As we discussed launching a Netroots platform in the run-up to Netroots Nation, the consistent theme in people's comments was, "I can't make it to Austin, how do I get my ideas into the platform?!?!?"
The concept, initially proposed by Jerome Armstrong, was to open the site to the world after kicking it off with a pair of Netroots Nation workshops.
That means now anyone can help create the Netroots platform - including YOU!
Just go here:
www.netrootsplatform.org
Read on for the details...
Concerned about our addiction to fossil fuels? Or about getting universal healthcare passed during the next administration? This is your chance to express your view of what our national policies should look like - together with the rest of the Netroots!
Along with our Netroots co-organizers, we'll submit the final platform to the DNC and to the Obama campaign to let them know where we stand. Our impact will depend on the process being completely democratic and participatory, and on engaging as many members of the Netroots as possible. So we need your help!
Curious? Skeptical? Here's an excerpt of the current "general principles" plank, which (I daresay) is quite eloquent:
As progressive women and men living in the United States of America, we believe that the American dream means extending equality of opportunity to every American and working to narrow the gap between opportunity and outcome. We see no reason why the outcome of any American's pursuit of happiness should be economic destitution caused by unemployment, inflation, high energy costs, lack of health care, or any of the other myriad problems facing everyday Americans today. America can do better, and as progressives we pledge ourselves to working for greater opportunities and better outcomes for all Americans.
Read the rest here (click on the "top version" tab).
We need you to help ensure that all the planks are this strong, and that the platform accurately reflects our collective views. Come on by!
Other platform plank categories include:
* the economy
* healthcare
* civil rights & civil liberties
* foreign policy & national security
* energy & environment
* science and technology
* education
* electoral reform
Jump directly into one of these areas, or start with the main platform page for a bird's eye view.
So how can we coordinate this project online with a big group of people? To craft a political platform together, democratically, we're using MixedInk's unique collaborative writing tool. It works kind of like the DKos diary submission and recommendation system, only with platform planks instead of diaries. Also, to help weave our best ideas and language together, anyone can copy from everyone else's diary - verbatim! (Don't worry, we still give original authors credit.)
It enables you to contribute your ideas and help shape the outcome in a bunch of different ways:
* Write your own platform plank from scratch
* Edit planks you want to improve
* Remix the group's best ideas to form new versions
* Rate what others have written to help choose the final version!
By fusing our voices together and producing a nuanced, precise policy vision that reflects our collective viewpoint, we'll be better able to influence the official Democratic platform.
(To pre-empt a question we got a bunch at Netroots Nation: for this process to be reliable and participatory, we couldn't use a wiki, or Google Docs, because then the platform would have been subject to the whims of most recent editor and might not reflect the entire community's point of view.)
In addition to contributing directly to the platform, there are plenty of other things you can do to help build critical mass for the Netroots platform, starting with recommending this diary! Contact us at [info at mixedink dot com] if you'd like to get more involved in promoting this.
Let us know if you have any questions in the comments. Can't wait to see what YOU think belongs in the Netroots platform!
Disclosure: I'm one of MixedInk's founders. I helped to develop the democratic collaborative writing tool that we're using for this project. MixedInk isn't making any money from the Netroots platform. We're simply looking for places our tool would be helpful, and we think this is a natural fit!