Yes, you (probably) can.
If you have a PLAN.
I've been at DailyKos for a while, and I've read and commented on many diaries. And many of those were entertaining critiques of one kind or another. We aren't doing enough of this or that. Obama isn't doing enough of this or that. Kos isn't ... you get the idea.
But something is missing.
One extremely important thing is missing from many (most) of these diaries: a PLAN to fix the perceived problem. Any plan. Even the veriest hint of one. You'd think this would be obvious, but apparently not.
These diarists all want something to change, but most offer no concrete ideas on how to accomplish that change.
So I'm going to take a mental step back into a previous (unlamented) life as a manager to see if I can help.
SO, HOW DO YOU GET THE CHANGE YOU WANT?
First, you're unlikely to accomplish anything much by yourself, however impassioned or eloquent you are.
So the first thing is to organize the active cooperation of others. And organizing an effective block of people--the more, the better--means agreeing to help promote their priority issues, too. If you think about it, that is exactly what Kos has done. We cooperate with his goal of electing Democrats and he provides a forum for many additional issues.
Step one: Create an agreed upon set of Goals (mission statement, in corporatese).
What do we want and what can we, as a group, accomplish? The participants at DailyKos have no cooperative Goals beyond Kos's goal of getting Democrats elected, implemented by his Plan to start a blog. Successfully. Obama had a goal to get elected and had a plan to accomplish that which certainly worked.
But it's clear that many of the users here have other goals, needs, and demands, some of them even larger than Kos's. Our staggering economy and dealing with climate change come to mind. But because there is a cacophany of competing individual interests and opinions, we don't accomplish nearly as much as we can if we focus together and throw our organized weight behind a few specific issues we might agree on.
Which issues are the most urgent and important to a large number of people? And is yours one of them?
The economy/bailout/supporting unions/credit reform/corporate controls
Climate change/environmental protections/emission standards
Universal health care
GLBT rights
Women's issues/abortion/child care
Immigration
Veterans' issues
Other (I know I've missed many.)
Once enough people agree on what the issues should be, make sure the group goals are clearly defined and attainable.
Step two: Make an Action Plan.
Not all problems can be solved by telephoning or throwing money at the issue of the moment. A majority of Democrats were elected in 2008 in large part because of the thousands of campaign volunteers ... all honor to them. And that may be the level of action that's needed again for some issues.
For example, let's say we agree that the environment/climate change is the most urgent (not only) issue. This is not a problem that can be solved by one blog, however popular.
So what could we, as a group, do about it that would make our effort significant?
First, we have to have that clear, attainable goal. So perhaps we decide the most effective thing we can do is to raise general awareness of, and affect the outcome of, environmental legislation. That's our Goal.
How could each of us help do that more effectively?
- Designate a "mother ship" diary for that issue alone and have everyone hotlink to it for updates and long-term coordination.
- Inform ourselves by reading and promoting environment/climate change diaries and their recommended readings. This is important, because many environment diaries get little attention, even when they're front-paged.
- Track, research, analyze, and diary environmental/climate change legislation and events. If you're a specialist/expert, try to make your diaries comprehensible to everyone. Make recommendations for action specific to the diary's topic. Link to relevant action and information sites.
- Distribute, crosspost, and submit the best diaries to aggregator sites, newspaper, and magazine editorials. And, even, to television programs like Maddow or Olbermann, who might, just might, pick up on timely issues. (With permission, of course.) Never underestimate the value of a good, relevant, well-researched diary as a source.
- If you know them, encourage others like artists and cartoonists to use the diaries for ideas. The more media avenues, the better.
- If you recommend calling Congress or a state legislature about a specific piece of legislation, be certain that you explain the legislation clearly and fairly to readers. Just referring to it or throwing out a few inflammatory remarks isn't enough. No one will trust you again if they're burned.
- If you think that, say, an email campaign will be effective make sure you include details and explain why.
- If actual physical presences/action are wanted for a demonstration, be clear about who's sponsoring the event and who's involved.
- Collectively sponsor delegatations to speak to legislators, if that seems useful.
- Keep your eyes on the goal and don't get distracted by side issues.
Step three: DO IT.