Software for the Grass Roots

An anonymous reader writes "In February at the O'Reilly Digital Democracy Teach-In, technologists from the Dean, Kucinich, Clark and Kerry campaigns laid down arms to share tech plans while their respective camps were still battling it out in the primaries. A (private) list and requirements for fall campaign organizing ensued. Just six weeks ago, a few of the developers converged in San Francisco for a show and tell of their emerging free software tools. Today, the AdvoKit project was the first to tag beta, hoping to kick-start the campaign software revolution in time for November 2nd."

Comments

We need less technology in politics...

[John Seminal]

"Our big concern was what's missing, what technological piece is missing to organize an effective campaign. Resoundingly, peop le across the country told us there was a special need for software to enable neighbor-to-neighbor activity--and that, ideally, it should be freely distributed, easy to use, and free."

I disagree with this. I think we don't need more between the voter and the politicians, we need less. What I want to see is the politicians go door to door, meet people, talk to them. The more politics becomes some equation with all the consultants and marketing experts, the less voting will mean. Politicians will secure their base, do research to find out how to make the middle swing their way, and then give speeches to satisfy those people. More technology will just reinforce this new paradigm. And once this happens, the real power will be with lobbyists, the ones who can fund a candidate to have the best consultants and marketing.

I would love to see a genuinely inspired person run a campagin going door to door, speaking passionatly about what they believe in (and not something scripted by consultants). I would like to see this guy/gal reject lobbyists and do it the old fashioned, grass roots way. Can it be done today, and still win? I think so. But to the uninspired who want the title/power/prestige of public office (and not the public service), they will take the easy way and do a media blitz.

I will finish with one last question. Should it really cost 10 million dollars to run a "sucessful" senate campaign? Should it cost 200 million dollars to run for president? And how does that limit who can run? Only the wealthy? Only the well connected? What about Joe Sixpack who has some good ideas about making life better for the avarage american? Can he possibly run and compete?

Re:We need less technology in politics...

[mec]

You can't change what other people (the candidates) do. But you can change what you do.

Say you're interested in the race for congress. Find the campaign headquarters for the challenger. Call them up and ask where the challenger is going to be making public appearances in the near future. Look for the event you want -- a coffee klatsch, or a small club meeting, or a debate.

Do the same for the incumbent. And do the same for any minor parties that you find interesting.

If one of the candidates isn't going to any public events that satisfy you, write them a letter and say "I saw [your opponent] at [public event] on [date] but I haven't been able to see you anywhere. I like to get to know my candidates, so I'll be voting for [candidate who showed up and talked and answered questions] this year."

Also, get out your checkbook. Give a couple of bucks to the candidate who shows up and you even halfway agree with. I'm not talking $1000, I'm talking $10.