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Post by chrisbrooks on Apr 22, 2012 14:29:04 GMT -5
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Post by apriled on Apr 22, 2012 17:50:30 GMT -5
Chris,
I note with interest this statement from your post, "grassroots organizations are struggling to not only exist, but exist in a form that grows their capacity for affecting change."
Grassroots organizations should not grow individually, or they turn into a arm of a political party. I see this with COA, where the local Dem party appears to have taken ownership. Also, I only hear COA having Dem candidate speakers, and liberal incumbent city council members, True or False?
I am glad COA exists, don't get me wrong, and I agree with several of COA's projects that are very important.
True grassroots does not exist as a single organization, rather it is a coalition of many grassroots organizations in one mission that is powerful to be successful in issue driven outcomes. The mission must be nonpartisan, or it fails miserably for grassroots.
The recall for instance could not have gone to the level it did with just Chattanooga Organized for Action. The mailers by the Chattanooga Tea Party, and legal organization and fundraising by Citizens to Recall Ron. The recall was a coalition of grassroots that was one issue or mission driven, and very nonpartisan. The power is not in one grassroots group, it is in a coalition of many groups brought together for an outcome.
The factions of local grassroots groups, many conservative, and many liberal are what keeps the system in check. For issue driven outcomes, the coalition of grassroots will come together, and afterwards separate back into partisan. That is what keeps the groups from growing, because then they compete with the organized parties.
The idea of a nonpartisan group is pure fiction, and over time the core of the group will lean left or right. I have never seen a purely nonpartisan group.
I am glad to see our local elected boards challenged in the way your group has, it is way past due, whether I agree with your politics or not. You have indeed challenged them. The fact that Sally Robinson does not like you, makes me your greatest fan, hehe
So, keep up the great work, liberal or not. April
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