Are we the largest online Democratic community?

[Az]

Anyone researched this? Just curious. If we are we should be able to leverage that to putting the 'fluence on some Dems. I mean we need to do more than just discuss things here. We are a potential force to be reconned with. What can We here at DU do collectively to make a difference?

[supernova]

1. Just my observation

but we seem to be the largest collection of mostly the US left, and actively talking. Does Democrats.org even have a board?

I've never seen this big a collection of us, anywhere, before. Though arguably, some of the Yahoo groups might be similar, if smaller.

[PretzelWarrior]

2. we can send money to our democratic reps....DNC....

send emails and letters (letters take awhile to get there), call the senators and reps on the phone....

we need to talk with some of the unconverted about the FACTS of what has taken place the past 2 and a half years...make them see apathy is the WORST THING they can have right now.

Get the young people you know to take a bit more time out of their life to vote.

Those are the least things a person can do.

Can also run for office yourself. Can research topics and write letters to editor at paper. If really diligent, you can write books and pamphlets.

Every bit helps.

[tinnypriv]

3. I've seen a lot of boards

And this is easily the biggest "left" political one I've seen.

As for making a difference, it seems to me everyone already is making a difference. Writing letters, calling senators, donating $$$, researching topics, coming together and helping people understand the issues, organising political networks etc.

The most important thing about DU, IMO is that it breaks through the outrageous fearmongering engendered by the WH. It provides a frame of reference so that people think, "wait, I'm not crazy - others think the same!". Once you've succeeded at that, you can pretty much do anything.

[supernova]

4. Az, are you talking about

doing things as a group, with the DU brand on it?

[Az]

8. Yes, a group has larger voice than an individual

We have numbers. Lets put that to use. The repukes will always be more organized that we will be. This is just a basic factor of the camps. We need every bit of volume we can get. Right now we are a bunch of individuals screaming indepently. Together we can raise the roof.

[On the Road]

5. Regardless of the Number of Registered Members

DU certainly has the highest volume of discussion, whether measured byu members posting per day, messages per day, average holding time, number of hits, etc. I've never seen anything like DU elsewhere.

[wyldwolf]

6. I think so. In fact, I don't know why new boards spring up...

The forums ARE DU. The frontpage is just icing and if it disappeared,I wouldn't be hurt.

Other progressive sites should just link to DU forums.

[Old and In the Way]

7. Welcome onboard Wyldwolf!

I found this place a couple of years ago...I think there were about 10,000 members at the time. So we are growing and lots of blogs and political sites are taking notice and linking here.

I really like the Latest Breaking News....I think it's awesome that we have 30,000 contributing stringers on board. And you can't beat the excellent commentary that comings with it!

[Sterling]

9. I know a few reasons there are other forums.

A lot of people don't want to be locked into supporting Democrats. Right now things are cool here but when the war rez and the election of 2002 was happening a lot of people were banned and needed another forum.

A Duer named BPilgram set up globalfreepress.com bbs forum and people hung out there until people were allowed to critisize dems again after the election was through.

I agree DU is all about the forums. The people here are very well read and helpful when people want to learn something.

GlobalFreepress.com still has a great online newspaper and loads of other cool stuff but the forums are slow now. Maybe if there is a split on the left after the primary it will be active again. But it looks like Dean is uniting the party right now. That is a very positive thing and DUers are partly responsible for it.