What's your 2016 plan?

[Ronin Truth]

No, I don't disagree.... but political change consists of two parts: election season and legislative season. In legislative season, if they don't do what you want, then there must be a price for bad behavior during election season.

And the biannual CONgress re-election rate is? And the current and long term CONgress activity approval rating is? And the annual CONgress activity bill for the taxpayers is?

Earth to Matt. Come in Matt. What planet are you on, Matt?

 

[William Tell]

The 2016 elections are next in line and it's not too early to be thinking about a plan for being involved, ones goal here should be to help shape the world not just be a victim of it. Figuring out the who, where, what and "how much to do" however is the crux of good planning and will make a huge difference in the pay-back of your precise resources of time and money.

Some open questions for site members...

While 2016 is a presentational election year, how much will you focus on it vs. other local races?

Most of my resources will be spent on local races. Since I live in Texas, I expect I will be able to have a good effect on legislative races, we have won some seats and should win some more.

Are there any strong up-and-coming congressional candidates that are worth supporting?

I don't know of any by name yet, but I'm sure there will be.

Will you work to be a national delegate for your district?

I'm not sure yet, it depends who runs for delegate positions. I certainly want to make sure liberty delegates represent me.

Have you networked with other liberty supporters in your district to build a local plan?

Not specifically for Rand's campaign, but I know a lot of local liberty supporters and we will pick up where we left off with the midterms

Beyond being a delegate, what actions will have the best payback for supporting a presidential candidate, such as Rand Paul

That's a good question, ultimately building your local liberty movement, and networking with others is probably the most important thing I think. I would like to hear what other people here think too.

Are you working to become an expert in some area that is of value to advancing liberty?]

not exactly, I try to learn new things though .

What other questions should one be asking?

We should be asking how these forums in particular can best advance liberty. We should ask how the Grassroots can own this election cycle, and come out better prepared for future battles even if we lose some big ones in 2016.

 

[Ronin Truth]

Putting more band-aids on a broken corrupt criminal system MAY manage to prolong the agony some, and buy you some more time for whoever knows whatever. <shrug>

 

[William Tell]

Putting more band-aids on a broken corrupt criminal system MAY manage to prolong the agony some, and buy you some more time for whoever knows whatever. <shrug>

Do you have anything useful to add? I realize you think politics is ineffective, but do you think there is something the movement should focus on? Anything?

This is grassroots central sub forum, its about trying to get stuff done.

 

[jeffro97]

While 2016 is a presentational election year, how much will you focus on it vs. other local races?

I'll probably focus more statewide and local. Don't get me wrong, I'll throw whatever I can behind Rand, but I've got to help Liberty in Florida.

Are there any strong up-and-coming congressional candidates that are worth supporting?

To my knowledge, no. I live in a CD where the Democrat hasn't been challenged since he first one in 2010.

Will you work to be a national delegate for your district?

Nope. Too young. Not involved in the party enough. Some time maybe in the future.

Have you networked with other liberty supporters in your district to build a local plan?

Not yet. Definitely on my list of things to do this year though.

Beyond being a delegate, what actions will have the best payback for supporting a presidential candidate, such as Rand Paul?

I think it's phonebanking and just meeting with people. I did a lot of phonbanking (for Romney before my awakening back in 2013). Suckish candidate, but still did get a lot of good responses from people.

Are you working to become an expert in some area that is of value to advancing liberty?

I'm working on it. I don't have much time to do so, but I'm trying.

 

[Ronin Truth]

Do you have anything useful to add? I realize you think politics is ineffective, but do you think there is something the movement should focus on? Anything?

This is grassroots central sub forum, its about trying to get stuff done.

Progress and a better world, neither of which is ever coming through politics NOR out of D.C..

 

[TheTexan]

There are a lot of exciting races this year. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm planning on voting extra hard, even more than usual.

 

[pcosmar]

Your conclusion is wrong.

Elections are what determines who gets to control the government.

Bullshit.

Those who run government are not elected,, nor are affected by elections.

 

[fisharmor]

Well, I've been told constantly for almost four years now that Rand has a grand plan to hoodwink the Republican party establishment into supporting him.

Is that no longer the plan?

 

[Matt Collins]

Bullshit.

Those who run government are not elected,, nor are affected by elections.

Actually they do.

 

[Bryan]

Putting forth your efforts some place other than electoral politics is certainly understandable; two points on this...

1. I repeat, "ones goal here should be to help shape the world not just be a victim of it." - this certainly doesn't mean electoral politics as there are other things one can do.
2. All methods to advance out Mission Statement are welcome here but one should not hijack electoral politics discussions by discouraging involvement in electoral politics.

As to the degree of how much elections change the government, I would agree some with both sides of the argument here. Elections can change the government, some of that isn't as direct as it might otherwise seem however. Some of it is giving liberty reps a platform to stand on. Conversely, it was well documented / discussed how hard-core Fed policy was never a serious political issue... until Ron Paul changed that in 2008. So in a lot of ways, elections won't change anything unless liberty supporters make it a strong point to make that happen. Problems aren't going to fix themselves with a new Congress... winning is just step one (even though it's not an easy step). Regardless, elections are a good way to get the liberty message out to everyday people as they get interested in the elections.

Nope. Too young. Not involved in the party enough. Some time maybe in the future.

I think it's phonebanking and just meeting with people. I did a lot of phonbanking (for Romney before my awakening back in 2013). Suckish candidate, but still did get a lot of good responses from people.

jeffro97, I'd be interested to hear your awakening story (in another thread ). Glad you are here. Also, don't consider age as a factor. GOP types do really like younger people involved, with the right foundation and buildup you can do amazing things. I've seen it.

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

Leverage my lifetime collection of plastic grocery bags, duct tape and coat hangers to build RP Blimp v2.0

-t

 

[tony m]

Do you have anything useful to add? I realize you think politics is ineffective, but do you think there is something the movement should focus on? Anything?

This is grassroots central sub forum, its about trying to get stuff done.

Electoral involvement is important. Very small percentage of people want to get involved in it. Those that don't want to, should be encouraged to be involved in how they want to be. We lose too many people by pushing them.

***

We need media. Backpack run-n-gun journalist equipment is inexpensive now. A professional looking indie media network can be done; equipment wise and with the individuals themselves. Smartphones; will not get access as a media outlet, have important people let you interview them or have people wanting you to interview them.

 

[jeffro97]

jeffro97, I'd be interested to hear your awakening story (in another thread ). Glad you are here. Also, don't consider age as a factor. GOP types do really like younger people involved, with the right foundation and buildup you can do amazing things. I've seen it.

I'll post it in the Liberty Activism thread, or do you just want me to send a PM?

Yeah, I did notice they really liked having some young people there. It was me, my brother, and at the breakfasts, about maybe 10 other high school aged kids. None from my school. One of them was the head of the Young Republicans at my brothers school, and he my brother was actually the VP of that club, but that got disbanded right before the 2013 Election (principle was fan of them). Now they have some Political Union club sponsored by Yale that really hasn't done anything.

There was talk between a few friends at my school about maybe starting a YAL club there, since they also have some HS chapters, but the school was a big Democrat hotspot. There wasn't much interest in it from regular kids. Would've been nice, but the sustainability wasn't there really. But yeah, getting back to the main point, they did like the younger kids being around. Sure, most of them from what I know (minus my brother) were much more friendly to liberty, but the rest of the hierarchy and older folks were more establishment. Thus the reason for the big commotion at the Virginia Beach (my then home) convention back in 2013 (there's a thread in the Virginia sub-forum on this).

 

[ZakCarter]

I'm working on making Ben Swann's Truth in Media Project as big as possible by the time 2016 gets here... and in 2016 I'll also be working on this -

http://opendebates2016.com/

Want to pitch in? I can best be reached at [email protected]

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

Zak, this part of your plan won't work:

The plan is to create demand for the candidates to be included in the CPD’s events. If they don’t allow them to their debate, we hope the entire country will become very aware of the fraud, and we’ll publicly invite the democrat and republican candidates to our platform while we continue hosting debates with our remaining candidates on the same nights the CPD’s are held to include the VP’s. We would ignore them just as they’ve ignored the disenfranchised party and independent candidates.

See the problem? You are guaranteeing a scheduling conflict for the invited D and R candidates, so won't attend the alternative debate. That also ensures low broadcast interest and the MSM will have penciled in their own spin and regurgitation of the official debates. It would probably get a mention in passing.

You also have to draw a line somewhere. With 20 candidates on stage, that's 6 minutes each in a 2 hour slot, including questions and rebuttals.

Is there any reason the League of Woman voters isn't on the list of organizations? They have incredible pull.

-t

 

[Champ]

No plans for 2016. Have concluded that elections are just scams to fool the slaves into thinking they run the plantation.

This pretty much sums it up for me. I worked hard, like a lot of people here, in both 2008 and 2012, but it became painfully obvious what we are fighting against. I'm not giving up, but also not following the same course of action. Working locally with like minded individuals on side projects possibly within politics, but mainly outside of politics, seems like the better option at this point in order to educate and push the message of non-violence, NAP, non-coercion, and free market systems.

 

[I<3Liberty]

I would like to do more and get involved in local politics, but I'm going to move after graduation. I'll have to get reacquainted and see what opportunities are available.

We definitely need to devote equal attention to the presidential election and local elections. Since the chances the next LP presidential candidate has a virtually nonexistent chance of winning, I would rather see more effort go into Rand. I have a bad feeling he won't be the nominee, the GOP candidate will be another joke who loses by a landslide. This is coming from an optimist BTW. I'm just trying to be real here. It's difficult to decide exactly what we should and can do, but I do feel options are limited b/c of the two party system and its' faithful sheeple.

 

[navy-vet]

Hell, Bryan, I'm just struggling to make it to 2016!

 

[Anti Federalist]

1 - Do whatever I can to torpedo a Romney run.

2 - Write in Ron Paul again.

3 - Donate to get Shem Kellog re-elected (even though, from all appearances, he has utterly abandoned RPF...typical politician?).