I have been getting a lot of private mail and private messages from my friends at DU asking what is PDA?
I thought everyone knew already! We started out with nearly 10,000 activists and now over 100,000 strong and growing fast!
For more info... here is our plan:
A Progressive Plan to Change America
http://pdamerica.org/newsletter/2004-10/planchange.phpVol. 1, No. 2--October, 2004
We believe that the greatest need of our nation is to redirect the resources of our government from destruction to creation, from war to peace, from military spending to social spending, from sickness to health, from selfish desires to universal needs. The future of humanity and our planet are at stake.
The question is, "What is the most effective strategy for wresting control of the government of the United States of America from the moneyed interests, the corporations, and the military industrial complex that now effectively control it?"
The answer is NOT leaving the country.
The answer is NOT the Republican Party.
The answer is NOT a progressive third party, because such a party is too divisive at this time and will only serve to leave control of our government in the hands of the Republicans.
And the answer is NOT the Democratic Party as it is now organized and controlled.
The answer is PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS of AMERICA. Let us tell you why.
The government of the United States can change non-violently only when sufficient numbers of legislators pass legislation that promotes the social changes we seek -- and when court rulings support the constitutionality of the changes we seek.
And there can be a sufficient number of legislators who support a progressive agenda only when enough people have banded together to vote such legislators into office.
And we can vote progressive legislators into office only when we have organized into effective popular progressive grassroots organizations.
Which brings us full circle, so that now the question before us is, "How can we organize into effective progressive grassroots organizations?"
This is PDA's answer:
A. Create local "homes," chapters, and caucuses inside existing Democratic Party structures at the state and local level (why reinvent the wheel?) where like-minded people can work together to articulate public policies that support human rights, economic equality, and social and environmental justice. Engage in a movement to bring progressives back into the Democratic Party and to revive the Democratic Party through active involvement in its existing structure, by becoming precinct chairs, party officers, members of committees, delegates, etc. The time has come for the Democratic Party to represent working women and working men, to succor those in need, to protect our environment, and to assure our security.
B. Work with the thousands of individual and organizational allies in each political district who also support civil and labor rights, real environmental protection, women's rights, the rights of the poor, consumer rights, and the right to live in peace, free from racism, discrimination, and institutional domination. Dialogue and network with the broad-based coalition of like-minded groups and people in our communities and states to create a common agenda and agreed upon plan by which to realize this goal.
C. Organize in each of the 435 Congressional districts in the entire United States. Build progressive Democratic caucuses in every one of them. Form state-level progressive Democratic caucuses in all fifty states. This is achievable. Sixteen state progressive caucuses are already formed or in the process of forming and numerous others are in the beginning stages.
D. Once the networks and caucuses are adequately populated, identify and promote progressive candidates and issues on which to organize and win. Progressive legislators will provide the representation to advance the progressive agenda and to pass laws that promote the progressive vision at all levels of government.
E. Maintain links to the Congressional Black Caucus and the House Progressive Caucus so that PDA also operates at the National level (while continuing to help progressives organize at the state and local level). Together with our allies we will champion electoral and campaign finance reforms, give greater voice to third party campaigns, and address the serious issues that are undermining our democracy.
F. Literally take over, by electoral majority, the Congress of the United States by out-organizing the corporate interests that now control it. No amount of money or TV advertising can overcome the potent force of one-to-one dialogue and advancing of personal and community interests.
This is PDA's simple plan and strategy. Working together we can make it happen.
Working together we can bring heart, soul, justice, peace, and hope back into our own lives and into the lives of those we touch.
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