What if? ... Some thoughts on what we could do in the current political climate
Context: Selected quotes taken from a post by Rosemary Cairns of an article in The Atlantic. "What Would a Liberal Tea Party Look Like? Democrats might have a chance to replicate the energy of the 2009 grassroots movement—if they actually want to." “Republicans aren’t the only ones taking flak. Democratic voters’ frustration with their party’s leaders, who are widely seen as either flat-footed or acquiescent, is growing. ... To recover their mojo, Democrats need some sort of organizing principle, real or purported. ... One challenge of creating a liberal version of the Tea Party is that what liberals want right now is so basic. The opposite of what Trump has done in his first month in office is good governance—careful, measured administration. But that doesn’t make a good bumper sticker, and it doesn’t inspire crowds. ... Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, has warned against Democrats trying to offer voters a “Diet Coke” version of Trumpian populism. “Voters who ordered a Coca-Cola don’t want a Diet Coke,” he told the New York Times columnist Ezra Klein recently. “There are two different parties. We have to start by understanding who our voters are not and then understanding who our voters could be—and go and try to win them over. ... Ultimately, Democrats will return to viability only if they’re able to learn from and absorb grassroots energy. ... Democrats could certainly use an infusion of fresh ideas—and new leadership." My response: Maybe a shift is needed to what the Iowa caucuses looked like when I was a child in the 1950’s — not about candidates for President, but grassroots meetings to create planks for the party platform. The ideas from the precinct caucuses were taken to a county convention, which then took the consensus to the state convention, and the consensus from the state was taken to the national convention to create the national party platform. (I remember one of these precinct caucuses happening in our family front room when I was 10. I was serving hot coffee to the participants and spilled it on me, which literally burned the meeting into my memory.) This is what my father loved about politics – the way that ordinary people coming together and sharing their ideas created the foundation for grounded choices and decision-making all the way up to the national level. Facilitators know how to design these from the grassroots up. And ICA did community town meetings across the US in 1976. I personally have facilitated consultations for governments that started at the local level and brought those ideas together at a higher level, looking for the common patterns that included all the perspectives. What if we locally took action to bring our neighbours together to discuss what is important to them, and then shared these concerns with others doing the same thing? Jo Nelson jo.r.nelson@gmail.com
Great thoughts, Jo Dick On Tue, Feb 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM Jo Nelson via Dialogue < dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
*Context: Selected quotes taken from a post by Rosemary Cairns of an article in The Atlantic. *
"What Would a Liberal Tea Party Look Like? Democrats might have a chance to replicate the energy of the 2009 grassroots movement—if they actually want to."
“Republicans aren’t the only ones taking flak. Democratic voters’ frustration with their party’s leaders, who are widely seen as either flat-footed or acquiescent, is growing. ...
To recover their mojo, Democrats need some sort of organizing principle, real or purported. ...
One challenge of creating a liberal version of the Tea Party is that what liberals want right now is so basic. The opposite of what Trump has done in his first month in office is good governance—careful, measured administration. But that doesn’t make a good bumper sticker, and it doesn’t inspire crowds. ...
Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, has warned against Democrats trying to offer voters a “Diet Coke” version of Trumpian populism. “Voters who ordered a Coca-Cola don’t want a Diet Coke,” he told the New York Times columnist Ezra Klein recently. “There are two different parties. We have to start by understanding who our voters are not and then understanding who our voters could be—and go and try to win them over. ...
Ultimately, Democrats will return to viability only if they’re able to learn from and absorb grassroots energy. ...
Democrats could certainly use an infusion of fresh ideas—and new leadership."
*My response:*
Maybe a shift is needed to what the Iowa caucuses looked like when I was a child in the 1950’s — not about candidates for President, but grassroots meetings to create planks for the party platform. The ideas from the precinct caucuses were taken to a county convention, which then took the consensus to the state convention, and the consensus from the state was taken to the national convention to create the national party platform. (I remember one of these precinct caucuses happening in our family front room when I was 10. I was serving hot coffee to the participants and spilled it on me, which literally burned the meeting into my memory.)
This is what my father loved about politics – the way that ordinary people coming together and sharing their ideas created the foundation for grounded choices and decision-making all the way up to the national level.
Facilitators know how to design these from the grassroots up. And ICA did community town meetings across the US in 1976. I personally have facilitated consultations for governments that started at the local level and brought those ideas together at a higher level, looking for the common patterns that included all the perspectives.
What if we locally took action to bring our neighbours together to discuss what is important to them, and then shared these concerns with others doing the same thing?
Jo Nelson jo.r.nelson@gmail.com
_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
-- Richard H. T. Alton ICA Global Fund The Last Chapter United Methodist Net Zero T: 773.344.7172 richard.alton@gmail.com Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor?
Great ideas, M. Jo. What a civilization movement? A movement toward a universal Respect for one another. A movement for Global understanding of what is hopeful and healthy in the now and in the future? LET'S BE CIVIL. worldwide. VINCENTE V Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________ From: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Richard Alton via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Tuesday, 25 February 2025 13:11:00 To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Richard Alton <richard.alton@gmail.com> Subject: [External] Re: [Dialogue] What if? ... Some thoughts on what we could do in the current political climate Great thoughts, Jo Dick On Tue, Feb 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM Jo Nelson via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote: Context: Selected quotes taken from a post by Rosemary Cairns of an article in The Atlantic. "What Would a Liberal Tea Party Look Like? Democrats might have a chance to replicate the energy of the 2009 grassroots movement—if they actually want to." “Republicans aren’t the only ones taking flak. Democratic voters’ frustration with their party’s leaders, who are widely seen as either flat-footed or acquiescent, is growing. ... To recover their mojo, Democrats need some sort of organizing principle, real or purported. ... One challenge of creating a liberal version of the Tea Party is that what liberals want right now is so basic. The opposite of what Trump has done in his first month in office is good governance—careful, measured administration. But that doesn’t make a good bumper sticker, and it doesn’t inspire crowds. ... Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, has warned against Democrats trying to offer voters a “Diet Coke” version of Trumpian populism. “Voters who ordered a Coca-Cola don’t want a Diet Coke,” he told the New York Times columnist Ezra Klein recently. “There are two different parties. We have to start by understanding who our voters are not and then understanding who our voters could be—and go and try to win them over. ... Ultimately, Democrats will return to viability only if they’re able to learn from and absorb grassroots energy. ... Democrats could certainly use an infusion of fresh ideas—and new leadership." My response: Maybe a shift is needed to what the Iowa caucuses looked like when I was a child in the 1950’s — not about candidates for President, but grassroots meetings to create planks for the party platform. The ideas from the precinct caucuses were taken to a county convention, which then took the consensus to the state convention, and the consensus from the state was taken to the national convention to create the national party platform. (I remember one of these precinct caucuses happening in our family front room when I was 10. I was serving hot coffee to the participants and spilled it on me, which literally burned the meeting into my memory.) This is what my father loved about politics – the way that ordinary people coming together and sharing their ideas created the foundation for grounded choices and decision-making all the way up to the national level. Facilitators know how to design these from the grassroots up. And ICA did community town meetings across the US in 1976. I personally have facilitated consultations for governments that started at the local level and brought those ideas together at a higher level, looking for the common patterns that included all the perspectives. What if we locally took action to bring our neighbours together to discuss what is important to them, and then shared these concerns with others doing the same thing? Jo Nelson jo.r.nelson@gmail.com<mailto:jo.r.nelson@gmail.com> _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net -- Richard H. T. Alton ICA Global Fund The Last Chapter United Methodist Net Zero T: 773.344.7172 richard.alton@gmail.com<mailto:richard.alton@gmail.com> Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor? CAUTION: This email was sent from someone outside of the university. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. s61A4ef3l74X5Sa77QJi
Thanks Jim. loved especially the {r}evolution one! Fresh and new ideas for learning how to care and respect every human being regardless of political party affiliation, race, color, culture,
On Mar 1, 2025, at 8:45 AM, James Wiegel via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16FVXpCsQC/
Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“.
The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver
On Feb 28, 2025, at 9:34 PM, Vincente S Scott via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Great ideas, M. Jo. What a civilization movement? A movement toward a universal Respect for one another. A movement for Global understanding of what is hopeful and healthy in the now and in the future? LET'S BE CIVIL. worldwide. VINCENTE
V Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> From: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Richard Alton via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Tuesday, 25 February 2025 13:11:00 To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Richard Alton <richard.alton@gmail.com> Subject: [External] Re: [Dialogue] What if? ... Some thoughts on what we could do in the current political climate
Great thoughts, Jo Dick
On Tue, Feb 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM Jo Nelson via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
Context: Selected quotes taken from a post by Rosemary Cairns of an article in The Atlantic.
"What Would a Liberal Tea Party Look Like? Democrats might have a chance to replicate the energy of the 2009 grassroots movement—if they actually want to."
“Republicans aren’t the only ones taking flak. Democratic voters’ frustration with their party’s leaders, who are widely seen as either flat-footed or acquiescent, is growing. ...
To recover their mojo, Democrats need some sort of organizing principle, real or purported. ...
One challenge of creating a liberal version of the Tea Party is that what liberals want right now is so basic. The opposite of what Trump has done in his first month in office is good governance—careful, measured administration. But that doesn’t make a good bumper sticker, and it doesn’t inspire crowds. ...
Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, has warned against Democrats trying to offer voters a “Diet Coke” version of Trumpian populism. “Voters who ordered a Coca-Cola don’t want a Diet Coke,” he told the New York Times columnist Ezra Klein recently. “There are two different parties. We have to start by understanding who our voters are not and then understanding who our voters could be—and go and try to win them over. ...
Ultimately, Democrats will return to viability only if they’re able to learn from and absorb grassroots energy. ...
Democrats could certainly use an infusion of fresh ideas—and new leadership."
My response: Maybe a shift is needed to what the Iowa caucuses looked like when I was a child in the 1950’s — not about candidates for President, but grassroots meetings to create planks for the party platform. The ideas from the precinct caucuses were taken to a county convention, which then took the consensus to the state convention, and the consensus from the state was taken to the national convention to create the national party platform. (I remember one of these precinct caucuses happening in our family front room when I was 10. I was serving hot coffee to the participants and spilled it on me, which literally burned the meeting into my memory.)
This is what my father loved about politics – the way that ordinary people coming together and sharing their ideas created the foundation for grounded choices and decision-making all the way up to the national level.
Facilitators know how to design these from the grassroots up. And ICA did community town meetings across the US in 1976. I personally have facilitated consultations for governments that started at the local level and brought those ideas together at a higher level, looking for the common patterns that included all the perspectives.
What if we locally took action to bring our neighbours together to discuss what is important to them, and then shared these concerns with others doing the same thing?
Jo Nelson jo.r.nelson@gmail.com <mailto:jo.r.nelson@gmail.com>
_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
-- Richard H. T. Alton ICA Global Fund The Last Chapter United Methodist Net Zero T: 773.344.7172 richard.alton@gmail.com <mailto:richard.alton@gmail.com> Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor? CAUTION: This email was sent from someone outside of the university. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
Hi, Jean!! What sorts of "mischief" are you involved with these days? Jim Wiegel Theunknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybodyscurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, allthat. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plainsailing. John Lennon 401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353 623-363-3277 jfwiegel@yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com On Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 07:56:28 AM MST, Jean Watts <jeankwatts@icloud.com> wrote: Thanks Jim. loved especially the {r}evolution one! Fresh and new ideas for learning how to care and respect every human being regardless of political party affiliation, race, color, culture, On Mar 1, 2025, at 8:45 AM, James Wiegel via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16FVXpCsQC/ Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver On Feb 28, 2025, at 9:34 PM, Vincente S Scott via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: Great ideas, M. Jo. What a civilization movement? A movement toward a universalRespect for one another. A movement forGlobal understanding of what is hopeful and healthy in the now and in the future? LET'S BE CIVIL. worldwide. VINCENTE VSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for AndroidFrom: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Richard Alton via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Tuesday, 25 February 2025 13:11:00 To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Richard Alton <richard.alton@gmail.com> Subject: [External] Re: [Dialogue] What if? ... Some thoughts on what we could do in the current political climate Great thoughts, JoDick On Tue, Feb 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM Jo Nelson via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: Context: Selected quotes taken from a post by Rosemary Cairns of an article in The Atlantic. "What Would a Liberal Tea Party Look Like? Democrats might have a chance to replicate the energy of the 2009 grassroots movement—if they actually want to." “Republicans aren’t the only ones taking flak. Democratic voters’ frustration with their party’s leaders, who are widely seen as either flat-footed or acquiescent, is growing. ... To recover their mojo, Democrats need some sort of organizing principle, real or purported. ... One challenge of creating a liberal version of the Tea Party is that what liberals want right now is so basic. The opposite of what Trump has done in his first month in office is good governance—careful, measured administration. But that doesn’t make a good bumper sticker, and it doesn’t inspire crowds. ... Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, has warned against Democrats trying to offer voters a “Diet Coke” version of Trumpian populism. “Voters who ordered a Coca-Cola don’t want a Diet Coke,” he told the New York Times columnist Ezra Klein recently. “There are two different parties. We have to start by understanding who our voters are not and then understanding who our voters could be—and go and try to win them over. ... Ultimately, Democrats will return to viability only if they’re able to learn from and absorb grassroots energy. ... Democrats could certainly use an infusion of fresh ideas—and new leadership." My response:Maybe a shift is needed to what the Iowa caucuses looked like when I was a child in the 1950’s — not about candidates for President, but grassroots meetings to create planks for the party platform. The ideas from the precinct caucuses were taken to a county convention, which then took the consensus to the state convention, and the consensus from the state was taken to the national convention to create the national party platform. (I remember one of these precinct caucuses happening in our family front room when I was 10. I was serving hot coffee to the participants and spilled it on me, which literally burned the meeting into my memory.) This is what my father loved about politics – the way that ordinary people coming together and sharing their ideas created the foundation for grounded choices and decision-making all the way up to the national level. Facilitators know how to design these from the grassroots up. And ICA did community town meetings across the US in 1976. I personally have facilitated consultations for governments that started at the local level and brought those ideas together at a higher level, looking for the common patterns that included all the perspectives. What if we locally took action to bring our neighbours together to discuss what is important to them, and then shared these concerns with others doing the same thing? Jo Nelsonjo.r.nelson@gmail.com _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net -- Richard H. T. AltonICA Global FundThe Last ChapterUnited Methodist Net ZeroT: 773.344.7172richard.alton@gmail.comMake Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor?CAUTION: This email was sent from someone outside of the university. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.s61A4ef3l74X5Sa77QJi_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
This from Bill Parker -- this afternoon if you are interested. I’d like to invite you to a conversation about a path forward in light of what is happening in the human community today. It will be today at 3:00pm US central time on Zoom. The zoom id is 630 013 695 and the password is 352922. I have sent zoom invites but am not certain if they will reach you. Join if you can Bill Parker Jim Wiegel Theunknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybodyscurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, allthat. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plainsailing. John Lennon 401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353 623-363-3277 jfwiegel@yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com On Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 07:56:28 AM MST, Jean Watts <jeankwatts@icloud.com> wrote: Thanks Jim. loved especially the {r}evolution one! Fresh and new ideas for learning how to care and respect every human being regardless of political party affiliation, race, color, culture, On Mar 1, 2025, at 8:45 AM, James Wiegel via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16FVXpCsQC/ Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver On Feb 28, 2025, at 9:34 PM, Vincente S Scott via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: Great ideas, M. Jo. What a civilization movement? A movement toward a universalRespect for one another. A movement forGlobal understanding of what is hopeful and healthy in the now and in the future? LET'S BE CIVIL. worldwide. VINCENTE VSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for AndroidFrom: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Richard Alton via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Tuesday, 25 February 2025 13:11:00 To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Richard Alton <richard.alton@gmail.com> Subject: [External] Re: [Dialogue] What if? ... Some thoughts on what we could do in the current political climate Great thoughts, JoDick On Tue, Feb 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM Jo Nelson via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: Context: Selected quotes taken from a post by Rosemary Cairns of an article in The Atlantic. "What Would a Liberal Tea Party Look Like? Democrats might have a chance to replicate the energy of the 2009 grassroots movement—if they actually want to." “Republicans aren’t the only ones taking flak. Democratic voters’ frustration with their party’s leaders, who are widely seen as either flat-footed or acquiescent, is growing. ... To recover their mojo, Democrats need some sort of organizing principle, real or purported. ... One challenge of creating a liberal version of the Tea Party is that what liberals want right now is so basic. The opposite of what Trump has done in his first month in office is good governance—careful, measured administration. But that doesn’t make a good bumper sticker, and it doesn’t inspire crowds. ... Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, has warned against Democrats trying to offer voters a “Diet Coke” version of Trumpian populism. “Voters who ordered a Coca-Cola don’t want a Diet Coke,” he told the New York Times columnist Ezra Klein recently. “There are two different parties. We have to start by understanding who our voters are not and then understanding who our voters could be—and go and try to win them over. ... Ultimately, Democrats will return to viability only if they’re able to learn from and absorb grassroots energy. ... Democrats could certainly use an infusion of fresh ideas—and new leadership." My response:Maybe a shift is needed to what the Iowa caucuses looked like when I was a child in the 1950’s — not about candidates for President, but grassroots meetings to create planks for the party platform. The ideas from the precinct caucuses were taken to a county convention, which then took the consensus to the state convention, and the consensus from the state was taken to the national convention to create the national party platform. (I remember one of these precinct caucuses happening in our family front room when I was 10. I was serving hot coffee to the participants and spilled it on me, which literally burned the meeting into my memory.) This is what my father loved about politics – the way that ordinary people coming together and sharing their ideas created the foundation for grounded choices and decision-making all the way up to the national level. Facilitators know how to design these from the grassroots up. And ICA did community town meetings across the US in 1976. I personally have facilitated consultations for governments that started at the local level and brought those ideas together at a higher level, looking for the common patterns that included all the perspectives. What if we locally took action to bring our neighbours together to discuss what is important to them, and then shared these concerns with others doing the same thing? Jo Nelsonjo.r.nelson@gmail.com _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net -- Richard H. T. AltonICA Global FundThe Last ChapterUnited Methodist Net ZeroT: 773.344.7172richard.alton@gmail.comMake Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor?CAUTION: This email was sent from someone outside of the university. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.s61A4ef3l74X5Sa77QJi_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
participants (6)
-
Holcombe Wanda -
James Wiegel -
Jean Watts -
Jo Nelson -
Richard Alton -
Vincente S Scott