Rebuilding the party from the bottom up.

The really first issue I have with the Rebuild the Party plan, as presented,  is their assumption that we need to act quickly. This type of predicate is often laid down by those who are far more interesed in having their plan adopted than having the right plan adopted.  Our first goal should be to take the time to get the job done right.  We should not be rushed into making quick judgement calls on how to restructure the party until we are sure any such restructuring will actually empower the grassroot base of the party.  

Secondly, while I agree, "Our grassroots must be stronger and more open,"  presumably using the Internet;  I don't see any of this actually happening under the present plan as presented. 

How does this plan suggest it can re-empower the grassroots base of the party by using the Internet?

1. "By adopting a strongly anti-Washington message and by charging hard against Obama and the Democrats."

In other words, Ruffini, et al, suggests the party leadership should work to gin up its base by employing simple propaganda and branding techniques. With a ginned up base now on the attack, new online tools will be sought by the grassrooters themselves with which to carry the attack home into the very heart of the opposing political party.  After which, now get this, the grassrooters will somehow be allowed to take these same, new online techniques and use them against the present party power centers to change the present party structure.

The only legitimate use of the Internet in restructuring a political party is to give each member a voice; to allow them all to speak and all to be heard. Once the political party accurately reflects the political aspirations of its members, then, and only then, will our political party be strong enough to move forward to address the inaccuracies of the other political parties and their membership for the common good of all.

No political party was ever improved by attacking its opponents, as McCain has just learned. You improve your party by insuring the political aspirations of its members are accurately reflected in the actions of its leadership.

           ex animo

 Operation Rednet  

           davidfarrar

Communicating at the grassroot level is and will become even more important, but not as important as effective communications between the party's grassroots and its leadership.

In order to have "effective" communication, all must have a voice, all must be allow to speak, and all must be heard. -- Now listen to what I have just said, because it is truly revolutionary -- In order to have "effective" communication, all must have a voice, all must be allow to speak, and all must be heard. A daunting task, to be sure. But one that can be accomplished using the Internet to its fullest. The only thing missing from this equation is the willingness to try, and that is perhaps the strongest disappointment I have with Ruffini, et al, plan.

ex animo

 

 

 

 

davidfarrar

Dear sir,

You think my judgement premature?

The judgment on their efforts are not, in fact, my judgement alone, but those postulated by Frederic Bastiat in June, 1850, in his seminal work: 'The Law'. "For when people's true political aspirations are accurately reflected by their political parties, all will seek the common good."

But more than that, I judge these good fellows by their qualifications, both were former RNC eCampaign Directors.

From where does the party's  infrastructure and principles originate, if not from its membership?

ex animo

davidfarrar

First, Keith, let me say I am not pushing my plan on anyone. I am not trying to find gainful employment with the RNC, establish myself as a cyber leader in the field, or advance my political career in anyway.  I am, in fact, a grassrooter. And as such,  I am only trying to bring this plan forward as it may help the party educate the widest number of people in the shortest amount of time as to the political value of fiscal conservatism, period.

For that reason, I think we should take the time to develop an Internet structure that will give every Republican a voice, every Republican an opportunity to speak, and every Republican and opportunity to be heard.

Our present party structure, of necessity, is base on the direct form of communication, requiring delegate representatives attend scheduled deliberative meetings. With the Internet, such is no longer the case. In fact, with the Internet, there is no longer any need for delegate representation at all. For the first time in history, we can have each and every member of a large organization represent themselves. All we need do is develop an online deliberative process that will allow deliberative meetings to be held online, with brick and mortar meetings being held only once or twice a year for official votes to be recorded. All other party functions will take place online, including cyber elections for party offices, from street captains, to RNC chairmanships.

By the way, wouldn't it be nice to have the actual voting for the next party chair be placed in the membership's hands instead of  just 169 national committee members'?  This is what is meant by each member having a voice, an opportunity to speak, and an opportunity to be heard.

Of course, Keith, I realize the devil will be in the details, but  they always are in any restructuring. Why not take the time now to actually take a real technological leap forward and really empower all of our members using the communicative power the Internet provides us? We can do this.

As I have stated before, once all of our members, or even a small percentage of our members, are online and networked, they will become in actuality their own "special interest". They will become the true repository of our party's true political power.  And they will act with their new-found power in a manner postulated by Frederic Bastiat ... for the common good of all.

I call this apporach,  Operation Rednet  .

     ex animo

     davidfarrar