I think we have to build our precinct organizations into something we haven’t seen before. It is neighborhoods that will become the heart of democracy.
I’d like to see the precincts consciously working on building three things: community, democracy, and resilience.
Community cuts across all activities that are done at the precinct and neighborhood level, as we bring people together to engage in these activities.
Democracy requires information about what people want from their government and what the government is actually doing. Democrats should become known as the party that listens to people. How about doing surveys – targeting Republicans and unregistered voters – about what they want from their new president. Ask them what markers they will be looking at to know whether this is happening. Then circle back on a regular basis to these same people and ask how it’s going. Introduce them slowly to new sources of information. Make this a familiar neighborhood project.
Resilience will be required as we face greater climate disasters and potential pandemics. Our precincts can become known for staging events on how to prepare for and respond to such disruptions. One of the best events I ever went to was sponsored for the community by the Mormons, who have a requirement to stash away enough supplies for a year. We could make sure people are trained in first aid. We could encourage vegetable gardening. We could explain the cost & benefits of residential solar panels.
Doing these things engages the skills of many different types of people. Working together builds community. Safety is a big driver for a lot of people. Let’s use all this to create something we haven’t seen before.
This comment came from Judy K:
I think we have to build our precinct organizations into something we haven’t seen before. It is neighborhoods that will become the heart of democracy.
I’d like to see the precincts consciously working on building three things: community, democracy, and resilience.
Community cuts across all activities that are done at the precinct and neighborhood level, as we bring people together to engage in these activities.
Democracy requires information about what people want from their government and what the government is actually doing. Democrats should become known as the party that listens to people. How about doing surveys – targeting Republicans and unregistered voters – about what they want from their new president. Ask them what markers they will be looking at to know whether this is happening. Then circle back on a regular basis to these same people and ask how it’s going. Introduce them slowly to new sources of information. Make this a familiar neighborhood project.
Resilience will be required as we face greater climate disasters and potential pandemics. Our precincts can become known for staging events on how to prepare for and respond to such disruptions. One of the best events I ever went to was sponsored for the community by the Mormons, who have a requirement to stash away enough supplies for a year. We could make sure people are trained in first aid. We could encourage vegetable gardening. We could explain the cost & benefits of residential solar panels.
Doing these things engages the skills of many different types of people. Working together builds community. Safety is a big driver for a lot of people. Let’s use all this to create something we haven’t seen before.
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