Ending rot in America's grass roots by Dana R. Fisher - CSM

[applegrove]

Ending rot in America's grass roots
Let's be honest: If you want your politics done right, you have to do it yourself.
By Dana R. Fisher
Christian Science Monitor
Monday, 10/30/06


NEW YORK – "In next week's midterm contests, as in previous elections, discussion of each party's prospects has focused partly on the so-called ground war and the importance of the grass roots. But what, exactly, are the grass roots, and why do they matter?

Put simply, the grass roots are you and me and every other citizen in America. Living and working in communities across the country, our support drives issues, and our votes put politicians in office.

The Democratic and Republican parties cultivate the grass roots quite differently. The GOP promotes its causes through naturally occurring community groups of like-minded people, such as conservative churches and pro-business associations. Democrats, however, often outsource their politics, relying on artificial, virtual networks and professional canvassers to evangelize their message and build their party.

That's particularly ironic, because many Democrats oppose corporate outsourcing. There is nothing inherently wrong with their strategy; it is a successful method of contacting voters and bringing in money. But the repeated experience of painful losses on Election Day suggests it's a flawed approach that's hurting Democrats over the long term.

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http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1030/p09s01-coop.html

[Mythsaje]

1. Well, when the cons decimate the Unions and go after

churches with liberal leanings, they pretty much don't leave the Dems much choice, did they?

[applegrove]

2. The whole point of funding the evangelical & fundie churches was

to get a hold of them and their views and stop churches from coming together with progressives as they did during slavery, the depression, civil rights.