As you know, what I've been trying to convince folk here at dKos to do is have an organized discussion about what we could do between now and 12/13 Dec 2004 to bring OUR defense of the franchise to a maximum turn-out, high-profile challenge to our Board of Directors -- the Electoral College.
I am requesting a thread be dedicated to broad discussion among the dKos community to determine if the community itself and the political infrastructure and resources that it's members possess, should be used to organize and push a non-partisan, massive effort to demonstrate to every citizen in our Nation [and the world] that we actually understand what our franchise is, that we cherish it, and, most importantly that the only persons who can protect it ARE US.
I think we could force the issue into the HR, because I think we could convince the EC that they are being asked to do is to elect the next President and Vice President of the USA based on a chaotic, uncertain and compromised process in which many citizens were disabled from participating in the franchise.
What I am suggesting is a non-partisan, focused mission that would demonstrate the highest moral and civic commitment of each of us to our fellow citizens.
Thus, I posted a DRAFT declaration of that commitment for the entire dKos community to consider framing into a statement of Our Mandate as citizens -- the mandate to protect our democratic franchise, Now, not later:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/6/14313/8757
The actions I am urging all of you to consider, evaluate, debate and, hopefully commit to support, would also be of significance to anyone who looks to the American Democracy as what it is supposed to be all about: one vote per eligble citizen, secure from tampering and verifiable.
I am a scientist; the 'real world' is the one in which I have spent my entire career modeling, probing, measuring, and trying to understand. Thus, what I am suggesting here may be audacious, but it is do-able, largely because of internet-enabled communities, like dKos, that have arisen in the past four years. At the very moment that the core of our Democracy is most threatened, we may just have the technology to save it rather than have that technology be part of the collapse -- our responsibility and choice, now.
To the more than 200 Kossacks who have responded positively, supportively and with insightful comments to the six diaries I have posted since 5 Nov 2004, you have the following commitments from me:
- At least once a day, I will update the dKos community on responses to my request that we pursue a major organized endeavor to reclaim the core franchise of our Democracy;
- I will continue to request that a full dialogue on what we should do be sponsored through the mechanism of a permanent thread on dKos;
- I will be as responsive to your questions as possible, but, what I am also committing to each of you is that this is not about me, one citizen. I have no pride of authorship, I know I do not have the credentials or the resources to lead such an effort given that the potentially historic and crucial opportunity to make bold and lasting stand in defense of our Democracy is only a few weeks ahead.
For reference the most recent diary is:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/7/194820/822#7
What I am proposing is definitely 'not going backwards' regarding what happened on 2 November 2004. I am urging we move forward deliberately, reasonably, legally, and aggressively, as shareholders in the franchise of our Democracy.
Thank you all for your encouragement and support of this citizen's efforts to contribute to saving our Democracy.
B Robert Franza MD [aka understandinglife]
"It's about America" [the one that is on life support and needs immediate, heroic treatment]
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A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.
--Martin Luther King