Special July 4th Edition: Recording the Frequently Asked Questions

The MINUTE TAKER was feeling particularly patriotic on Monday, what with Independence Day but a day away. But let the record show that on July 4th, 2006, the two hundred and thirtieth anniversary of our country's founding, MoveOn PAC's Operation Democracy is inactive throughout America.

The MINUTE MAKER spoke with Regional Organizer J about this, to which J responded: "I've got a day off!"

Let the record show that this announcement was issued with a tone of immense relief--as if a single day off of work was like an oasis in a desert. Happy holiday to Regional Organizer J.

In the meantime, the MINUTE TAKER has chosen to honor the birth of this fine country by taking the record through a review of the Operation Democracy Frequently Asked Questions page. What follows in the record is a review of selected questions from that rather long list.

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How much of a time commitment is required?

If you're going to be a team leader, you should be prepared to put in an hour or two per week—though it will require more time during weeks when you're taking action, and might take less on off weeks. If you aren't leading the team, but can commit to being involved in regular team activities and being someone other team members can count on, you should sign up as an "lead volunteer," and be prepared to spend 2-5 hours per month. If you can't commit to regular involvement, you can be a " volunteer," and ask the team to keep you posted on team activities.

Let the record show that this is an decidedly reasonable time commitment! Indeed, one might think that stopping the Republican agenda and TAKING BACK CONGRESS would require more resource allocation than, say, doing the laundry. The MINUTE TAKER wonders whether this reflects the efficiency of MoveOn's plan.

Will we be able to communicate with other Operation Democracy teams?

We know many people want to be able to communicate with other Operation Democracy teams in the community. We will create a way for team leaders in your area to communicate and coordinate, either electronically or in-person. This may take a few months to get up and rolling, however.

The MINUTE TAKER suggests, for the record, some combination of email and forum technology, implemented over the World Wide Web. There are even web sites that could help Operation Democracy get this sort of thing 'up and rolling' in a few minutes--for free! (Let the record reflect upon the idea that the Internet is sort of like one giant Operation Democracy.)

Let the record show that there is, as of yet, no apparent way to communicate with other Democracy Operatives. But surely it has not yet been 'a few months' since this question was frequently asked...right?

Are we working with other groups like Democracy for America or ACT?

Just this week we met with both groups to discuss our plans and theirs and opportunities to work together. Naturally, as separate organizations we'll sometimes take separate paths: for example, Democracy for America will continue to support candidates for state and local office, while our focus will be primarily national, and ACT is still shaping their plan for the next few years.

Let the record show that almost one year ago, ACT 'shaped its plan' so that it would no longer exist. Allow the record to presume that by this, the Operation Democracy leaders mean that they have, just this week, met with the spirit of the deceased organization.

We need to do something positive, instead of just fighting against things. Is that part of the vision for Operation Democracy?

Right now, one critical task is to stop the Republican leadership's extraordinarily dangerous agenda. But we also need to be clear about what we stand FOR. And make sure Democratic politicians are communicating to voters what THEY stand for. That's why our strategy will include: developing a positive agenda; encouraging Democrats in Congress to fight for progressive values; and encouraging Democratic candidates to be clear about what they'll fight for if elected. And where we have an opportunity to make real progress on an issue, instead of just playing defense, we'll hop on it right away.

Let the record show that Operation Democracy has undertaken the strategy of fighting FOR progress. Issues on which we can make progress are very important, as is the positivity of the agenda. Democratic leaders should communicate, and we should take every opportunity to make THEM stand FOR issues. In conclusion, we need to be very clear about what WE stand FOR.

Will we have a choice about what we do?

Yes. Each month we will have a major activity that we will ask every team to take part in, because together we can make the biggest impact. We will also have a few other actions that more active teams can engage in. It’s up to your team to decide how active you want to be and which actions you want to participate in, though in general we expect that your team willdo at least the major activity each month.

Let the record show that the choice thereby offered is between: doing what is announced, and not doing what is announced. Sort of like democracy!

Will we work as a network on local issues or elections?

No. Local issues or electoral campaigns are vital, but we normally don't work on them for three basic reasons:

One of MoveOn's key advantages is the responsiveness and efficiency we gain from our very small staff. We make this possible by choosing campaigns and strategies that people can replicate across the country, and using technology to make this process as easy as possible. ...

We believe that, strategically speaking, there's an urgent need for national coordinated action of the kind we organize, in order to win a voice for ordinary Americans in Washington D.C. This is our niche. ...

We simply can't examine and approve tactics, messages, and materials on dozens, let alone thousands, of state and local efforts, which, for legal reasons, we'd need to do if people worked on those efforts in the name of MoveOn (or in their capacity as MoveOn leaders).

In other words, this is sort of like grassroots...hanging from the sky! (Spanish moss!?) Let the record show that MoveOn believes the need for this kind of 'national coordinated action' is so great that its organizers are reportedly recruiting potential members away from local volunteer organizations.

What will exactly will we be doing?

Basically teams will be working at the grassroots level to counter Republican propaganda, promote a positive progressive agenda and lay the groundwork for sweeping electoral change in 2006.

....[W]e'll work on other key issues, all the while spreading the message that Republicans are putting corporate donors before everyday Americans. We'll use a whole range of approaches depending on the issue: for example, letters to the editor of your local newspaper on Iraq, news conferences demanding election reform, town meetings on Bush's screwed-up budget priorities, bake sale fundraisers, or meetings between members of Congress and local citizens who can't afford a Social Security benefit cut.

Let the record show that the 'whole range' of this strategy ("gamut," if the record will) is basically basic -- and awesome! The MINUTE MAKER can personally attest to spreading thirty fliers worth of message about the Republican Oil Lobby, all across the grassroots of the -- Street median. The idea of town meetings to discuss the Federal Budget sounds even more productive. The MINUTE TAKER also suggests car washes and perhaps colored bracelets -- anything to lay the groundwork for sweeping electoral change.

How will we decide what issues we work on?

That will depend, in part, on how events unfold. But we know, based on the priorities you set at the Future of MoveOn parties in November and your feedback through other avenues, that we'll work on Social Security, election reform, and the war, among other issues. We'll also use surveys and other feedback mechanisms to solicit your ideas and input.

Let the record show that the pronoun 'we' appears to be confused. (Perhaps the question should read, "How will you decide what issues we work on, and how does the input we provide through various feedback mechanisms affect your decision?") But let the record further show that 'feedback mechanisms' are an integral tool of any Democratic Operation. That way, Democracy Operatives can provide input on issues, like the war, as events unfold.

We live in a very progressive state. Shouldn't we be calling Senators somewhere else?

It is our strategic judgment that every Senator needs to hear from constituents on this issue right now—even those who are reliably progressive or who have spoken out against the nuclear option. Stopping the nuclear option may require these senators to take considerable political risks in order to lead the Democrats into an extremely high-stakes confrontation with Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress: Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid has threatened to "shut down the Senate" if the Republicans take away the Democrats' voice...To transform this from a Washington insider's game to a fight in the public spotlight, Senators need to know people are paying attention.

Let the record show that the MINUTE TAKER is confused by this answer. Nuclear option? Is another Supreme Court seat about to be vacated?!

Should we make plans to get together again?

As a team, you'll want to meet somewhat regularly. We'll tell you about next month's main action in by the end of the month, so you might want to make a plan to meet during the first week of April, if not before.

Let the record show that the very first two words on this document are "Updated often." Let the record further show that the MINUTE TAKER even 'reloaded' the browser, and the FAQ page did not refresh with any new information. Confusion has yielded to acceptance. Perhaps sometime last winter, Operation Democracy de-prioritized the task of regularly updating the Frequently Asked Questions in its plan to TAKE BACK CONGRESS in 2006. This is understandable, as there have been at least three or four 'media events' since April.

I have a question that isn't answered here. What do I do?

We can't answer every question individually, but if you contact us with your question; we'll answer the most common in this FAQ.

Let the record show that the MINUTE TAKER is actually not so good at grammar, and has struggled to determine the meaning of this sentence. Perhaps it means: if you submit a question that has been asked 'most frequently,' it may be added to this list along with an answer--but otherwise it will be ignored. Since there were a couple more hours before the fireworks begin, the MINUTE TAKER has compiled (for the sake of the record) a number of questions that are, most likely, infrequently asked:

• (As mentioned above:) How will YOU decide what issues WE work on? And how does the input WE provide through various feedback mechanisms affect YOUR decision?
• What are the progressive values for which Operation Democracy stands?
• What exactly is the "Republicans' corporate agenda," and how does Operation Democracy actively foster a 'viable progressive alternative'?
• Does the 'Republican's corporate agenda' include campaigns against a living wage? Campaigns against standardized labor practices?
• How many volunteers has MoveOn PAC contracted Grassroots Campaigns, Inc to recruit?
• When I join Operation Democracy, and I fail to respond to the MoveOn PAC email that tells me that GCI would "like to contact" me (which, the record must show, is highly likely since any mass email receives at best a 2-10% response rate), does Telefund get my contact information?
• If yes, (and the answer is almost certainly yes, although the record must show that the MINUTE TAKER has still been unable to locate Grassroots Campaigns' privacy policy on its website, even after attempts to contact GCI have been made) then how much money (based upon standing average) does Telefund expect to extract from me?
• Are Telefund's anti-union practices a part of the progressive values and long-term movement strategy for which Operation Democracy stands?
• Where have the majority of the organizers originally hired on for Operation Democracy gone to? Perhaps another Operation? Is that Operation more, or less, Democratic?
• Were they just not tough enough to handle the demands of Operation Democracy?

The MINUTE TAKER wishes you a happy Fourth of July! God Bless America.