News Column

GradeGov.com Enables Users to Rate Their Elected Leaders

April 30, 2009

Rob Kuznia--HispanicBusiness.com

GradeGov.com, gradegov explained, gradegov voting, rating politicians



In the academic arena, college students have long been able to grade their professors on the Internet. And services like Yelp have long allowed user reviews of restaurants and businesses. Finally, it appears the political arena is catching up.

The recently launched Gradegov.com will allow constituents to give their elected representatives a grade from A to F.

The founder of the site is former Senate staff member Elizabeth Letchworth. The aim of the site, Letchworth told Politico.com, is to allow people to communicate directly with their representatives. She said citizens are becoming increasingly frustrated by how their communication with elected officials must go through the traditional prisms of newspapers, pundits, pollsters or paid staff.

"GradeGov.com lets you speak directly to your elected officials," says the "about us" section of the site. "There are no professional pollsters or news anchors filtering what you say. You speak on your terms, from your kitchen table or desk at work."

The site's slogan is "They work for you. Remind them." Gradegov.com claims to be non-Partisan, but so far, Republicans appear to be the teacher's pets.

As of Thursday morning, the top-five grade getters were all Republicans, with Texas Congressman Ron Paul topping the list with a B-plus. The bottom five were all Democrats, with New York Congressman Timothy Bishop earning the caboose position with an F.



Source: HispanicBusiness.com (c) 2009. All rights reserved.


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