Welcome to Congressional Watchdog Forum

[Skrups]

When you register, you can post and see other posts in the congressional districts. This forum aims to discuss strategies to build many locally organized groups nationwide. It is a jumping-off point for creating new groups and acting as a resource for building their Watchdog groups. It is designed to focus on popular issues like Medicare for All and peacefully short-circuit the legislative process by pressuring representatives and media with little effort. It is not designed to be a tool for political parties or the promotion of candidates. The website associated with this forum is congressionalwatchdogcentral.org

[obi wan jacoby]

What about freeing Julian Assange as an initial cause? A downside that the issue is less publicly-known (for sinister reasons), but an upside is that it can be more emotionally attractive to try to save one hero than to try to help millions of unidentified people (not that we don't need it). Also, paths to accomplish it may align with some of what we want, especially opposing surveillance and holding government accountable.
Cards on the table: my main goal here is to free him, and I think our best chance is to do so before 2023; and, while I have NO experience in such matters, I have some assertive ideas that I suspect could further tons of our causes. But I won't just post them all without permission - I don't want to distract from the site's focus.
Anyway, what do y'all think?

[Skrups]

I agree with all that you say. I focus on M4A because I think many people, including Independents, Democrats, Republicans, favor it. I want the group to grow as big as possible. Starting with Assange and surveillance might limit the number of people willing to participate. I hope people will see how easy this is and empower them to create other initiatives like Assange, surveillance, Military budgets, secondary education, banking, etc. I don't have much control over the groups. My only form of control is to invite like-minded people, people who want M4A, know the government is not working for our interest, and corporate media is propaganda. I hope people see that they don't have to protest or march. I'm moving slow. I'm not sure how this will look if it becomes a thing. I'm also new to this forum software. After I approve your 3rd post, I think you will be able to post without approval. Thanks for posting and helping me figure this out.

[dcbyers13]

I have arrived! And just looking around. I see the potential! I definitely hope to help promote this idea if the goal is for transparency neutrality and open collaboration i’m all about it.

[dcbyers13]

I have arrived! And just looking around. I see the potential! I definitely hope to help promote this if the goal is for transparency neutrality and open collaboration i’m all about it.

[Skrups]

Thanks for arriving. Once several people from one district establish themselves, they can decide how they want to communicate: Slack, Twitter Communities, or maybe a bulletin board like this. The group can post the link instead of their names, and new people can connect directly through that link. For example, You can use one of your websites as a place for people to sign up on. Just connect it to your congressional district. I'm not an expert on this bulletin board. I think after I approve 3 of your posts, I don't have to approve them anymore.

[AmazonPissJugs]

Hey I'm Jeremy from Seattle. I don't have as lot of time but like the idea.

[eddiec]

There needs to be some kind of organizing. Else, we are all just sitting ducks.

[Skrups]

Yes, I agree. I've wanted to increase the numbers, so people feel more comfortable signing on. I've been responding to mostly Twitter posts that agonize about corruption, war, healthcare, etc. I get a lot of likes and retweets, but not many sign up. Not sure why. I think people are a bit afraid to put their names on something. The establishment has done an excellent job dividing us; maybe people aren't ready to join. I try to focus on more progressive sites or people. I think a core of people who aren't marinated in MSN or in the hope of a candidate to come to save us will best suit our goals. I'd like to have 40 or 50 people signed up and then ask about 10-15 of us to lobby some independent media (people we like) to discuss the idea and boost the numbers. Thanks for the links in your other post. Skip

[eddiec]

I get a lot of likes and retweets, but not many sign up. Not sure why.

Two possibilities:
1) Twitter is teeming with bots
2) People do not see a lot of 'action' or interactions, or a schedule of past & upcoming discussions (again interactions).

I believe people who signs up are ready to do something - including helping to promote the forum.
But the forum may need a little bit more meat for them to do so.

Re-reading the landing page, these jumped out at me:

Empowered with Mutual Knowledge we can effectively organize without marching, protesting, or even meeting
we are proposing the legislation not asking for it." (here I read 'legislation' as 'solution')
they can start the effort by writing a letter with a simple question like, 'Why aren’t you supporting Medicare for All?' "

Here's why - IMO
1) We need to pin down Mutual Knowledge for everyone - everyone can be asked to help list what they think others should know
e.g. the Princeton University: Gilens & Page Study

2) We can vastly broaden Mutual Knowledge to include what else is possible
For example: Direct Change ideas - **changing our own mindset is by its very nature, real change **

3) We can strategize to leverage existing political platforms to move the Overton Window
For example: from Corporatocracy to Co-opecracy
imagine if we now ask each other and those seeking to be Representatives:
Are you for elite Dom (Usurper Dom) or for Usurper-free Dom ?

4) If the forum agrees, "Congressional Watchdog" could be extended to include monitoring whether Congress is upholding and adhering to usurpation-free values

5) Perhaps more would sign up if there are ongoing constructive discussions ("Accretive Dialogue") here
For example: Do we want a usurpation-free world? How is it possible? etc


On an administrative note:

a) For such discussions: If discussion threads become too long and a little unwieldy, to make it easier for everyone to follow the discussion, the first post in the thread can be edited (with time stamp for edits) to include a summary of key relevant points added further down in the thread.

b) Is it possible to notify everyone who has already signed up of any events / activities on this Forum?
I think it is important to keep those who already signed up, informed and engaged (e.g. with polls, or requests for their inputs) on a regular basis to keep them interested in the forum, and to promote it.

Sounds like there is already enough work to seek volunteers to help you out!