Nathan Newman wrote:
>So maybe the problem is not the
> conservatism of the American people but the lack of skill of the organizers
> on the left?
And Chuck replied -No. Which skills are we lacking? The ability to talk to bookbuyers and -newstand coordinators? I think one of the main problems is resources. -There are many of us, but we don't support our projects like people on -the right support theirs. How many of you don't subscribe to a leftist -magazines (The Nation doesn't count)? How many of you have donated money -to a radical activist organization (NGOs don't count) or a radical -publisher?
Chuck- the inability to convince people to financially support projects reflects the lack of organizing skills on the left. Churches raise big bucks from poor people around the world from poor people, as does the left where it is able to convince people it has a plan that will use those resources effectively.
The reason MoveOn is effective is that they convince people that they will use their money effectively. They say-- give us money and we will run this ad condemning the war. Give us money and we will support this set of actions. Look at the web site of Americans Coming Together, the AFL-Sierra Club-etc. political operation-- they tell donors exactly what their money buys: http://www.americacomingtogether.com/ a.. $500 helps pay a canvassing team for a week. a.. $100 puts a new canvasser through ACT training. a.. $25 buys canvassing materials for one day's route.
What does contributing to your average left group get you? Time spent hectoring other leftists at some other left event.
The lack of a strategic plan linked to a fundraising plan is the main reason why the left is so weak in the US. The left is fragmented so it can't get critical mass to launch any serious plan that would attract real resources.
Frankly, I'd rather contribute to ACT than most left groups. At least with the money, I know that the resources will go to outreach to new people, not just preaching to the existing choir.
Nathan Newman