Eleanors38
Eleanors38's JournalI propose PRG be run like an organizing committee.
Not as formal as time-certain, Robert's-Rules-of- Order meetings, but a group which delegates certain functions and activities that within a reasonable time can yield results. For instance, we need some things done soon:
1. Clean up & shorten our lists of beliefs and goals. I and others have been working on this.
2. Designate a liaison to contact activists in the other groups already mentioned in the pinned threads. What are they doing? Do they want to combine forces? What works for them? What doesn't?
3. Look to long range planning. Who is good at PR? Being an official spokesperson? Media outreach? Scheduling? Web site development? Heavens, even fund-raising?
There are many tasks which will emerge later, but an organizing committee can be a good start.
At Demwing's request, a compendium of stands and beliefs
DU members think should be advanced by PRG. This is not in stone, and only reflects threads posted by time of this writing; you may wish to add, modify or reject some.
Stands and Issues:
1) Right to Roof, Right to Eat, Right to Health
2) Living wage
3) Protect our water
4) Renew protection of individual rights
5) Aggressively reduce college debt
6) Strengthen right to unionize
7) Free higher education
8) Bridges, utils, roads repaired Now
9) Strengthen Social Security
10) End child hunger, end poverty
11) End War on Drugs, medically treat addicts
12) End prejudice & discrimination
13) End pay inequality, voter suppression
14) Support gay & immigrant rights
15) Modernize government, esp. IRS
16) Single-payer health care
17) Tax code simplification, close loop holes
18) Capital gains taxed at same rate
19) Lower IRS taxes for new, small start-ups
20) Candidates receive $ only from constituents
21) Sovereignty over your body
22) Nat'l voting rights act for fed elections.
23) Provide for national referenda
24) End Electoral College
25) Strengthen public schools, end privatization
26) Freedom from monopolies. Open I-net
27) Restore habeus corpus
28) Speak out on climate change
29) Support alternative energy
30) Fund public elections
International issues:
1) Speak out against "Costly Trade Agreements"
2) Smart & Just foreign policy
Suggested Strategies:
A) Open lines with DFA, WFP & others
B) Start organizing around local issues
C) Get DU "celebs" to speak out
D) Never use oppositions' frame, use our own
E) Democrats should use stories, not "positions"
Actions now:
a) Living wage on all state ballots
b) Sign all correspondence using PRG & locale
c) Promote pop. Dems for 2016 Sen. elections
Some names for PRG:
I Second Bill of Rights
II People's Democratic Party
III Roosevelt Democrats
WillyT and EEO also have summations in the works.
What's in a name? We better decide...
People are offering them up in other threads, and it is our responsibility to come up with a good one. I suggest:
1) Set a time line for entries;
2) A vote on what we like.
My pithy effort: New Reform Democrats
ON EDIT, the name for this group is not necessarily a substitute for the present Democratic Party, but a more formalized public expression for this movement beyond a group in DU
Some basic inaugural discussion about goals?
Projects we can start in no particular sequence:
1) Short concise statement of what we support for the betterment of this nation;
2) How do we do this? Exp.: Reform/takeover of the Democratic Party? New Party? Movement not based on a party?
3) The Big One: What is the best approach to massively legitimize ourselves to where the Movement is The thing to talk about & to be involved in.
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