Progressive Reform Brainstorming Thread! Post your links to helpful resources and organizations.

[NYC_SKP]

Hi All!

Please use this thread to post links to any resources, organizations, or articles that may be helpful to members of this group in developing strategies to support reform of the Democratic Party...

Please include a short descriptor and then a link, like this:

List of Leading U.S. Progressive Organizations: http://www.startguide.org/orgs/orgs00.html

Thanks everyone!

[msongs]

1. al franken 2016. no link yet but hopeful nt

[Half-Century Man]

2. wolf-pac.com

Campaign finance reform
Amendment to publicly fund all elections.

[Aerows]

8. Excellent

Publicly funded elections would end the nonsense that goes on in elections.

[Half-Century Man]

9. Good people, actual grassroot

[cascadiance]

14. We need to tackle what the Supreme Court did in its ruling in Arizona earlier...

... which has been a big problem in terms of precedent being set to provide proper funding of publicly funded candidates to effectively compete with privately funded candidates. Here's an article to read on this...

http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2010/04/21/house-panel-oks-clean-elections-repeal/

Note in that article in the last paragraph that Sandra Day O'Connor's law firm was the legal entity that brought forth this lawsuit that the Supreme Court ultimately ruled upon in this case to our detriment.

And she seems quite the hypocrite then complaining about the effect of Citizen's United on elections, when it was her law firm that perhaps effectively shut down one way that public funding could be use to fight money being in our elections.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/06/27/sandra_day_o_connor_worries_about_scotus_s_new_tack_on_campaign_finance.html

This should tell us that with even Sandra Day O'Connor working against publicly financed elections, that we have a big job on our hands trying to get this to happen. We need to be aware of all of these historical events to ensure that what we put together and what we want to push is able to deal with those that will fight us in putting it in place. That will not be an easy fight.

[sabrina 1]

20. That is one of the most important issues and probably is going to be one of the hardest to

implement. But we have to start somewhere. Thanks for the link.

[Half-Century Man]

24. Check it out.

Need volunteers at the state level

[Odin2005]

30. YAY, another Wolfie!

[Half-Century Man]

32. Right now, just a wolf cub

[WillyT]

36. Yay Wolf-Pac !!!

They already have Vermont and California onboard, and it has passed out of committee in New Jersey, and is awaiting a vote.

PLUS... they elected three Wolf-Pac activists to state offices, kicking one 16 term guy from Vermont (who stood in their way) out!

[Chathamization]

3. I've found both Democracy for America and the Working Families Party to be good progressive groups

Around here they've both been good at getting the word out and helping to organize for progressive candidates (I wasn't 100% happy with WFPs endorsements in the primary, but in general they've been good). My local DFA group in particular has been a great place to connect with progressive activists (and if you're in DC, I really suggest you check them out). It's also great that both groups are active at the very local level and at the national level.

[mopinko]

6. second this. dfa here is going strong.

especially working for the down ticket races.
building the bench. so important.

[sabrina 1]

21. 'Building the Bench'. The party needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up so this sounds like a very

good way to do it. The people need a say in who runs for office. And the best way to start finding and supporting candidates at the local level so they are known to the people and know what the people want when they are ready to go to Congress.

[Phlem]

4. Excellent!

I love it!

[pinto]

5. Glad to see this forum for progressive input to our Democratic agendas.

[NYC_SKP]

7. We'll compile these into a pinned thread, maybe. Another list from Sourcewatch:

.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=List_of_progressive_organizations

[freshwest]

10. K&R. Will try to see what I can find... But I'm usually involved with my liberal district.

[JonLP24]

11. Independent redistricting

Arizona has it because most voters want it as it passed because of a ballot measure.

It led to an open process that led to more sensible drawn competitive districts. Democrats have won 5 out of the 9 districts but most of the races going back to 2012 weren't easy either. It also decreases the "wasted vote" mindset seen in badly drawn districts that favor incumbents.

http://azredistricting.org/

(Google currently has a disclaimer that the site may be hacked)

[sabrina 1]

22. That's good news from Az, that a measure like that passed as a ballot issue.

[KoKo]

13. Progressives’ Route to Power Beyond 2014--Report/Action from PCCC

Last edited Thu Nov 13, 2014, 12:21 PM - Edit history (1)

By Marissa Barrow--Progressive Committee for Congressional Change

Last Tuesday was not a repeat of 2012, when PCCC members helped elect 30 amazing candidates — including Elizabeth Warren. It looked more like 2010. It was tough. It was disappointing.

Candidates who ran great campaigns — and should have won — lost in the Republican wave. Bold progressives achieved some important victories Election Night, and some were too close for comfort.

The PCCC Post-Election Report outlines the huge investments made this election cycle that are now for the long term — in future leaders, new technology, new best practices, and more member empowerment. All in addition to congressional victories. CHECK IT OUT (PDF) HERE:

http://boldprogressives.org/2014/11/progressives-route-to-power-beyond-2014/

Frankly, Democrats did not have a united economic agenda in this election. There was a lack of big ideas. Some Democrats tried to sound like Republicans, and they lost.

Elizabeth Warren was the most popular Democrat on the campaign trail for a reason: Her message of taking on Wall Street, reducing student debt, and expanding Social Security benefits is popular everywhere — red, purple, and blue states.

Moving forward, something needs to change. America needs a bigger politics.

Progressives won’t win their own tidal wave elections unless they can build a movement around big ideas — free college, full employment, Medicare for All, more Social Security — and the candidates who campaign on those ideas. Elizabeth Warren is the best example. But there are thousands of others out there who believe in a more expansive vision of political change.

If you believe in this — if you are ready to fight hard for big ideas — TELL US HERE:

http://boldprogressives.org/2014/11/progressives-route-to-power-beyond-2014/

The PCCC started down this path in 2013 — when our members changed the national debate from cutting Social Security to expanding it. Many candidates won last night by running on that message.

MORE about PCC's Election Night Campaign Wins at:

http://boldprogressives.org/2014/11/progressives-route-to-power-beyond-2014/

[sabrina 1]

23. That should be an OP Koko. I get their emails and they are doing great work. The more people

who support them the stronger and better they will become. Now that we see the whole picture, the Third Way influence on our party, and the futility of continuing to empower them by continuing to do what we've done before, people are going to be able to devote more time to do what needs to be done, rather than wasting any more time 'hoping' that maybe 'this time' it will for the people.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. Don't get me started!!!

http://www.jimhightower.com/
http://www.alternet.org/
http://www.commondreams.org/
http://consortiumnews.com/
http://www.democracynow.org/
http://fair.org/
http://inthesetimes.com/
http://www.motherjones.com/
http://www.opednews.com/
http://www.pacifica.org/
http://peacefultomorrows.org/
http://agonist.org/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/
http://www.dailyhowler.com/
http://gadflyer.com/
http://www.thenation.com/
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/
http://globalresearch.ca/
http://zfacts.com/

Just a few.

Then there's these goodies:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
http://ww2.genevaconventions.org/
http://www.un.org/en/

An extra from the archives:

rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04072804_moore.rm

[NYC_SKP]

16. Awesome, thanks!

Keep the hits coming!

[Lifelong Protester]

17. Can anyone join this group?

[NYC_SKP]

18. It's not a closed group that one needs to join.

Anyone can contribute, nobody is blocked, and there's an expectation that posting members respect the group Statement of Purpose.

[Lifelong Protester]

19. Thanks! I might be more of a reader/learner

but I often 'follow' the posts of the folks who are already here.

[swilton]

25. Any discussion of War & Peace

should look at US foreign policies in the Middle East - essentially the elephant in the room.

Here are just two websites that give an objective view that counters the propaganda provided by AIPAC

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/


http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/

There are others.



Thank you for being considered to contribute to this discussion.

[RadicalGeek]

26. Do Media Voices Count

The Rick Smith Show is a progressive, populist, pro-labor radio program based out of Carlisle, PA.

http://ricksmithshow.com/

[NYC_SKP]

27. I think that's fine, would ask that you also post that to the DU Progressive Media Resources Group.

Yeah, we got one of those, too!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1269

[RadicalGeek]

28. Will do

I feel like I'm his semi-official PR man.

(I should help him rig up a mobile app for the show--IMO)

[Odin2005]

29. Please join Wolf-PAC and help get corporate money out of politics!

http://www.wolf-pac.com

[PADemD]

31. The Roosevelt Institute

The Roosevelt Institute is a nonprofit organization devoted to carrying forward the legacy and values of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt by developing progressive ideas and bold leadership in the service of restoring America’s promise of opportunity for all.

http://www.rooseveltinstitute.org/about

A New Deal for the 21st Century
http://www.rooseveltinstitute.org/about#New_Deal

The Four Freedoms Center
The Four Freedoms Center develops bold ideas that are beyond the narrow parameters of the current political debate. They form the foundation of a New Deal for the 21st century.

http://rooseveltinstitute.org/programs/four-freedoms-center

[Zorra]

33. Green Party Platform

Lots of good ideas here to consider for incorporation into the Democratic platform.

http://www.gp.org/what-we-believe/our-platform

[swilton]

34. Two more

surprised no one mentioned these.


http://www.truth-out.org/


http://therealnews.com/t2/

[KoKo]

35. For Research Purposes "Moyers & Company's" Videos of All Shows

Bill Moyers has done some great shows on "Populism and Fighting Back" with many ideas from his Guests.

They are now available on You Tube and some of them are really worth a re-visit if we want to build a Rump of the Dem Party for Progressive Populism.

It's worth a look just to go to the link and scan the shows for ideas:

Uploads from Moyers & Company

by Moyers & Company
307 videos
20,625 views

http://www.youtube.com/user/MoyersandCompany/videos

[Cosmic Kitten]

37. SOLIDARITY first, POLICY second

Populist Reform will require solidarity first.
Policy is secondary.
This is simply because chasing policy
would amount to a wack-a-mole approach.

WHO do POPULISTS represent?
Am I a Populist?
That is creating solidarity.

What do WE, the Populists want?
POLICY 1: Fix a broken election system.

How is it done?
Study the opposition playbooks
Learn the tactics
Know the players
Recognize the tools
Find unlikely allies
Know thyself
Study The Wizard of Oz: A populist parable if there ever was one

[NYC_SKP]

38. Progressive Democrats of America:

.

http://www.pdamerica.org/



...

[RiverLover]

40. Center for Progressive Reform

Excellent group. Already doing what we propose to do here~

http://www.progressivereform.org/

[RiverLover]

41. Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Another excellent group, with over 1 million members, already doing what we propose to do here~

http://boldprogressives.org/?akid=24591.755088.CoXtBe

[think]

42. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law

http://www.brennancenter.org/about

http://www.brennancenter.org/issues/voting-rights-elections


Named after William J Brennan, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Brennan,_Jr.

[UrbScotty]

43. Sharing Breakthrough Ideas in Politics: Jill Alper & Friends

Less about policy and more about politics/campaigns/strategy:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharing-Breakthrough-Ideas-in-Politics-Jill-Alper-Friends/805671376158792?sk=timeline

Alper is a longtime political operative and currently a DNC member from Michigan.