Grassroots growing fast in cyberspace

[w4rma]

Web adds pressure on U.S. lawmakers
…
Some of this is happening “out of necessity” because Republicans dominate direct mail efforts and talk radio, Moore explained.

“The Howard Dean phenomenon should be a wakeup call to all political operatives who think in 2004 it will be business as usual,” Purpuro added.

The former Vermont governor began his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in relative obscurity, but his anti-war views and the use of the Internet have helped to propel him to frontrunner status.

In the last two fundraising periods, Dean has raised half his contributions online, and his campaign has utilized the Internet to build a growing base of tens of thousands of active volunteers.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT
…
http://www.thehill.com/news/101503/grassroots.aspx

[denverbill]

1. The numbers tell the story.

Would you rather elect someone who is beholden to 1,000,000 small donors, or one who is beholden to 1000 large donors?

That goes for both Republicans AND Democrats, in my book.

A man who doesn't owe his job to multinational corporations is a man who can govern justly and equitably.

[lostnfound]

2. YOU are SO RIGHT!

Today Michael Moore was on Democracy Now! and commented that the Republicans and Democrats were funded by the same people, two sides of the same coin.

One of the most appealing things about Dean is where he is getting his money. (And of course, the same is true for my own favorite, Dennis Kucinich.) We MUST get beyond candidates who have been bought and paid for by large corporations.

As Democrats, we at least have the opportunity to transform our party back to its roots, its grassroots, and away from corporate ownership. Though this is a challenge, it is also where our strength lies. The Republicans cannot win in a new America where ordinary people have been lifted out of their apathy and cynicism into PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY and PARTICIPATORY CITIZENSHIP.

I believe that such is the future of our nation, if we are to have a future at all.

[reprobate]

3. lostnfound, I agree 100%, except that..........

...it ain't never gonna work until and unless we have laws and probably it will take a constitutional amendment cause the repugs will cry 'free speech'.

[Gin]

4. I feel like I am a part of the process when I contribute and help him meet

his goals. It's a good feeling even though it's minimal money!

[lostnfound]

7. What if OUR candidates spoke bluntly about the corporate cash

that's given to their opponents and to other politicians? Perhaps it would be career-limiting in the current environment, but maybe there's never been a better time, because the target is so big. Everyone can see what happened with Enron. We need a 'coalition of the not-bought-off' running for office and talking bluntly about who HAS been bought off and what possible paybacks might be expected. It's not that hard to figure out.

Taking corporate cash could be made into a taboo.

[mitchum]

5. But by the same token, the anonymity of cyberspace can make...

astroturfing look like grassroots activity. Boiler rooms, anyone?

[sendero]

6. True...

... but Google makes it hard to fake anything that is indexed. If you search for a phrase and it pops up verbatim in the context of the same letter is a zillion places, it's pretty obvious what is happening.

I'm sure there are already slime sucking cretins working on how they can spin the net, but the net is smarter than they are IMHO.

[goforit]

8. Proud of you DEAN!!!.............Now this is a poll!!!!

:bounce: