I took a bit of flack for the following suggestion during the previous election cycle. Then I got a big DNC brush off and gave up, life's way crowded for me anyway, who cares anyways? Then reality came around to deliver another wrenching gut punch election failure.
Now I, and everyone, get to absorb the result and consequences of the Democratic National Committee continuing to play yesteryear's politics. Rather than working on reaching out, engaging voters, helping to network, providing a platform for education and invigorating convictions. Instead, the campaign gave America a feel good party most were not in the mood for. So instead they picked a wannabe dictator.
What the hell, I might as well float this idea again - for a vigorous opposition party.
Googling, “Why are Democrats losing voters?” reveals that voters who care are feeling so disenfranchised by the Democratic Party that they are turning off in droves.
This, during a year that should have every Democracy loving American energized and looking for how they can best participate in the coming election, it’s frightening.
After all, more than anything this election will be about the future of open and fair elections in the USA. Beyond that, it’s going to be a national referendum between the importance of honesty and truth in America’s public dialogue vs. a descent into anger driven anarchy. No exaggeration, simply pay attention to how the Republican Party has been engaging in every imaginable dirty trick to stymie future election participation and voting legitimacy.
Successful politicians require strong, informed, proactive support at their backs if they are to lead, yet the DNC seems to be doing little to nurture that sort of buy-in from their grassroots. Why?
The DNC’s disregard towards rank and file concerns is reflected in the constant bombardment of DNC’s boilerplate donation pitches, as though donating money was all We The People are good for. I understand the need to fundraise, but what about making us feel like active participants through straight talk, informing us of challenges, calling for feedback, being responsive, nurturing engagement.
The DNC should earn its money by informing and engaging constituents in a way that makes sense to us and connects with our lives. Creating relevance, encourages enthusiasm, produces participation.
Why not use the internet? Why not create a quality internet platform for having constructive political dialogue? By Democrats for Democrats!
The Democratic Party Online Discussion Forum.
Give America’s untapped concerned citizens a place to go for sharing their own stories, ideas, concerns, questions, challenges.
The Forum would be public, though I think it would be appropriate to limit commenting and posting privileges to registered Democrats. It would require a short set of clearly spelled out guidelines. Participants would need to sign up and agree to abide by the forum’s rules and standards. Moderators would be of critical importance to the DNC’s Discussion Forum’s success - fair, consistent, with a flair for humor, touch of empathy, and an instinct for constructive resolution and steering dialogue back on point.
I’ve been participating at “forum.CenterForInquiry.org" for many years and they provide an excellent example of how such a Forum could be organized and operated. CFI is small, a Democratic Party Online Discussion Forum could serve as a nucleus for some serious community building and it would grow as Democrats across the country discovered a place to speak out, hear new voices, to learn and to network within the Democratic Party organization.
Politically interested citizens have few opportunities for connecting with others, provide us with a trustworthy adult discussion platform for constructive dialogue among concerned individuals, I can't think of a better way to rapidly increase awareness, and reinvigorate a disillusioned Democratic grassroots.
After all, for all its faults the Democratic Party is all we have! We need to focus on fixing it, rather than abandoning what little remaining political muscle we the people have.
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If the idea makes sense to you, please help spread the suggestion. You are welcome and encouraged copy and share.
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