Bloggers of the world unite - we desperately need one voice

[Ugnmoose]

Why is it that we can't have an activist Internet community that acts as one voice when it comes to lobbying for change. Think about it. What if the webmasters for all of the major Internet blogs came together to form one group solidy committed to one effort - making sure that the voices of those who support their form of alternative media get their voices heard, loudly and clearly and with authority. My guess is that there are now millions of us out there who are thirsting to voice our opinions and have them heard by those to whom they are truly directed. The adage is in unity there is strength. Never has that been more true then in politics. We now have the most wonderful mass communication vehicle in the history of mankind - the Internet. It can reach millions of people in a matter of seconds. But up until now the impact of the Internet is analagous to the pioneers heading West in the early days of this country. They were on their own in small groups blazing trails, fighting obstacles every step of the way. We activists are much like the pioneers of old. We are blazing new trails in mass communication. But we are doing it haphazardly, without a thoughtful plan for truly marshaling the incredible power of this vehicle.

And so, I commit this thread to those thoughtful among us who wish to contribute their ideas on how we can use the power of the Internet coupled with the good sense of those who call themselves liberal activists to get the changes that are so desperately needed in helping us take back our government.

Go ahead - fire away.

[Redroach]

1. Check out Bartcop.com

His site is hosted I believe by Marc Perkel. He seems to be moving in the direction that you're suggesting.

[Kalisiin]

2. I Wish We Could Unite As One Voice

I really do. I don't see it happening, though. Hell, we have enough infighting right here on DU. Granted, some of it is trolls and moles and Freepers who are here to cause trouble. They are usually quickly discovered and removed...usually only to return under new names, anyway.

The fact is we, even here on the left...we have our own competing versions of Utopia...and we have our "sacred cows," issues that we refuse to compromise on...or refuse to see them ignored.

Environmentalists have their issues, GLBT people like me have ours, Vegans and animal-rights activists have theirs...and some of these other groups conflict with what I believe and want...just as some other groups conflict with what others here believe and want.

for example, it is my perception that, given a chance, the PETA folks would rip the pork chop out of my hand, if they could, and force me into eating nothing but broccoli. That would be intolerable to me.

So, where do we find our common ground? Lots of issues. The problem is, we all have our "sacred cows" that we refuse to let go of...and those who oppose us use those issues to drive wedges into us, and cause us to fight each other, instead of our common enemies.

How do we overcome this obstacle?

I'm not willing, even for a second, to consider that myself, and my GLBT brothers and sisters, are not worthy of equal civil rights, and equal opportunity in the workplace, without fear of discrimination. Others here might claim that, by demanding this, we are shooting ourselves in the foot.

Similarly, the environmentalists, and the PETA people...are just as unwilling to compromise on issues near and dear to them...and there are people like me who would say THEY were shooting us in the foot, by refusing to yield on their issues.

So how do we all come together, with one voice, when so many of us are Democrats, and on the left, because of one issue that is very near and dear to our hearts? How do you propose we accomplish this...and who gets left behind?

for my part, I'm not willing to again see my GLBT brothers and sisters sold down the river in the name of political expediency.

So, how do we accomplish this unity, and how do we include everyone? Especially when, as I pointed out above...some people have issues that conflict with others. Like the pork chop/broccoli analogy I gave above. I mean, I might be engaging in a little hyperbole to make my point, using that particular example, but I'm sure that those who read this will see what I mean.

How do we overcome our own internal divisions? That has to come first, before we can come together with one united voice. And, of course, no matter how strong a voice we develop, it will never be more than a whisper, if we cannot re-balance our Fourth Estate...and if we cannot, through the acquisition of paper trails, verify the honesty of elections.

So how do we regain our voice? We've been stifled. The media has stifled us. Bush and Company is trying to stifle the Internet...our one and only untainted means of transmission of information and ideas. The integrity of elections is already compromised. So where do we go from here?

[Ugnmoose]

3. Diversity is not necessarily bad nor should it be an obstacle

There are many issues that are so-called "sacred cows" for liberal activists. And you are correct that it is difficult to get us all to agree on many of the same issues. But that said, I think we can hopefully agreed on some very significant issues and frame an approach that will unify our voices. As an example, let us deal with the current issue of illegal wire-tapping. Is there one among us (oh I guess there will always be one) that thinks it legal for the Executive Branch to conduct warrantless searchs of Americans on our own soil.

Then let's address our current nominee for SCOTUS - Mr. Scalito. Can we not all agree that this joker is a disaster for liberal causes? Or what about electronic voting? What about sky-rocketing health insurance? These are just a few issues which most if not all of us can readily embrace and unite behind.

I say let's focus on the positive aspects of our community and take strong united positions on things that will most impact all of our lives.

[Kalisiin]

6. The Problem Is...

how do we focus on just the common ground? You know as soon as it comes out that Leader X does not support Sacred Cow A...the people who DO support Sacred Cow A are going to break away, and badmouth Leader X.

And when it comes out that Leader Y does not support Sacred Cow B, all The B-Cows are gonna break off, and badmouth Leader Y.

You get the idea.

And I'm as bad as the rest. I won't support any leader that would ignore the needs of GLBT people. Or sell us down the river for the sake of political expediency. Or who would ignore the urgency of our need. If he's not for us having full equal civil rights, then he is against us, and I would not support him.

I don't want a leader who is lukewarm about...or refuses to speak about MY sacred cow. Or who would ignore it and hope it went away. I want a leader who is passionate about MY sacred cow. And I suspect there are others, with different sacred cows...who feel the same way I do.

THAT is my question. How do we address THAT problem??

I mean, obviously, all of us here can agree on the need for good-paying jobs to be here in America, for something to be done about skyrocketing health insurance costs, and gasoline costs...and the negative impact that has on our budgets. Obviously, we can all agree we want to see higher education available to those who want it. Obviously we can all agree something needs to be done about Scalito, and illegal wiretapping is bad, and e-voting is seriously flawed at best, and outright fraudulent at worst.

We can all agree on that.

The problem is...once we get a leader willing to stand up on all those issues...all the Sacred Cows are gonna come in from the meadows, wanting to be sure their sacred cow will continue to be fed.

How do we deal with that?

[Just Me]

4. Whenever I've suggested a "united" voice,...

,...many have expressed a fear of losing their,...um,...independence. x( We need to unite on our common needs and rights. There is NO loss in doing that.

[bpilgrim]

5. well i am trying to put together an open source media archive

feel free to link to it and 'steal' anything you want up there ;->
http://GlobalFreePress.com

psst... pass the word ;->

peace

[Ugnmoose]

7. Kick for thoughtful minds

Folks I really think this needs some serious discussion. Bitching and griping to each other is a fine way to vent our frustrations, but we need to do alot more. We need to come up with a plan to unify our voices. Ideas????