[ARCHIVE] Initiatives

How do we make this happen?

In the progression of this project, as of January 2020, this is how far I have come. I’ve developed a perspective on the problem, its causes and what must be done. Now I am figuring out how to do it.

As such, everything below is currently being figured out. Obviously the resources do not currently exists to pursue all of these at once, and perhaps never should (focus is a virtue). And there is a need to assess which initiatives, in which order, are likely to most strategically utilize collected resources to thoughtfully progress toward the desired end. But here are prospective initiatives.

OBJECTIVE: Democrats: rediscover empathy.

STAGE: Conceptualization
Initial thinking is to fund targeted social media campaigns aimed at conveying this message in select Democratic primary states, measure results and proceed from there.

OBJECTIVE: Elect officials that genuinely, unapologetically champion working with opponents to get things done.

STAGE: Conceptualization
Similar to above, initial thinking is to fund targeted social media campaigns advocating bipartisanship and possibly identify candidates with positive bipartisan credentials.

OBJECTIVE: Genuinely and urgently address the issue of declining middle class economic opportunity.

STAGE: Conceptualization
The initiative here would be to either endorse/assist existing organizations advocating for this issue, and/or develop a well-resourced position paper based upon pre-existing research, that establishes the nature and acute urgency of the problem, provides talking points for discussion and possibly proposes solutions for consideration, with the aim to generate more prioritization of the issue at the national level. This is a major project in and of itself, so requires careful thought and resources.

OBJECTIVE: Reconsider the need for fair and balanced news delivery. Revisit the Fairness Doctrine.

STAGE: Evaluation
On this topic, at least, there are numerous organizations already working. I’m interested in assessing whether e.pluribus.us might assist them in anyway, or leave them to their own good success.

OBJECTIVE: Educate Americans at all levels on the importance of, and how to collaborate with opponents

STAGE: Conceptualization
Here again we could fund broader social media campaigns, and later via other media, conveying the importance, benefits of and simple skills associated with collaborating across perspectives.

It could also be possible to develop a simple secondary school curriculum aimed at teaching collaboration skills. Have had some preliminary discussions on this.

OBJECTIVE: Better understand the effects of social media on information dissemination and, if necessary, act to preserve its integrity

STAGE: On Hold
Here again there are organizations and indeed some in government already pursuing this initiative. At this point my instinct is simply to passively support and draw attention to existing initiatives.

OBJECTIVE: Demand sustainable progress from our politicians.

STAGE: On Hold
My feeling at this time is that this end would be advanced by the first three initiatives above.

How can you help out?

At this stage we are not quite to the point where there are specific roles to play within the e.pluribus.us organization. As we flesh out the initiatives above, there should be lots of need for help starting in early 2020. If you would like to participate, please see our “How to Help” page.