This has been laid out in an excellent diary by Kombema here:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
This idea came about from a conversation between Kombema, high unitas, and myself.
Kombema wrote a great diary and was rescued to the community spot light. Where we got about 80 comments, about 50 if you discount multiple comments from the same person.
50 comments. That's all. So I'm thinking to myself the following things.
1. Is the Daily Kos an appropriate place to initiate such a movement?
By this I mean w/all humility, that Kos's site is not automatically a site that must support every idea and movement from every progressive. It is ultimately his site, and I accept he gets to decide its priorities. But as a hungry activist, I can't help but dream of starting from a base big enough to be heard. And I long for more "action jackson" from this site, and less endlessly repetitive pie fights. But that doesn't mean this initiative is right for this site. I'm trying to learn what is and can be effective here.
2. And if so, is there the will to do so here?
We are all so split on so many things, in terms of priorities, and this diary has no intention of calling anyone out for their priorities or splitting us further by demanding participation. This is just an honest question. Is the recent Supreme Court decision that gutted the voter's rights act something important ENOUGH to this community to become involved in an active way?
3. Is it too early for an initiative like this? IOW, is the timing wrong? Too far away from 2014? No time yet to see what congress does regarding this? Ahem, clearing the choke in my throat as I ask this question. Although it is fair to ask it, I have abso-freakin'-lutely NO confidence in the congress to right this. Still, perhaps an initiative like this would be better taken on next year. And yet, it takes time to organize something like this.
4. For me, the SCOTUS Decision that gutted the Voter's Right Act, hurt to the bone. I'm a baby boomer who thought she saw the SLOW but sure evolution on this, only to see it pulled up by the roots by the worst SCOTUS of my life time. And it's not like I haven't seen other things I thought were settled, sent back to the insane hen house of politics. But this one, this one, really hurt. For me.
And I think it hurts this country immeasurably, and every bit as much as the NSA revelations. Which amendment do you try to protect these days? Are they not all under fire? Haven't they always been, and won't they always be?
So we all have those issues that speak to our heart first, and this is mine---not just in terms of fair play or my ideological wishes, but also in terms of cold, hard, politics and the winning of elections. Which is not to say it should be anyone else's first choice. That's for each and every Kossack to decide for themselves.
I guess I'm just interested in understanding the parameters of this community, and what's possible beyond pie fights. What's possible, comfortable and pragmatic for the administration here to back.
AND, I will not be bitter or disappointed if GOT-ID? is not on the list here of things it or we, choose to grab on to. I truly do understand the dynamics and limitations of any site, and respect those who put the most time into leading, sustaining and making this site work.
In the end, I guess I'm just SO THIRSTY for action here. I'm tired of the endless arguments that go no where. I'm tired of the gloom and doom. What ACTIONS can we agree on and move forward on? How do we distinguish this site as one that is more for activists than arguments?
Kos recently introduced our new "activist" writers. What does that mean, exactly? Does it mean this site will continue to make its priorities about elections of more and better democrats? And, if so I'm just dandy w/that, and I'm on board. But does it also include efforts outside of elections---Like GotID? And if so, how do we mobilize this kind of thing here?
I would dearly like this community to be at the forefront of progressive ACTION. We're not there yet, which is not to say we have not had many a great moment. We so have, and it must be noted that if you've tried to find another Democratic/progressive site, with as big and dynamic as a community as shimmies and shakes here every day, you've probably been disappointed.
Can we get better at this? Do we want to? These are NOT rhetorical questions. They are honest wide open questions, and I hope to hear some of your thoughts.