The town-meeting-based discussion, which was followed by a half-hour question-and-answer session, was co-sponsored by the Common Cause Education Fund: Project North Carolina and the UNC program of Southern Politics, Media and Public Life.
Common Cause is a nonpartisan organization that focuses on ensuring the political process serves the general interest, rather than special interests and curbing excessive influence of money on government decisions and elections.
National President of Common Cause Scott Harshbarger said Common Cause has a history of nonpartisan, grassroots involvement in political issues.
"(Common Cause) is not a Democrat (or a) Republican issue, nor is it a liberal (or a) conservative issue, it is about how you change a system," he said.
Harshbarger also spoke on the increase in voter apathy, blaming it mainly on the apparent attention politicians and political parties pay to big business and PACS.
"Money and politics are strong in our democracy," he said. "How much voice you have depends on wealth."
"(But) with the Florida elections, suddenly many people realize a vote can count," he added.
Other panel members also agreed that money runs politics and voters remain an integral part of the democratic process.
Thad Beyle, UNC Pearsall professor of political science, said much of the problems with the political system comes from parties accepting soft money -- donations to political parties from corporations, unions and wealthy individuals.
