Which does more to help elect Democrats and progressives?

[Radical Activist]

I don't mean to diminish the value of online organizing but I think if the Democratic party had an active, hard working precinct captain in every precinct in America that we would win the next election in a landslide.

That is also how ultra-right wing conservatives took control of the Republican party away from the moderates in many areas. Of course, it takes a lot more effort to work a precinct.

[More Than A Feeling]

1. what does a precinct captain do?

I am not familiar with local party structure.

[Carolab]

3. You have to communicate with the precinct, set up meetings, projects, etc.

It's a management spot and you are firing up and organizing the troops in your immediate precinct.

[Radical Activist]

4. A few different things

They are the Democrat in charge of their neighborhood.
They have to knock on the doors of everyone there on a somewhat regular basis.

They should know who the Democrats are in the precinct and make sure they show up on election day. They should make sure any Democrats who move to the neighborhood are registered to vote at their new address. They try to convince some Republicans or independents in the precinct to support Democrats.

Traditionally they do a lot of the things ACT was doing during the election. The difference is that a precinct captain lives in the neighborhood and knows the people there personally, so it has more impact. ACT was needed because the Democratic Party stopped doing this kind of basic grass-roots work in many areas.

They also get to vote on who the Chair of the Democratic Party is in their County. So if enough progressives become precinct captains they can make sure their local party is progressive, which would then put pressure on the state party, which would then influence the direction of the national party.

[More Than A Feeling]

7. Thank you both for the info

what sort of political qualifications/resume should one have if they think that they want this position?

[LSdemocrat]

8. Nothing much. Mostly time and energy.

Knowledge about the issues also helps.

[More Than A Feeling]

9. sweet! is this elected, or appointed? n/t

[LSdemocrat]

10. Depends on your local party

First, I'd contact your your local Democratic party organization. If you don't know who to call, I'd first contact your state party. Ask them who your local committepeople are and try to find out when they meet, then go to a meeting and inquire.

[Radical Activist]

12. I'll echo what LSdem said

contact the chair of your local county Democratic Party. It varies depending on where you live. Some areas are less inviting to random people coming in to volunteer because a local party boss may want someone loyal to him/her in that position.
In most places you can get appointed if there isn't a committeemen in your precinct or you can run for the position in the next election.
Good luck!

[intheflow]

2. Both.

Everyone has their part to play, and not everyone has the time, energy, or health to become intimately involved in party politics.

And another way the Right organized was through churches, don't forget. So I'd add a category to the poll, organizing via religious communities, plus an "All of the above" option.

As it is, I didn't vote for either of your choices. :shrug:

[Radical Activist]

5. I didn't say you couldn't do more than one thing

or that only one thing had value. Which do you think has the greatest impact?

[intheflow]

6. Honestly, both.

It's impossible to say which has the greatest impact. There are just too many variables. For instance, what if we have precinct captains in every precinct, but 25% of them are incompetent, annoying, or even Republican plants? They would not be adding value to our cause, whereas an big, organized, public demonstration/rally/lecture series/etc. might have a much greater impact in any given precinct. jmo

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Well, you already know what I think will help

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Save our country one town, county, and state at a time!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm#why

[wyldwolf]

13. definitely the second choice

While I love armchair politics via the internet, and hanging with like-minded people at meet-ups, nothing beats being in public and canvassing for effect.