Progressive Future?

[pamela]

Does anyone know anything about this new organization, Progressive Future? http://www.progressivefuture.org/

They are advertising on DU in the top left corner of the Greatest Page. I spent about an hour going through their web site last night and it looks very promising. I'm just wondering where they are getting their money because, for a start up, they seem to have pretty good resources available. They have a lot of job openings and have plans in the works to open offices in 60 cities.

The question about their funding is in no way meant to imply anything untoward. I'm just curious. It looks like the kind of thing the right has been doing so effectively for years and I was really excited to see this organization's plans for reaching out to progressive activists and promoting progressive issues. I was very impressed with their ideas and plans for the future and would like to learn more about them.

[geckosfeet]

1. Thanks for posting the link. Look interesting. I think you are correct

about the right being organized for years. But this takes organization to the people. I think the rights organizational models centralize power at the top for the few at the top. The loyal RW followers worship their leaders so much that they cannot see that they are being played.

I am joining - but no contributions yet. All my spare $$$ (including my economic stimulus bribe) goes directly to Obama's campaign (and building my next pc) till I reach my cap.

[pamela]

2. Thanks for the reply.

I haven't signed up yet with them, but I think I'm going to. I've had kind of a crazy?/brilliant? idea floating around in my head for a while now and have been looking for an organization like this. My hands actually started shaking last night when I was reading their site because it seems like the perfect fit for my idea. Their staff seems really young, though, which isn't a bad thing. I just don't know how receptive they would be to a middle-aged lady with a whacky idea.

[geckosfeet]

3. You never know unless you try and there is no better time than now.

[pamela]

4. Timing.

That's one of the things I was wondering about. It always seems like a lot of these groups spring up around election time and then disappear after the election. Their site seems to indicate that they have long-term plans, but I wonder. I mean, obviously, some of the canvassing jobs are geared around the election but I'm wondering if the offices they are planning to open are going to remain open after the election. I hope so, because to build that kind of grassroots movement, the time in-between elections can be as important as the election season.

[mmonk]

5. I don't think we'll have one. I don't envision police states

that have an agressive military foreign policy as "progressive" as I understand the term.

[undeterred]

6. I'm curious about it too.

There's also a "progressive" organization starting up in my state... but I want to know how does a "grassroots" organization start out with all this salary money?

[mmonk]

7. Inquire and see what they say.

[undeterred]

9. They don't even have a website yet.

I heard about it in a press release, and the people they've hired are experienced in Democratic politics... not necessarily progressive.

[mmonk]

10. Oh, my bad. I guess we have to wait and see.

I bet there will be many imposters using the moniker though to tap into the feeling of so many for change.

[mmonk]

8. oops dup

[pamela]

11. Tides Foundation, maybe?

They seem to be the big bucks folks in the progressive movement. I noticed an article today about a conference this weekend being held by the Tides Foundation and they used the term "progressive future" several times. Probably just coincidental phrasing but it could explain the deep pockets if they're behind it.

Hmmm...curiouser and curiouser.:P

[ColbertWatcher]

12. I looked up "progressivefuture.org" at WHOIS...

...it came up with this:

Registrant Name: Thad Williamson
Registrant Organization: Thad Williamson
Registrant Street1: 10 S. Sheppard St.
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City: Richmond
Registrant State/Province: Virginia
Registrant Postal Code: 23221
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: [phone]
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX:
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email: [e-mail]

[pamela]

13. Wow, thanks.

Must be this guy...http://jepson.richmond.edu/faculty/williamson.htm Interesting background. I spent some time perusing his curriculum vitae and it looks like he has written fairly extensively on progressive issues and social movements. I don't see him listed anywhere on PF's site so I wonder what his role is there.

Thanks again for the info.

[ColbertWatcher]

14. I don't know either, but...

...that's the name that came up. I think WHOIS just tells you who is the webmaster, or person who "owns" the website?

I checked opensecrets.org (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=Thad+Williamson&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=100&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=opensecrets.org&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off) and found nothing.

Here is the link from WHOIS http://samspade.org/whois/progressivefuture.org

[pamela]

15. Thanks again.

Maybe he just owns the domain name. Looks like he bought it in 2005 but Progressive Future's "Our Story" page says they came together in '07.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

[ColbertWatcher]

16. You're welcome. n/t

[pamela]

17. shamelessly kicking my own thread

:hi:

[bobbolink]

18. Thanks, pamela, for bringing this to our attention! You know me, however....

If they call themselves "progressive" and there isn't a strong advocacy for poverty, then I really can't spend energy on it (no money, so that's not an issue. :) )

As you know, I'm really tired of "progressives" not having us poor folk in mind. I'm tired of being chopped liver. So I won't say more about it.

It hurts.

:(

[pamela]

19. Hi Bobbie.

I almost pm'ed you with this link because it looks like they might be based near you. I'm also disappointed that there is so little mention of poverty on their site. I'm hoping it's because they are so new that they are just starting out with the issues (Iraq, environment) that they think will draw in progressives.

My other disappointment with them is that there seems to be very little focus on rural America. The offices they are planning to open are all in urban areas. I guess that makes sense in terms of allocating your resources to get the most bang for the buck but I think this "preaching to the choir" method of activism is one reason progressive organizations often fail in their objectives. I honestly believe that rural America is driving the debate these days and the progressive tendency to ignore, or worse, denigrate them, is a fatal flaw.

Still, I'm a bit hopeful that this organization could be a very good thing. My hope stems from the fact that they seem to be well funded and have an organizational model geared towards reaching out to grass-roots activists. I think they are worth watching. There are several places on their site for giving input so I may sign up and ask about some of these issues like poverty and rural America, etc.

[bobbolink]

20. I agree completely that this is why they fail.

"Preaching to the choir" and not reaching out to those of us who've been left out is a serious error.

I'm so very disappointed (well, much stronger than that, as people are suffering and dying!) that "progressives" can excuse the omission of those of us who are hurting most.

Saying it's hopeful because they have money.... OUCH!!!

I hope you will either rethink your position on this, or only use it to speak up for those of us who are left out and voiceless.

I know that's a strong statement, but I repeat... people are suffering and dying while the excuses go on.

Just think... would you feel the same way if it was racial omissions? Or any other in that vein?

Please think about that.

Poverty and homelessness continues and gets worse because good people accept it, and are afraid of speaking up.

[pamela]

21. oh, no, that's not what I meant.

About the money thing, I just meant that gave me hope that they might be able to stick around for a while and grow into a TRUE progressive movement. I just see so many of these groups spring up around elections and disappear.

I absolutely agree that ANY "progressive" organization should put poverty at the forefront of their issues. It's one reason I haven't signed up with them. But they are so new, that I'm thinking it might be worth getting involved with them, if for no other reason than to make sure they don't ignore poverty.

[bobbolink]

22. Thank you, pamela! That's why I appreciate you so much!

If you can agitate from the inside, that's great.

But, beware... it's seductive to "fit in".

I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm hurting from being so invisible.

Especially to "progressives"

:cry:

edited to add the most important part:

:hug: :loveya: :hug: