What is/are your Goal(s) as a Political Activist and are you achieving it/them?

[FrenchieCat]

I ask this question because different members here have very different reasons as to why they participate here.

Some want to simply be kept informed,
others want to express their political opinion,
while some have political objectives that they want to see accomplished.
I'm sure there are also a few who simply like to debate and don't necessarily have a political goal,
while others may not have anything better to do.

My political objective is to witness as much progressive progress possible via our government
in my lifetime considering the current political environment;
a slanted media, and an apathetic uninformed population of voters.

My long range goal is to ensure that the next generation (including my children) will have a
fighting chance at capturing the American Dream and the promise of a brighter future.

The way I see that happening is via the defeat of the Republican Party as a whole
(because I don't believe that they have the best interest of the American people at heart),
while promoting the Democratic party, and ensuring that the media does what it was originally set up to do;
provide truth via cogent and informative data on what the important issues are by way of balanced and fair articulation.

I have come to this site for the past 7 years, and have logged over 60,000 post in order to do what I can to see that this happens. I have used this site as a sounding board in the promotion of the Democratic party, and toward the defeat of the Republican party. I have also used this board to discuss the state of our media today, and encourage those who would bother to take action while often providing a method in getting this done.

So I'm asking what are your objectives and goals you have if any,
and how are you going about achieving them using this site?

[damntexdem]

1. My goals are to advance policies and perspectives in a variety of areas.

Helping elect representatives who support these policies and perspectives is then a means to this end, not an end in itself.

[FrenchieCat]

3. So are you using this site to accomplish your ends?

[no_hypocrisy]

2. My goal is to persuade a voter to understand the position I'm advocating and to vote accordingly.

My forte is local activism. I talk to people at entrances/exits of supermarkets esp. around election time.

[FrenchieCat]

4. So when you participate here, is it simply to stay informed and

to debate the issues?

[no_hypocrisy]

8. DU is a wonderful kiosk of information, most of which can be referenced for authority.

So yes, that is a primary reason I do participate on this board. But I also appreciate the diverse points of view, including those that differ from mine. To date, nobody has ever attacked me personally or my opinions. There is no place like this one.

[Yavin4]

5. I'm Here Because I Was Told That There Would Be Pie

And I'm still waiting.

[FrenchieCat]

6. You are very honest, and I love that!

:toast:

[TheKentuckian]

7. To bend or to break and by any means necessary

[FrenchieCat]

9. Very Cryptic....

but I wouldn't expect any less.

[Arctic Dave]

10. I use this board for debate, discussion and gather a larger knowledge of Democratic ideas

outside of my own. I try not to become dogmatic in my views and outdated.

This what I have been working on for the three months or more. This my wife, she is running for State House for our district:

http://www.jodieforstatehouse.com/


She is putting her money where her mouth is when it comes trying to shift things back to an even alignment. I am extremely proud of her and her devotion to her core beliefs as a person.

[FrenchieCat]

11. I am proud of her as well....for doing what many of us dare not do.

I will go to this site, and I will give a small donation as my way of saying
"You are making a difference".

Thanks for you post.

[Arctic Dave]

13. Thank you Frenchie. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

15. If many just gave $5.00 to someone who is willing to put themselves out there......

it could help make a difference.

[JustAnotherGen]

12. Great question

I read DU for many years prior to posting. It kept me informed on those items of interest the manstream media does not report on. As well, and continues to open my mind to other belief systems, priorities, and perspectives.

So how do I use it? Wind at my back. I grew up in a politically active family (both parents proud Dems!) in which my parents both ran for local town offices and won with a big fat D next to their name. Though I have no desire to run for myself . . . I love getting ideas for the people I'm supporting ESPECIALLY in local elections of how we can make our campaigns better. I love the State Forums for just this reason. If something for the Wisconsin State Senate rep can help my NJ State Senate Rep - then the more power to all of us on the left.

I've also been actively involved in Genocide Watch, Human Rights Watch, Second Harvest, Save Darfur, and my local food banks (I'm limited now due to ankylosing spondylitis taking over my body - but even if it's emailing people on my FB to make food donations when I'm running some over - it's better than nothing).


Are any of these Hot Hot Hot topics at DU? Nope. But do I every once in awhile run across a progressive who shares an interest in hunger issues locally and globally - as well the safety and security of human beings both at home and abroad? Yeppers. But again - I've found a simple private message can open a dialogue help me with my local organizations.

So at the end of the day - though I love reading the insights and participating in discussions surrounding current political events? I find that DU is a great place to share with like-minded folks ideas to make this world just a little bit better.

At risk of sounding dopey, shallow - yet sentimental - I'm going to quote Sarah McLachlan:

Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in this story's pages
The light has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I'll try to hold it in, yeah I'll try to hold it in


The world's on fire and
It's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water
(Try and bring my share)
I try to bring more
More than I can handle
(Bring it to the table)
Bring what I am able

One more thing - those who are NOT activists - it's okay. Sometimes they are our BIGGEST cheerleaders when we encounter people who don't have ANY idea that the world's on fire. At least they acknowledge it and think about it. ;-)

[FrenchieCat]

14. Thank you for your response.

I think sometimes we forget why we got involved in the first place.
It is always good to think and to remember.

[LWolf]

16. I've never considered posting on an anonymous board to be "activism."

Goals? At this point, just one:

To be an obstacle.

An obstacle in the path of the nation as she lurches to the right.

An obstacle in the path of the Democratic Party's lurch to the right.

An obstacle to neoliberalism and conservatism.

An obstacle to privatization and union-busting.

Have I been successful? Somewhat. Apparently, the message is getting louder and causing at least some irritation in some quarters.

I have other goals which I've been told are unrealistic or impossible. I certainly haven't given up on them. I'll continue to fight against both the status quo and the changes I don't believe in until I see an opening, and then I'll be right there to fight for the changes I believe in.

None of that is happening on DU, though. That's not activism. DU can a reflection of actions in the real world, but is, in the end, an anonymous message board.

[FrenchieCat]

17. So you goal is to be an obstacle?

do you post elsewhere with the same goal of unactivism? :shrug:

[LWolf]

19. An obstacle to destructive policy, yes.

If that's what it takes.

A supporter of positive action.

They go together.

Apparently you didn't read well.

That's not a goal on DU or any other anonymous message board. Posting on an anonymous message board isn't "activism." It's a conversation with other anonymous posters.

Why?

What is your goal on DU?


I DO post in a couple of places that aren't anonymous:

ARN, the Fairtest email list.

A group on facebook:

"Teachers' Letters to Obama"

Both of those sometimes have meetings and actions, as well as discussions.

I also participate in local chapters of various activist groups, in person.

I donate to, write letters for, and offer other support to select candidates when I can.

I write many letters and make phone calls to my reps.

[jillan]

18. When I want to be a political activist - I volunteer and make phone calls, do mailers, etc

When I come to DU it's to discuss what's going on in the news d'jour...both the good and the bad.

Coming to DU is NOT political activism by any means and I hope people don't confuse the two because there are alot of great Dem candidates out there that can really use more volunteers to help them get elected.

[FrenchieCat]

20. I agree that on the ground work is the real activism.....but that being said,

there are some folks who do activism via the Internet, and in fact, some of their posts here at DU. Whether one would call signing petitions, making donations, and writing politicos and the media "activism"....I'd say that it is. I think in fact, that just about anything that someone does that is positive to the Democratic party, in essence is helping the Democratic party.

[JoePhilly]

21. My main goal is to keep the GOP out of power ...

Because failing that goal, none of the other goals can be achieved. The GOP is nuts. And none of my other goals are possible with them in power, period. Bottom line, there is no single payer, no end to DADT, no protection for Social Security, or anything else we on the left (moderate left and far left) want.

So, with the GOP tied up in a corner (which they are not), my next goal is to help elect progressive candidates in places where they are hard to elect. I live in NC, and so it was a big victory when we kicked Liddy Dole out and replaced her with Kagen. I'm hoping that we can replace Burr with a Dem in 2010.

And so ... if NC's senators are "solid" or in good shape (left of Dole and Burr), I put more attention to other close races. Can I donate money to candidate X in state Y.

I also go on line, a used to spend free time (between meetings, etc) on the USATODAY site, debating the far right wing, knowing that for every person who comments, about 10 just read. And so, any debate with a right winger is seen by about 20 people who did not post.

For a long time, I used DU to help me build my debate points, added points I thought were winners to DU, leveraged arguments from DU folks. But hat is getting harder to do. DU is spending far too much time fighting internally. I find that I can't come here and get a sense of what DU thinks is the "best counter" to some right wing talking point, we're too busy fighting us. And I find that I end up wasting time on DU, rather than debating with the far right in a more diverse arena.

[FrenchieCat]

22. Thank you for what you are doing to help fight the right wing looneys.......

because as you say, if they get hold of power, they ain't ever letting go again. Look how long it took to get rid of Bush! And we all know they stole that, and still..... :(