. They spent sleepless nights fearing that the strength of this delicate document would have them lynched, drawn & quartered, & marked as a traitor. There was still hope; our founding forefathers would not be alone in their anguish or dragging their names through the mud. A nation, unified as one, would share in their pit of despair. Their servants, the townsfolk, the popper on the street would soon become a ray of hope that would spread like a mob hunting down an ogre of darkness with the knowledge that was shared with them of government, politics, and unity. Yes; our forefathers had to meet in a secret underground rave, for a time, but then they became an Olympic Flame that sparked knowledge in any person who had a question about the issues of the Revolutionary War. Knowledge to any African-American who dreamed of freedom. Knowledge to any woman who desired Votes For Women. Knowledge to any child who simply wanted to know what it was like to be President Of The United States. At this time, deeply submerged in our distant past, our founding forefathers knew early on that knowledge should not be coveted, but rather shared and embraced. If they had not shared their knowledge of government, politics, and unity with outsiders; then the Declaration Of Independence would not have become the most humbled and honored American historical artifact it is today. Our founding forefathers knew, within their hearts, that knowledge is courage in the face of fear.

Chris Evans Is Getting Into Politics, But Probably Not the Way You Think

It's admirable that Evans is using his celebrity to try to make politics more accessible, but the approach is very, well, optimistic to say the least. Giving politicians one more platform where they can stump and spin all they want, even if only for a minute every time, is probably not going to go very far in changing anyone's opinions. And often, presenting an issue as a matter of two sides simply disagreeing can give the illusion that some middle point between them is actually the best approach, which is Howard Schultz's entire argument for why he should be president.

By Luke Darby Of GQ | April 7, 2019 | Click For Full Article

A “basic grasp on what the two parties think.”

Truth Being Blurred

Fast forward to the modern day. This is the time when our past really should be jumping forward. Especially where sharing knowledge is concerned. Today we have the labels of Democrat and Republican, or in some cases a Demo-crain, if you believe in the views of both parties. The thing that has changed is the use of knowledge. In this day and age knowledge is not shared but used as a weapon. It’s become coveted and misused. When the words government or politics are mentioned most people shy away and feel disconnected. Why does today, now, our future have to be where knowledge is locked away like the man in the iron mask? Why can’t knowledge be like it once was, an inspiration for the courage to know in your heart that you are fighting a good fight? Why can’t it be that Olympic Fire again and have its sparks fly out and light the way out of darkness so deep that you can breathe again and know that being who you are is another stronger link in a chain of progress and change? Why does the knowledge of Congress, government, and politics have to be blurred? Well, there is going to be some light at the end of the tunnel and then the fog will lift. It’s called A Starting Point.

One Of The Assumptions:

Underlying Evans’ project—and it’s a very big assumption—is that the force of his fame will be enough to attract people who otherwise would have zero interest in watching a carousel of videos from their elected officials. This, by all accounts, is most people: Only a third of Americans can name their representatives in Congress, and those who can aren’t binge-watching C-Span.

By Arielle Pardes Of Wired Magazine | January 15, 2020 | Click For Full Article

What Is A Starting Point?

A Starting Point is a civic engagement project encouraged and co-founded by actor/director Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, and entrepreneur Joe Kiani. This project is a website where people who are politically incorrect and politically illiterate about politics, like myself, can go and get both the Democratic and Republican sides of politics and debunking the mysteries of today’s Congress and government. Evans, the nephew to former D-Mass Rep. Mike Capuan, is a straight shooter when it comes to his political views. He’s already got an invitation video, shown above, set up and the hits onYouTube are up to 15,502 views and growing by the nanosecond. From the research, I have compiled Evans and his team seem to be looking back to our founding forefathers of old. Instead of coveting knowledge, they want to share it and embrace it. Evans seems to be looking towards the future that should have been looked at long ago. So far this engaging civic project has enticed Sens. Jim Risch of R-Idaho, Debbie Stabenow of D-Mich, and even Tim Scott of R-South Carolina. As out-spoken as Evans has been about Trump he ensures that A Starting Point has “nothing to do with,” his, “political opinion. It’s not about,” his, “political opinion, this is about yours. This is a chance for you to talk about the issues that matter to you.”

POLITICAL POLARIZATION IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM

On Saturday, CNN revealed that he is developing a website that will present Democratic and Republican takes on the country’s most pressing matters. But fixing partisanship with partisan chit-chat is a bit like trying to cure diabetes with Skittles.

By Justin Ray Of Columbia Journalism Review | April 10,2019 | Click For Full Article

Downside...Lack Of Information

The only downside to A Starting Point is there is not much information on it. In the video, Evans mentions that “we hope you’ll consider being a part of this site. If you have any questions, any questions whatsoever, feel free to reach out with the information provided.” However, there is nothing at the end of the video that provides information to contact Evans, Kassen, Kiani, or anyone involved with A Starting Point. Evans’ publisher will not even respond to inquiries about A Starting Point. There are also a few nay-sayers that do not believe in this project due to, again, LACK OF INFORMATION saying that it is nothing but “a ham-fisted effort,” comparing the term ‘both sides’ to the Charlottesville Tragedy and going so far as to say that “When politicians come on and lie to,” Evans, ”—and they’re going to lie to him—how is he going to handle it? Is he going to fact-check?” With no more information than that to go on it seems to be the knowledge Evans is looking for on his civic project is starting to dwindle. The question is can Evans get that Olympic Flame to keep burning like in the days of old and enlighten the hopeful sparks that this project has the means to become and be another one of America’s assets in its truest form?