Campaign finance reform
Amendment to publicly fund all elections.

Publicly funded elections would end the nonsense that goes on in elections.

... which has been a big problem in terms of precedent being set to provide proper funding of publicly funded candidates to effectively compete with privately funded candidates. Here's an article to read on this...

http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2010/04/21/house-panel-oks-clean-elections-repeal/

Note in that article in the last paragraph that Sandra Day O'Connor's law firm was the legal entity that brought forth this lawsuit that the Supreme Court ultimately ruled upon in this case to our detriment.

And she seems quite the hypocrite then complaining about the effect of Citizen's United on elections, when it was her law firm that perhaps effectively shut down one way that public funding could be use to fight money being in our elections.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/06/27/sandra_day_o_connor_worries_about_scotus_s_new_tack_on_campaign_finance.html

This should tell us that with even Sandra Day O'Connor working against publicly financed elections, that we have a big job on our hands trying to get this to happen. We need to be aware of all of these historical events to ensure that what we put together and what we want to push is able to deal with those that will fight us in putting it in place. That will not be an easy fight.

implement. But we have to start somewhere. Thanks for the link.

Need volunteers at the state level

They already have Vermont and California onboard, and it has passed out of committee in New Jersey, and is awaiting a vote.

PLUS... they elected three Wolf-Pac activists to state offices, kicking one 16 term guy from Vermont (who stood in their way) out!

Around here they've both been good at getting the word out and helping to organize for progressive candidates (I wasn't 100% happy with WFPs endorsements in the primary, but in general they've been good). My local DFA group in particular has been a great place to connect with progressive activists (and if you're in DC, I really suggest you check them out). It's also great that both groups are active at the very local level and at the national level.

especially working for the down ticket races.
building the bench. so important.

good way to do it. The people need a say in who runs for office. And the best way to start finding and supporting candidates at the local level so they are known to the people and know what the people want when they are ready to go to Congress.

I love it!

.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=List_of_progressive_organizations

Arizona has it because most voters want it as it passed because of a ballot measure.

It led to an open process that led to more sensible drawn competitive districts. Democrats have won 5 out of the 9 districts but most of the races going back to 2012 weren't easy either. It also decreases the "wasted vote" mindset seen in badly drawn districts that favor incumbents.

http://azredistricting.org/

(Google currently has a disclaimer that the site may be hacked)

Last edited Thu Nov 13, 2014, 11:21 AM - Edit history (1)

By Marissa Barrow--Progressive Committee for Congressional Change

Last Tuesday was not a repeat of 2012, when PCCC members helped elect 30 amazing candidates — including Elizabeth Warren. It looked more like 2010. It was tough. It was disappointing.

Candidates who ran great campaigns — and should have won — lost in the Republican wave. Bold progressives achieved some important victories Election Night, and some were too close for comfort.

The PCCC Post-Election Report outlines the huge investments made this election cycle that are now for the long term — in future leaders, new technology, new best practices, and more member empowerment. All in addition to congressional victories. CHECK IT OUT (PDF) HERE:

http://boldprogressives.org/2014/11/progressives-route-to-power-beyond-2014/

Frankly, Democrats did not have a united economic agenda in this election. There was a lack of big ideas. Some Democrats tried to sound like Republicans, and they lost.

who support them the stronger and better they will become. Now that we see the whole picture, the Third Way influence on our party, and the futility of continuing to empower them by continuing to do what we've done before, people are going to be able to devote more time to do what needs to be done, rather than wasting any more time 'hoping' that maybe 'this time' it will for the people.

Keep the hits coming!

Anyone can contribute, nobody is blocked, and there's an expectation that posting members respect the group Statement of Purpose.

but I often 'follow' the posts of the folks who are already here.

should look at US foreign policies in the Middle East - essentially the elephant in the room.

Here are just two websites that give an objective view that counters the propaganda provided by AIPAC

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/


http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/

There are others.



Thank you for being considered to contribute to this discussion.

The Rick Smith Show is a progressive, populist, pro-labor radio program based out of Carlisle, PA.

http://ricksmithshow.com/

Yeah, we got one of those, too!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1269

I feel like I'm his semi-official PR man.

(I should help him rig up a mobile app for the show--IMO)

The Roosevelt Institute is a nonprofit organization devoted to carrying forward the legacy and values of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt by developing progressive ideas and bold leadership in the service of restoring America’s promise of opportunity for all.

http://www.rooseveltinstitute.org/about

A New Deal for the 21st Century
http://www.rooseveltinstitute.org/about#New_Deal

The Four Freedoms Center
The Four Freedoms Center develops bold ideas that are beyond the narrow parameters of the current political debate. They form the foundation of a New Deal for the 21st century.

http://rooseveltinstitute.org/programs/four-freedoms-center

Lots of good ideas here to consider for incorporation into the Democratic platform.

http://www.gp.org/what-we-believe/our-platform

surprised no one mentioned these.


http://www.truth-out.org/


http://therealnews.com/t2/

Bill Moyers has done some great shows on "Populism and Fighting Back" with many ideas from his Guests.

They are now available on You Tube and some of them are really worth a re-visit if we want to build a Rump of the Dem Party for Progressive Populism.

It's worth a look just to go to the link and scan the shows for ideas:

Uploads from Moyers & Company

by Moyers & Company
307 videos
20,625 views

http://www.youtube.com/user/MoyersandCompany/videos

Populist Reform will require solidarity first.
Policy is secondary.
This is simply because chasing policy
would amount to a wack-a-mole approach.

WHO do POPULISTS represent?
Am I a Populist?
That is creating solidarity.

What do WE, the Populists want?
POLICY 1: Fix a broken election system.

How is it done?
Study the opposition playbooks
Learn the tactics
Know the players
Recognize the tools
Find unlikely allies
Know thyself
Study The Wizard of Oz: A populist parable if there ever was one

.

http://www.pdamerica.org/



...

Excellent group. Already doing what we propose to do here~

http://www.progressivereform.org/

Less about policy and more about politics/campaigns/strategy:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharing-Breakthrough-Ideas-in-Politics-Jill-Alper-Friends/805671376158792?sk=timeline

Alper is a longtime political operative and currently a DNC member from Michigan.