This is the way we must go to get the future we want.

[K-W]

1. Build all this energy into a lasting movement through organization.
2. Win democratic party primaries throughout the country on local levels. (this is such a vital step, these elections have such and impact on the direction of the party)
3. Beat republicans in local elections. (stack the political minor leagues full of our guys)
4. Win State democratic primaries.
5. Beat republicans for state seats.
6. Win national primaries.
7. Beat republicans for federal government.

I know it looks daunting, but the far right provided us a perfect roadmap on thier way to the top(bottom?). Only we shall use truth to climb the ladder.

[eleny]

1. If we don't get rid of the electronic voting machines

Nothing on this list can be accomplished. So, I'd add one more - but at the top of your fine list.

[spatlese]

2. I agree.

The voting machines must go!

[K-W]

4. Ah yes, but the solution is already in the plan.

Local elections are the key to everything.

Why is it that all the towns across the country are buying these voting machines?

It is because the town and state governments are overrun by right wingers. This has left them with an amazing political foundation, one that has always seemed to defy reason. Eight years of Clinton, and they only got stronger.

The way to get control over how votes are counted is to win local elections. This is the key to everything. You win local elections and it is like stacking the minor leagues in a sport, you have just set the rosters for 10 years down the road.

Local and state elections are much much harder to steal, because everyone is always much more educated about the specifics of the election. We need to do this asap, before it gets worse.

With all the flaws in this system, if we can only get the power of votes behind us, we can still use the system for good.

[Maple]

3. Well first of all

you have to decide on the future you want.

You can't sell an item, no matter what you do, that you don't have.

[K-W]

5. I don't follow.

The future I am speaking of is based around the liberal/progressive ideology that dominates this site.

I dont understand your transaction metaphor.

[rucky]

6. The game of politics is fixed. here's how to proceed:

1. Stop buying crappy consumer products.
2. Stop watching TV
3. Boycott everything and everybody remotely profiting from bad Bush policies. (and ride the bus if you can).
4. Stop bashing Christians.

My thinking is that we are fighting a two-front war & WE need to pick the battleground because the game of politics is fixed. Bush is just a lackey for his corporate masters, so let's take this fight straight to the top & get 'em where it hurts them the most - their pocketbooks.

On the other front, this so-called culture war has become so un-Christian like it's ridiculous how the Religious Right has left a big gaping hole of hypocricy in their philosophy & we haven't been using that to gain the favor of Christians who see the value in helping the poor and working for peace - instead we've lumped 'em all in with the 700 Club whackos.

[K-W]

7. The game isn't fixed.

Look at the Republican Party for goodness sake. Yah, they love the wingnuts when they win elections, but how do you think the old establishement republicans like the fact that thier party has been overrun by an insane populist movement?

The system isnt fixed at all, you just have to know how to work it.

While I like some of your policies, they wouldnt do much of anything to change the overall picture. Our society has provided the opportunity for populist movements to gain a great deal of control over the system, the right is taking advantage, why isn't the left?

As for your number 4, I dont even know where to start. The culture war exists because there is actually a cultural devide. There are some people who have accepted homosexuality as acceptable, there are some people who have not. There are some people who can live with abortions happening to at least some extent, there are some people who cannot. There are some people who like off color humor and dont mind seeing it or saying it, there are some people who see it as a serious problem. There are some people who can compartmentalize religion and state, there are some people who see no reason in the world they shouldnt be combined.

The culture war has little to nothing to do with the rather small backlash against religion it has caused amongst liberals.

[Cinletharwi]

8. I would add this to the list

Talking about it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2589912

Until we do something about Corporate Power in this country, we will never truly "win." They are playing for keeps, and securing all bets. They pull all the strings today, ultimately, and now own the machines which (mis)count our votes.

Until we deal with them head-on, we are pissing upstream. We won't be able to deal with them on their own terms (through government). Our only power now is the dollars we spend, and fortunately for us it's their biggest vulnerability.

[K-W]

9. Of course, once we have the government, we can tame corporations.

Corporations still control the system mostly through votes. It is the ability of corporate money and power on who wins elections that gives them their immense leverage with politicians. They benefit from the fact that the conservative movement has tied itself to them giving them unreal numbers of votes.

If we can get the workers to start voting for thier interests as they once largely did, we can use the power of the government to contain corporations.

[Cinletharwi]

10. We wont "have the government" until we get Corps out

Politicians appeal for votes then process to represent Corporate and business interests ahead of ours.

We would have to 'tame' corporations first because the government does not belong to us, it belongs to the highest bidder. The politicians have always been quite capable of passing laws forbidding corporate influence of them and government - why do you really think they haven't? They have no intention of doing so, they depend on Corporate and Business money for their political survival.

Corporations control the media and it serves their best interests, not ours, so we will not get voters to vote for interest until we subjugate Corporate ownership of media, lobbying, and financial support of political candidates.

We would have to go for the root cause and punish them directly via the only real power we have: where we spend our dollars.