I bought my Democracy Bond today

[Rose Siding]

If there are 15 Democrats, or 50 or 5, who are so afraid of losing crony bucks that they would betray the public interest, then I want to be counted as one of those who tried to *take it back*

I called 'em up and took my name off the snail mail list because I don't want them to waste money sending me stuff.

So now I'm in, I'm in, I'm in :bounce:

We are half way there. From today's DNC e-mail:

I am happy to report to you that, as of this morning, we are halfway through rolling out the 50-state strategy that you mandated. We've hired organizers and moved resources into 25 states. And thanks to your commitment -- including record fundraising from ordinary Americans -- the plan is ahead of schedule.

I can't overstate how revolutionary this change is for our party. We've put people and resources on the ground in half the states -- and before the end of the year we will have moved into every single one.

Regional organizers are the core of this program. Nearly ninety have been recruited so far, and more come on every day. These are local people being hired to work in their own states -- they know the terrain, and they are committed to our party's success.

That commitment is what I want to talk to you about. This is a huge new financial commitment for our party. You kick-started it by raising the money to get the first few states off the ground, but we're not going to be able to meet our commitments in one-off fundraising drives. We're only going to be able to do this by finding people who will make a commitment and stick to it.

The beauty is, it only takes a small commitment from any one of us. Republicans raise $10 million every month in huge checks from corporate interests. But if a million working people give just $20 a month, we can out-raise them and reshape the political landscape. The Democracy Bonds program is about building a community of people who have made that commitment -- make yours now:

http://www.democrats.org/democracybonds

The organizers we've hired have also made huge personal commitments -- we have asked every one of them to come on for a minimum obligation of four years. They left their jobs and committed to stay with us no matter what.

That's not how things are usually done in the political world -- in this business, people don't usually stay in the same job for very long. There's always another campaign to work on, or some organization gearing up for the next election.

Until now, the national party has encouraged this system. We have made the same mistake every election cycle -- during the last few months before the presidential election we build a huge organization, and then dismantle it as quickly as possible.

That's not how we're going to do it anymore. You mandated change, and we're moving fast down the road of building a permanent infrastructure in every single state.

But we can't change the way we do business without changing the way we finance our party. That's why every one of us that believes in changing the way things work needs to make the Democracy Bond commitment -- it's the only way it will happen:

http://www.democrats.org/democracybonds

....

This is about more than just building a national political party -- it's about connecting people with their democracy again. It's about energizing people at the local level to come together and fight for the common good and a government that's clean, honest, and solves real problems.

The Republicans take the completely opposite view. They view our government as an extension of their partisan machine.

They have people like Karl Rove, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, who thinks that his partisan political goals trump our national security.

We can do better than that -- and Americans in every single state and territory deserve better than that. So we're going to build our party everywhere and take on every fight -- because we want to do things differently.

Thank you for being a part of it.

Yours sincerely,

Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

[madfloridian]

1. They are starting Democracy Bond rallies...

http://www.democrats.org/page/s/bondsrallyboston
Governor Howard Dean
Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
for a gathering of stakeholders in the democratic process at

The First Democracy Bond Holder Rally
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The Rack
24 Clinton Street
Boston, MA


This event is open to ALL Democracy Bond holders. If you've already gotten your Bond, simply RSVP below and your name will be at the door. If you haven't gotten your Bond yet, get yours now so you can join us for the very first Bond holder rally - RSVP below, then on the next page, get your Bond!

For more information, please contact Julie Ide at [phone] or [e-mail].

Julie posted this at Kos earlier today, but it dropped very quickly.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/29/114926/123

[NoBushSpokenHere]

2. Well........it is a start BUT ......

Let's see........does it address our concerns?

My analysis:

"I am happy to report to you that, as of this morning, we are halfway through rolling out the 50-state strategy that you mandated. We've hired organizers and moved resources into 25 states. And thanks to your commitment -- including record fundraising from ordinary Americans -- the plan is ahead of schedule."

Hmmmmmm 50 state strategy....okay, what is the strategy? And, now we know there is record fundraising, do we know the plan?

"I can't overstate how revolutionary this change is for our party. We've put people and resources on the ground in half the states -- and before the end of the year we will have moved into every single one."

Well, good, glad to know that now there are democrats in all states :)

"Regional organizers are the core of this program. Nearly ninety have been recruited so far, and more come on every day. These are local people being hired to work in their own states -- they know the terrain, and they are committed to our party's success."

Hmmmmm just 90 so far? Have any DUers been asked?

"That commitment is what I want to talk to you about. This is a huge new financial commitment for our party. You kick-started it by raising the money to get the first few states off the ground, but we're not going to be able to meet our commitments in one-off fundraising drives. We're only going to be able to do this by finding people who will make a commitment and stick to it."

Huge commitment, money raised to kick-start, only way to keep commitments is more fundraising.....they need people to fund raise or to bring about change?

"The beauty is, it only takes a small commitment from any one of us. Republicans raise $10 million every month in huge checks from corporate interests. But if a million working people give just $20 a month, we can out-raise them and reshape the political landscape. The Democracy Bonds program is about building a community of people who have made that commitment -- make yours now:

http://www.democrats.org/democracybonds "

Lets see....we need to raise 10 million a month??? A million working people (are there still a million people who have jobs)? Out-raise and reshape the political landscape.....yes, I guess that is sorta what we have been talking about?

"The organizers we've hired have also made huge personal commitments -- we have asked every one of them to come on for a minimum obligation of four years. They left their jobs and committed to stay with us no matter what."

Okay, well yes, that is good, we do need full time people working for democratic causes.....or are they working for fundraising?

"That's not how things are usually done in the political world -- in this business, people don't usually stay in the same job for very long. There's always another campaign to work on, or some organization gearing up for the next election."

No argument here

"Until now, the national party has encouraged this system. We have made the same mistake every election cycle -- during the last few months before the presidential election we build a huge organization, and then dismantle it as quickly as possible."

Not only dismantle it, but not contest the election?

"That's not how we're going to do it anymore. You mandated change, and we're moving fast down the road of building a permanent infrastructure in every single state."

Good

"But we can't change the way we do business without changing the way we finance our party. That's why every one of us that believes in changing the way things work needs to make the Democracy Bond commitment -- it's the only way it will happen:

http://www.democrats.org/democracybonds "

Okay, well how much is going to be spent on election reform?

"This is about more than just building a national political party -- it's about connecting people with their democracy again. It's about energizing people at the local level to come together and fight for the common good and a government that's clean, honest, and solves real problems."

Well, I think the local levels have been fighting for this....did the DNC lose the memo?

"The Republicans take the completely opposite view. They view our government as an extension of their partisan machine. They have people like Karl Rove, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, who thinks that his partisan political goals trump our national security. We can do better than that -- and Americans in every single state and territory deserve better than that. So we're going to build our party everywhere and take on every fight -- because we want to do things differently."

Take on every fight? Do things differently? Okay, they have my attention now, but I want to know the plan......just what is the plan......and how much of the plan involves getting rid of e-voting??

Thought I could learn more of the plan by clicking on the link....oops.....just a request for money....10 million a month needed? Seems like an awful lot of money needed for a democracy. Ah, at least it is a step....maybe there will be some follow up emails detailing more of a plan? I posted another thread today regarding if the DNC had sent any information regarding educating county leaders about e-voting and how important it is to reform the election system, amend HAVA, etc......maybe this information can be printed and mailed from the 10 million a month coffers......oops, too late for that in most states......Diebold already in place in alot of them.

[Rose Siding]

3. We each have concerns far too complex to all be addressed in one e-mail

While the link that was sent is for contributing, it is but one page on the DNC site. Other locations there do cover some of the questions you raise.

If you click the logo at the top, the main page displays menus for various topics. For instance, the report on voting reform is at this link-

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/06/democracy_at_ri.php

There, also find a link to Dean's remarks about plans to use the information...

snip>
This report is an important first step, we now have the factual basis and a series of 23 concrete recommendations to review and study to determine how we can work with elected officials at all levels, community leaders, activists and citizens, to ensure that that the right to vote and to have that vote counted -- the right that is the bedrock of our democracy, that protects all other rights -- becomes a reality for all Americans.

I'll be studying the report and putting together an action plan that we will present at our next DNC meeting in September, '05. The Democratic Party is committed to ensuring that we move forward from today, ready to do the work required to reform the way elections are conducted, and to ensure that we restore American's confidence in our election system.


As for there being dems in every state ("Well, good, glad to know that now there are democrats in all states"), there are states the national party hasn't reached into for a long time. The real point is that local parties haven't had enough resources to function effectively...

snip>
"The Republicans have been beating our brains out for too many years because of their greater ability in grass-roots organizing and a willingness to put more resources into that," said Mr. Achelpohl, party chairman of one of eight red states that Mr. Dean has targeted for additional funding.
The first states Mr. Dean targeted were West Virginia, North Dakota, North Carolina and Missouri. He later added Nevada, Mississippi, Wyoming and Nebraska.
"Dean is committed to a restructuring of the Democratic Party. I don't want to disparage Terry McAuliffe, but last year the DNC raised $400 million, and Nebraska's share of that was $12,000," Mr. Achelpohl said.
...
The money, which varies from state to state, will be used to hire state party organizers, conduct field training and build voter lists. In a recent fundraising plea for an additional $250,000 to add more states to the list, Mr. Dean said the plan is "to beef up infrastructure and ... connect people with the local party."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20050530-121530-2552r.htm

I don't think democracy should cost me one red cent...however, the reality is that the way our political system has evolved requires it. It isn't how it ought to be, but being able to organize and coalesce takes gobs of money. To change that system peacefully, we need power. -To get power, we have to provide an overwhelming counter balance to corporate wealth.

It is a start. And I'm IN :)