MyDD :: Help write the Netroots Political Platform!

Help write the Netroots Political Platform!

by entrepreneur, Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 06:58:03 PM EST

Great idea, jerome

Greetings from Austin!

As you may have heard, this year's Netroots Nation marks the launch of a bold experiment in participatory democracy: together, the Netroots will craft our very own policy platform to be submitted to the DNC in advance of the Democratic Convention.

To ensure the final platform we submit to the DNC reflects the views of the entire Netroots community, we want this process to be as inclusive and democratic as possible - so we're not just limiting it to those who've made it to Austin.

MyDDers can join in the fun! Check out what we've started:

http://mixedink.com/netrootsplatform

We're using MixedInk's democratic, online collaborative writing tool to begin putting our best ideas and language together.

We've divided the platform into 5 planks (foreign policy, economy, healthcare, etc.) and we may add others by popular demand.

Within each plank, the way it works is that people submit different versions of the plank, edit each other's versions, and mix and match from different versions to create new ones. People can rate each version, and the version with the highest average rating is the one we'll submit to the DNC.

Try it out!

(Those who have made it to the conference can come to our session tomorrow from 10:30-11:45 in Room 18C to continue the process. Laptops encouraged, but not required.)

Tags: netroots platform netrootsnation dnc (all tags)

Permalink :: 8 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Help write the Netroots Political Platform! (2.00 / 2)

Whatever you do, don't forget Molly Ivins' suggestion to keep the number of planks specific, but small. Remember what she wrote? Democrats love to advocate for their 49 favorite issues, and the result is that no one can remember what they are.

Our local Progressive Democrats of Hawaii group chose 5 several years ago:

Stop the war!
Healthcare for all
Impeach Bush & Cheney!
Public funding of elections
Sustainable environment

with the acronym, S.H.I.P.S.

That's what we need nationally: no more than 5 planks, with short easy to remember titles.

Bob in HI

by Bob Schacht on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 07:10:56 PM EST

Re: Help write the Netroots Political Platform! (2.00 / 1)

It's a quibble, but isn't it by definition, by now that impeachment is a dead issue? 180? days?
got another good vowel, or another good I word, I know "Indict!"

"This Machine Kills Fascists" -- Woody Guthrie's Guitar.

by tokin librul on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 08:07:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Help write the Netroots Political Platform! (none / 0)

The idea is that whatever's most popular with the community will end up in the platform. So if that's what you want to see, just head over and submit your preferred version of the platform. If others agree with your planks, than they'll rise to the top. Kinda like the diary recommendation system...only you can copy text that others wrote! (And they can copy you.)

by entrepreneur on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 07:25:48 PM EST

Interesting Concept (none / 0)

Will it be presented to the Dem Platform Committee?

It certainly would be nice.

by Betsy McCall on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 08:26:41 PM EST

Re: Interesting Concept (none / 0)

Definitely - that's the idea. Sorry, I should have made that clear in my diary.

by entrepreneur on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 08:48:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Help write the Netroots Political Platform! (none / 0)

I need to go so as to see the obvious Limbaugh Operation Chaos folk try to masquerade themselves as us... I'm sure that they will try to put on some "hippie garb" that they would find at the costume shop, but their crewcut would give them away...

Then, I'm sure they will eagerly announce, "We should give asylum to all Al Queda members," He would snicker to himself, smiling... awaiting everyone to applaud him and demand that be put in the platform, election be darned!!! 'Cos, you know, we hate America....

Oh, to see him so confused when everyone instead gives him dirty looks and demands he leave... Oh, to be the one to escort them out of the hall into their SUV with the magnetic ribbon on the back...

Good times!!!

It profits a PUMA nothing to give their soul for the whole world... but for McCain? --Sir Thomas More (if he were here now)

by LordMike on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 11:11:39 PM EST

Off to a discriminatory start... (2.00 / 1)

I looked at the "General Principles" plank a couple of minutes ago, and was immediately turned off by the current "most popular". Yes, I know the whole idea is for others to edit and it will evolve, etc., but it's a bit disturbing that the current (7:22 am Sat July 19 2008) General Principles "most popular" definition is the following:

By donhitchdc, a member of The Netroots Community. Submitted at 2PM on 7/18/08.

Young people are the future and promise of America. Youth deserve respect.

We believe that young people should have a voice in the decisions that affect their well-being and their future. and be fully engaged in our democracy.

We believe in an America that honors the diversity of young people including race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as their experiences, talents and dreams.

We believe that all young people are entitlted to a quality education, a safe living environment, and the promise of employment. We believe that society has the responsibility to provide young people with the tools they need to make healthy decisions about their future.

So, is that what some are describing "netroots" as these days? Just "young" people? You're kidding, right? "Netroots" is a conflation of grassroots and the internet. Where does that only apply to "young" people? And what, exactly, defines "young" people vs. "old" people?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but young people frequently get older. Does that mean they lose their membership card in "netroots" and only have the AARP to fall back on?

What I'm reading in this current "most popular" statement of General Principles is yet another demand for entitlement. Gimme, gimme, gimme. What I don't see is any statement of responsibility on the part of "young" people. Not to mention the fact that the General Principles seem to only apply to one group of Americans.

Ugh...

From what I've seen so far on the planks (and yes, I know it's very, very early), there better be a far more intelligent, MATURE, and coherent statement of ideas that will appeal to the masses. Otherwise, this plank idea is going to turn into a big negative, easily poked fun at by those who would love nothing better than the chance to do so.

by DaTruth on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 07:35:28 AM EST

Write: Rights & Responsibilities of Citizens (2.00 / 1)

It looks like the first submissions were just copied from the platform created by 21st Century Democrats -- a group of young activists. So it only reflects their perspective. This is useful as a model, but I agree with you that this statement is pretty poor: all entitlement and no responsibility, not very well written, and focused entirely on young people. It ends up presenting a caricature of progressive policies.

In the past, I've been wary of these group writing efforts because they seem to attract only those with a grievance or those with a lot of time on their hands. But if Netroots Nation gets behind this and really puts some energy into it, I can see that some good could come of it.

I've submitted a statement for the National Security and Foreign Policy Plank based on what I've learned from Peace Action and the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), two peace groups that have thought about these issues for decades. I hope my statement will at least provoke a reasoned discussion about progressive policies.

I encourage you to write a statement for the General Principles plank and submit it. It sounds like you want to include something about our rights and responsibilities as citizens. That sounds to me like a great basis for a statement.

by RandomNonviolence on Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 08:25:04 AM EST
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