We have massive numbers and need to organize, any ideas?

[nascarblue]

Ok, Democracy, the Constitution, and The Bill of Rights are fading fast and being pillaged. We have Social Security's piggy bank of trillions about to be raided, torture being reworded to Bush wanting to detain all POW's for life without due process, regardless of the fact that many after 3 years of torture proved to be innocent, yet proven terrorists have been released as the 140 Saudi's released on 9-12, the Bin Laden chief lieutenant who was on the FBI's top ten most wanted list released from German detention recently, destroying oversight ethic committees that police our elected officials from corruption and breaking ethics rules, and on and on and on.

My suggestion is we need a game plan that is effective and organized. We need to not only press our Senators, Congressman, and lesgislators as we've been doing, But I believe it's time to act physically. We all know that this country is headed full spead ahead for a serious police state. We've all seen this happening in the last 4 years. But now, I feel before it gets completely out of control, we have to take to the streets. IS it possible to get a streamlined and organized plan. An active think tank to focuses on change? I hope to get some ideas in an active physical movement. Any ideas to where we can streamline and consolidate?

[yinkaafrica]

1. NOW you're talking

This should be a permanent category on this site.
What to do next?

[Goldeneye]

2. DU needs to hook up with PDA and the green party and Move on

and everyone who apposes bush needs to get hooked up, so we are all on the same level. Everyone needs to act in unison. Is this possible?

[yinkaafrica]

5. Boycotts work

It's all about the money.
We need to organize.

[yinkaafrica]

6. Rallies do not work

Not at all. Forget about that.
Boycotts work. 50% of this country is pissed as
hell. Organize and I will follow.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Join the new Boston Tea Party, and get to work rebuilding the

election system.

http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/index.htm#shopping

[BikeWriter]

3. Scream it, shout it, talk it up.

Our country has been stolen!

[KaryninMiami]

4. I'm with you. I have a suggestion for a possible great starting point...

Progressive Democrats of America http://www.pdamerica.org/

A gathering of progessive thinkers and leaders and a good place, I believe, to begin. Maybe we can get a good sized group from DU to be there as well. After reading their vision statement a few weeks back, I immmediately registered for their conference in DC
January 21-23, 2005

"Only 15 more days before we converge in Washington, D.C.
Three days of inspiration, planning and problem-solving. Helping to shape the future of the Democratic Party, and the direction of our country, with progressive speakers, discussions and workshops. Together we can take back our Democracy! See flyer.
http://pdamerica.org/tools/events/jan_summit_2005.pdf

John Conyers, Tom Haydon, William Rivers Pitt, James Zogby, Jon Bonifaz, Amy Goodman and more.


Vision:
We are committed in word and action, both personally and politically, to justice and democracy at all levels, and to the preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems in America and worldwide.

We are specifically committed to the realization of new models for achieving local, national and global security that redirect the current wasteful and obscene levels of military spending toward the uncompromising and effective funding of: health and education programs; an end to discrimination; the provision of full and meaningful employment; and an end to poverty for all people.

[ugarte]

7. Our political vote seems not to count

so we might have better luck with the economic vote. As an example, the NAACP has had some success in the 1980s boycotting cities and states for racist policies.

If progressives boycotted states that are pursuing anti-gay marriage policies, for example, we could have an impact. Remember the Anita Bryant furor? We could persuade conventions not to go to the most homophobic states, or to cities with the most racist police departments, as well as boycotting companies with bad environmental practices or right-wing outfitslike Clear Channel and Sinclair Broadcasting.

But as a caveat, we can't boycott everything. We have to pick one highly visible target at a time and stick together.

It's no secret that collectively our eceonomic power is great. The whole trick lies in acting as one, maintaining a united front. That takes organization, but the internet is an amazing tool.

[nascarblue]

8. It is amazing how much activity there is, but....

We're all over the map. Seems like I find a different progressive sight every other day.

One thing you have to give the GOP's is they've had a head start on streamlined organization. I am totally down.

Any of you who are up for this, let's get on each others DU buddy list and give this some serious thought. Ill wait an hour and then let's send each other PM's and get on each others buddy lists. BTW, I'm in So Cal.

[shance]

9. Great question. Democracy for America has the largest membership

of any Democratic political organization I know. We just had our monthly meetup last night. We have had to move our meetup because it has grown and last night the room was wall to wall.

DFA is also aligning with Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) that someone else mentioned.

Ive been a member of DFA for a while and I think one of the greatest aspects of the groups is how the organization is getting people and communities involved in the political process. There were about a hundred people (i think) at our meeting last night of all ages and backgrounds.

Last night, there was a boy about thirteen sitting next to me and his little brother, both were sharp as tacks. The thirteen year old asked a terrific question, and they were both very concerned about this country they are going to inherit. I was so glad to see them there. I hope to see more families bringing their kids (****no babies****)and getting them involved.

There's alot of great energy and anger in our midst. We are going to need it. We need to focus it and channel it more effectively. I think DFA is the best vehicle from which to build because the foundation is there and the capacity for its growth and success is enormous.

I also like the fact DFA promotes creativity and new ideas and actually building something. Ive not seen alot of flexibility and a sense of real opportunity like I see in DFA. I would say it is the most "democratic" organization I have ever been a member of within the Democratic party.

[OneBlueSky]

10. yes . . . we need a central, compelling issue around which . . .

we can rally Democrats, Independents, moderate Republicans, and other who do not share BushCo's view of the world . . . that issue can (and should, imo) be "ending corporate personhood" . . .

most people do not know that corporations are legally considered to be persons . . . and they don't know the ramifications of that little idiosyncrasy . . .

I believe that people will rally around a movement to repeal corporate personhood . . . because the issue will provide a platform from which we can address ALL of the ramifications of corporate governance, from industry writing their own laws and regulations, to obscene corporate executive compensation, to moving offshore to avoid US taxes (and other tax dodges), to corporate rape of the environment, to loss of pensions, to outsourcing of American jobs, to interlocking directorates, etc. . . these are all issues that people care about . . . and, for the most part, are on our side of . . .

there is great potential for stirring voter outrage if we can effectively communicate -- and prove -- the truth about how corporations operate, and how they control our government . . . making the absurdity that is corporate personhood the lead issue ensures at least that people will listen, because most have no clue about this, and will be amazed when they find out the truth . . .

yes, there are other issues that could be used as rallying points (9/11, election reform, Social Security, etc.) . . . but corporate governance both supersedes and encompasses all of these . . . and because it does, it's the perfect vehicle for starting a vibrant populist movement in this country . . .

if we are ever to achieve ANY meaningful change, we MUST take on the corporations and return them to being what they were intended to be -- servents of the people, not their masters . . .

[Califooyah Operative]

11. Voting reform.

Make it one of THE issues. The lobbying on behalf of voting reform should never end until we get what we want. It's already obvious it's become a movement, big names stepped up to the plate in the past week on the issue of voting reform, its up to us to keep the ball rolling. But I agree let's continue to use our numbers, and in more effective and new ways.

[hollowdweller]

12. Grassroots- It worked on Sinclair, it worked against Bork now we need

To work on:

The fairness doctrine;
Outlawing permanent replacements
Social Security

[Catchawave]

13. Form a DU Group ?

That would be a nice start for progressive activists. Sometimes these wonderful ideas in these busy forums drop out of sight far too fast.

Just a thought, count me in :)

[graphixtech]

14. "9/11 Truth: The Key to Systemic Change"

"The official 9/11 story has in fact empowered so many subsequent crimes
against the country that 9/11 Truth has become the mother of all issues
and remains the key to widespread redress."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Given the momentum and added strength of the corporate forces now in
power, citizens will face unending appeals this year to combat
firestorms on many different fronts.

"We can struggle to prioritize our donations to stop war atrocities,
environmental assaults, our grandkids' ballooning debt, attacks on our
rights and Constitution, the shredding of the social safety net, and a
dozen other centrifugal symptoms of the sickness at the top.

"OR we can step back a pace or two and see where all this carnage
connects and focus our resources on tactics that would stop it all at once."
(more)
-DK

Learn more:

http://www.911truth.org/