[[[[[ THINK TANK PROPOSAL DRAFT HERE ]]]]]

[ulTRAX]

Sorry to barge in but some of us need a place to work on a draft proposal for a DU Think Tank to submit to Skinner et al. Discussion here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2744460&mesg_id=2744460&page=

Draft proposal to follow....

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Here is a list of Think Tanks

http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/psthink.html

Here are liberal ones, looks like 20+ or so...
http://movingideas.org/links/researchcenters.html

[ulTRAX]

2. DRAFT PROPOSAL

I should add that this is the proposal to DU... it's not intended to be a mission statement to guide the project.

I also set up a wiki site on this draft. If anyone makes changes, please state the reasons on the discussion page there: http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/RETHINKING%20AMERICA/RETHINKING%20AMERICA.htm?wpid=


Forums are useful but have their limitations. We believe that the time for endless rediscussion must yield to a new model... a model that draws some conclusions.

In this spirit we wish to propose that DU create an on-line think tank... a place where members will meet around a common interest in specified forums but with the goal of creating a final product... a new "Common Sense" booklet for the 21 century.

The Project's broad concept is to rethink the Progressive movement, America and its role in the world. We will strive, in the spirit of the Founding documents, to reexamine and reaffirm or rethink the most basic axiomatic truths. From this foundation we will construct a coherent paradigm, apply these principles to the issues of our time. We seek to create a vision of an America we believe SHOULD exist, leaving the political calculations of what is "doable" to some other time. Eventual policy proposals will flow from these core values not the other way around.

Members should see this process as intellectually liberating. Members should be prepared... and WILLING... to confront their own hidden presuppositions and think outside the proverbial box. The process can only be done in a spirit free from any political, traditional or other restraints. We should be prepared to think not merely as Americans but as global citizens.



The process will no doubt will lead to the reaffirmation of many old core values but may also lead to their rejection of some. It is crucial to understand we will reach conclusions NOT out of respect for tradition but because these basic values have proven themselves to be self-evident and intrinsically desirable. We must be prepared to justify our conclusions.


The Project will be conducted in 3 stages.

The first is the creation of forums dealing with the philosophical underpinnings of our nation. This is a proposed list:



Equality
Rights of the People
Pursuit of Happiness
Purpose of government
Moral legitimacy of government
Property rights
Civil rights
Democracy

Wealth
The role of faith and
New forums suggestions

The second stage is to create forums to reflect a wide range of political thought not merely in the traditional Progressive to Libertarian spectrum. Each topical forum will have a mission statement and a goal. That goal is to crystallize each into a compelling argument that sums up a concise common sense statement of principle pertaining that issue. Each forum should have a wiki section that will act as a community workshop in drafting its statement. This software need not be integrated into the board but can be run separately. All that is needed is a pinned link to the wiki workspace. Wiki safeguards will be in place to prevent vandalism but members should also get in the habit of posting drafts to the board.

The third stage: in the grand tradition of Thomas Paine, these ideas will then be assembled into a new "Common Sense" booklet... a political manifesto of the 21 Century. These core principles should be compelling common sense arguments that the vast majority of Americans can eventually agree with. These principles will provide the basis for policy proposals and a roadmap for long range strategic planning.

[ulTRAX]

3. DRAFT 2

Again, anyone is free to join in the drtafting of this proposal at http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/RETHINKING%20AMERICA/RETHINKING%20AMERICA.htm


The Progressive movement is on the retreat. It has issues but no bold vision of where it wants to take this nation. It may be suffering intellectual stagnation. In this last election Kerry worked ENTIRELY within the Right's framework of irresponsible fiscal policies. He did not challenge their assumptions or expose the Right's "strangle the beast" agenda. He did not educate the public on the shell game that is the federal budget. He did not educate the people on how the debt poses a risk to Social Security. Kerry did not even use the correct Bush deficit numbers! He did what he thought was politically expedient, yet his failure to challenge the big issues means the Right's framework becomes more entrenched.

If there’s no compelling Progressive vision that sells well to the average American, then 10-20-30 years from now the Progressive movement will STILL be on the retreat, relegated to tweaking a dysfunctional political and corporate system created by history and the Right instead of trying to reform it. Of course we could just hope the Right implodes but that doesn't solve the lack of vision problem.

So what are those ideas we WISH the Democratic Party would represent? What ideas are worthy of fighting for even if there's little to show for it in the next 5-10 years? What should the role of this forum be in helping creating that vision?

Forums are useful but have their limitations. We believe that the time for endless rediscussion must yield to a new model... a model that draws some conclusions.



In this spirit we wish to propose that DU create an on-line think tank... a place where members will meet around a common interest in specified forums but with the goal of creating a final product... a new "Common Sense" booklet for the 21 century.

The Project's broad concept is to rethink the Progressive movement, America, and its role in the world. We will strive, in the spirit of the Founding documents, to reexamine and reaffirm or rethink the most basic axiomatic truths. From this foundation we will construct a coherent paradigm, apply these principles to the issues of our time. We seek to create a vision of an America we believe SHOULD exist, leaving the political calculations of what is "doable" to some other time. Eventual policy proposals will flow from these core values not the other way around.

Members should see this process as intellectually liberating. Members should be prepared... and WILLING... to confront their own hidden presuppositions and think outside the proverbial box. The process can only be done in a spirit free from any political, traditional or other restraints.



The process will no doubt will lead to the reaffirmation of many old core values but may also lead to their rejection of some. We will reach conclusions NOT out of respect for tradition but because these basic values have proven themselves to be self-evident and intrinsically desirable.

The Project will be conducted in 3 stages.

The first is the creation of forums dealing with the philosophical underpinnings of our nation. This is a proposed list:



Equality
Rights of the People
Pursuit of Happiness
Purpose of government
Moral legitimacy of government
Property rights
Civil rights
Democracy

Wealth
The role of faith and
New forums suggestions

The second stage is to create forums to reflect a wide range of political thought not merely in the traditional Progressive to Libertarian spectrum. Each topical forum will have a mission statement and a goal. That goal is to crystallize each into a compelling argument that sums up a concise common sense statement of principle pertaining that issue.

Each forum should have a wiki workspace for community authoring of its statement. This software need not be integrated into the board but can be run separately or elsewhere. All that is needed is a pinned link to the wiki workspace in each forum.

The third stage: in the grand tradition of Thomas Paine, these ideas will then be assembled into a new "Common Sense" booklet... a political manifesto of the 21 Century. These core principles should be compelling common sense arguments that the vast majority of Americans can eventually agree with. These principles will provide the basis for policy proposals and a roadmap for long range strategic planning.

[zeemike]

4. That sounds great to me

I don't know if I can add to it or not.
But I have often thought that something like this should be done, but my idea revolved around infrastructure like transportation, buildings, resource's and such.

I hope you get it going, I know I will go there to see what is happening.