In 1996 a visionary Democrat laid out a people powered plan to take our country back. The first and most important step was to vote, followed by these 10 steps:
- Run for office.
- Volunteer on a campaign.
- Talk to your children about public affairs and politics.
- Write letters to the editor.
- Go to town hall meetings.
- Attend school board meetings.
- Write members of Congress.
- Write a check.
- Get involved in discussions on the Internet.
- Be just as willing to compliment as you are to criticize.
It is remarkable that the architect of this plan recognized the organizing power of the Internet way back in 1996. This list is the framework of what we are now all celebrating as a revolutionary new political paradigm.
So, who was the visionary Democrat who originated the idea of people powered politics? A good guess would be Howard Dean but to be honest, in 1996 Dean was a strong supporter of NAFTA, in support of cutting Medicare, and was a darling of the DLC. His "people powered" strategy was years away.
No, the guy who wrote this was James Carville, in his book "We’re Right, They’re Wrong; A Handbook for Spirited Progressives," published February 20, 1996.
Now we know where Howard Dean got the idea... He read it in James Carville’s book.