This is not meant to be a simple call to action, or a "ooh, I've got an idea, but I don't want to implement it, I just want to throw it out there." sort of thing. I am more than willing to act on this and get this up myself, but I realize at the same time that if this actually wants to get off the ground, I am going to need some help... some major help. I am not sure if someone has come up with this previously, but I hadn't seen anything to this extent, so I thought I would get some feedback as to how we could go forward with this. And as I note below, the name can easily be changed, so that's just as much a part of the proposal as anything else.
This began with some comments between Tamifah and myself a few days ago, during the trolling discussions that enveloped this site. I noted that what I wanted to see here was "policy papers and Pootie pics". Tamifah wondered what I referred to, and I didn't see the response until Tamifah mentioned it again on Open Thread
Monday night. I responded with what could be considered the beginning of an idea:
Anyways, I was thinking about something in terms of Jerome's work on oil and energy, or similar work that's being done by others I can't think of at this hour. There are some incredibly bright people on here. There's the true potential for what could be called a "Kossack Institute" to supplement groups like Center for American Progress or Drum Major Institute in terms of creating progressive public policy for the United States. What the right has, that we do not, is a well-funded movement of institutes (Heritage, AEI). The Left needs to better fund its current institutes and make more that go through with good, well-formed research focused on solving the problems of the world in ways different and more helpful in a variety of fields.
I got some early support for the idea, so I thought I would flesh this out further.
Basically, what this "Kossack Institute for Interactive Public Policy" (KIIPP, though the name could easily be changed) would do is to answer two of the major advantages TheBlaz identified as the advantage of the right-wing from having such a great network as they have. I go into that more further down, but for the moment, I'm going to flesh out the major point.
Make-up
The format of this Institute would be totally online, and would use some form of scoop or moderated forum (I'm not sure about all of these things, so any advice would be great). Basically, what I would want is something that would allow commentary from registered users and the ability to respond to questions. At the same time, because it would be a public policy initiative, and it would be focused on making good public policy, it cannot be set up in the form of Kos. Those who want to submit (with the exception of Fellows) woud have to send their information through some system that would allow readers to read and respond with lauds and concerns and constructive criticism of work. Now, if work was deemed appropriate by the group of readers (not sure how many of these there would be, but it would have to be a good amount of people with either experience or interest and have time to do this), then the work would be posted and opened up to the community for feedback and comments. Furthermore, we would have to publish weekly (or even daily) reports outlining the latest work, through email lists. All in all, public policy would be opened up to the general community.
At the same time, there would be a few "Fellows" as in other sites. This may change based on finances, etc., but the purpose of these is to have regular contributers who could submit without going through the peer review process. They would be the most trusted members, and would have the ability to post. They would also be experts in their field, or at least had major interest in the field they work on. As opposed to some institutes, our focus would not be exclusively on their work, but their work would receive immediate placement on the front-page.
On moderation of comments, I'm not sure how that would work as of yet. I've done some research on how it has worked on Kos, but any feedback on this end would be great.
Mission
First, the mission of this tank would be to be focused upon progressive ideals. The question of partisanship is important. While the Democratic Party is a very big part of Kos itself, I don't want this to be beholden to becoming focused on justifying Democratic talking points. The beauty of what I'm proposing will be that people can debate the policy that becomes front-page artices I may be off here, but the mission should be similar to those of other progressive think-tanks, towards public policy designed to help our elected officials and others make the case for a better America, not to simply parrot points.
Difference from other Public Policy Institutes
I concede that we've got many Public Policy groups as it is, thinktanks designed to help form policy for the left and progressives. The interactive nature is where the difference lies, however. The ability for a wide variety of different individuals to comment and debate policy could be an incredible tool for the formulation of public policy on the left for the near and far future. Giving policy to the masses could open it up in ways that we had never even thought of.
How does this meet TheBlaz's two notes on Repub Public Policy
TheBlaz offered two very good observations in the aforementioned Monday open thread as to what something like this has done for the right:
Repubs have think tanks and SERIOUS young republican networking areas.
We need to catch up on both of these, and this proposal could help us do both. On the first end, in coordinating with other progressive groups and progressive think-tanks, we could help build the progressive think-tank system that could redefine public policy. On the second end, there is an incredible opportunity to integrate young progressive minds on the public policy and other ends. In sending out calls for papers to colleges and universities, particularly to those with MA programs in Public Policy, we could tap into the minds of young progressives, and also offer them a peer review system so that, regardless of whether or not they are posted on the site, they could receive feedback that could help them form more effective policy in all areas, thereby helping to cultivate future progressive public policy.
Conclusion and thoughts
This is where I am to this point. It's a major project, and I am not exactly the most experienced in this area. However, I feel it's too big not to do. If we want to build the future, we have to build the policy of the future. In that way, we can identify and show why progressivism and Democratic ideas can and will work. Basically, I'm asking for help on anything I am missing, any ideas people have, any other things. This is just in the idea stage, so any feedback is great, particularly in terms of how to get this off the ground internet-wise, and in general.
I should note my own background to better explain where I'm coming from, and why I think this is important. I'm a 24-year-old holder (as of 9 hours ago) of a Masters of Arts in Political Science. So I'm not much of a policy wonk. Also, I am in the middle of my job hunt, so while I am more than willing to do lots of work to get this off the ground, I'm not sure about my involvement outside reading and general stuff after that (as in, you won't see much public policy from me, though I can do it :) )
However, I recognize the development of our policy wonks needs to be a major part of the development of the next level of the Democratic Party and the left. That is why I want to do this. I'm going to need some help, though. You with me?