One of the big post-election questions ’round here has been what Deval Patrick’s campaign organization will, and should, become, now that it has served the initial purpose for which it was created. An email blast that many of you probably received from Liz Morningstar, the committee’s new executive director, confirms that Patrick has every intention of keeping the organization alive and kicking:
What we’ve heard from supporters across the Commonwealth is a desire that the Committee be much more than the typical candidate’s committee, that it be something more engaging, a real “citizens” committee.
We are in the process of laying the groundwork for such a committee, including a new DevalPatrick.com, which we will launch in the spring, as well as other new and exciting ways for people across Massachusetts to stay or get engaged with issues of importance in their communities.
If they do this right, it could be a great thing. What should such an organization do — and what should it not do?
They’re looking for direct input, and my guess is that they’ll check out the discussion here as well.
Answering the mail would be a nice start. Responding to substantive input on unsexy issues like family preservation and child welfare would be another.
I have become really frustrated. I wrote nine papers for the campaign on issues related to mental health. I have gotten no response or feedback. When I spoke to people in the campaign, they suggested I contact the new secretary of Health and Human Services, which I did two weeks ago. Still no response. perhaps our expectations are too high. Part of me thinks that those expectations for real participation and input were raised by the campaign, and now like other thinsgs as well, they are finding that they reality of governing day to day really may not allow for the kind of participation they envisioned. I still want to participate, but the doors seem to be closed, even to those who did yeoman’s work in the campaign. I have run out of doors to knock on.
That has been exactly my experience. Sadly. So a very good start is please – answer the phone and the mail…it really does NOT feel like anyone is listening.
Not until early 2010, that is.
As we campaigned for the now governor, we were promoting civic engagement among our local neighbors: learning about and connecting to local public policy issues & voting. And we were pretty good at it! In fact, in the words of Governor Patrick, we turned a campaign into a Movement for Change. So, I humbly suggest we keep doing exactly that.
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I envision the “ying” to the Commonwealth Corps’ “yang”. The Commonwealth Corps is about helping all kinds of regular folks to get out and volunteer. That is one type of civic engagement. I suggest the campaign folks create “Precinct or Town Discussion Groups” in which they reach out to their neighbors, to engage them in public policy discussion. Everything from Iraq, to gas prices, to playing the Governor’s latest podcast for anyone who missed it. This is a second type of civic engagement. Such groups would (1) encourage a sense of ownership of and empowerment regarding their government,(2) connect people to public policy, and (3)connect people to and create a sense of responsibility for their neighbors. In fact, participation in the Discussion Groups would encourage people not only to learn, ask and vote, but to run for office.
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At the Civic Engagement Working Group public meetings, we heard from all kinds of exciting volunteer org’s, and we all wished we could connect to them somehow. The Discussion Groups would be a great way for those Orgs to reach out to the neighborhoods. We heard that there are (I believe) over 200,000 immigrants in MA who qualify for citizenship, and these groups would plug those folks into citizenship and also ESL classes. We heard about people wanting to meet their local reps, and this would provide that opportunity. We heard that people loved the coffee & conference calls with the now governor, and if sufficiently popular, perhaps this would provide a space for that as well. There are many more examples.
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The discussion could be exciting, and the movement could continue.
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So… if you were leading your local group, what would you suggest for this week’s discussion?
I do have ideas but I get shut off most of the time.
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The let down three days after Nov 7 when Pelosi thanked me for my for my support and then presented the agenda, that was enough of politics for me.
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Next up at the federal level should be the North American Union, a threat greater than Iraq and Iran put together yet nobody even knows.
I am happy to sit down and talk about most any topic. My question is once you have the discussion and then have input to give, where does the information go? Does the input get acted upon? Is there a real purpose, or are we going through an exercise that leads us to think we are participating in something meaningful.
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If we are talking about very local civic engagement this approach might be successful, but if your goal is to affect change at the level of state policy, there is a problem of getting access to those that make policy at that level.
I am happy to sit down and talk about most any topic. My question is once you have the discussion and then have input to give, where does the information go? Does the input get acted upon? Is there a real purpose, or are we going through an exercise that leads us to think we are participating in something meaningful.
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If we are talking about very local civic engagement this approach might be successful, but if your goal is to affect change at the level of state policy, there is a problem of getting access to those that make policy at that level.
Education is an end in and of itself, as is sitting down and discussing issues with (and caring about) our neighbors. This alone achieves a great deal. (Maybe you don’t realize, but it’s a big deal for you to be reading this blog…) However, the plan is that, on some issues, people will choose to act. We won’t be able to resist action! And, when we act as a group, we are greater than the sum of our parts. (If you ever want to know where the power is, just check to see who is organized.) Imagine an issue, and you can imagine what we would do. And if you can’t, then talk with your neighbors, and between you all, a plan will be hatched. The sky really is the limit; we are only as limited as we choose to be. Even if we try and fail, something important will have been achieved, both inside of us and regarding the issue. Look back at what we achieved on the campaign — by simply talking to each other. Grassroots is power. And, don’t forget, our elected officials are telling us that they want to know what we think. We’re in a good position.
Looking forward to the new website.
Any time I see a word in quotes, unless it is one, I consider it sarcastic.
………. more engaging, a real “citizens” committee.
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A politician, no matter what party, NEVER has any intention of listening to you.
Patrick IS an outsider who wants to be an insider. The state house cronies won’t let him….Maybe Jesse J. can sue them, force them to listen.
I won’t be around to tell you all, I told you so. Patrick is wrong for this state.
Like other highly educated folks, moving out of state. I love Patricks bait in switch with the budget. He miraculously “discovered” a one BILLION dollar budget shortfall only after the election. Hope is STILL on the way. Good luck, Massachusetts.