Platform Resources for Progressives in 2008  

The Obama Campaign & DNC are inviting We the People to define "change we can believe in" through online submissions and a grassroots house-party-based platform creation process. This innovation will strike some as a bit strange, as many party activists have been engaged in creating platform for the past six months.

Whether or not this effort represents a sincere interest in true grassroots input, we and our allies have decided to utilize it to go "on the record" with our high expectations for bold progressive policies at home and abroad.

This is where you sign up to participate in or host a Platform House Party:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/listening/
This is where you submit positions:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/platmeeting

They are specifically looking for and will be more apt to use personal anecdotes of real people, real stories exemplifying the need for the the various planks we suggest. They should be written in short, interesting and engaging ways. Example : "I'm a 58 year old steelworker who was just laid off my job........" "I am a 32 year-old father and business owner. Repeated deplyoments in iraq have wreaked havoc on my family...."

The Backbone Campaign and our progressive allies have assembled resources to help you be as effective as possible. Utilize language from these resources in the Platform House Parties and throughout the throughout the election season. We will continue to update you concerning additional platform planks and resources as they come forward from our allies.

Good luck and let us know what you are able to accomplish in the coming weeks. Report back to info@backbonecampaign.org.

PLATFORM RESOURCES:

Colorado Democratic State Party Platform: http://coloradodems.org/docs/2008PlatformPrintable.pdf A full platform, with great policy statements on most all issues. This will be in wide circulation during the Denver National Convention.	Win Without War & Cities for Peace/Cities for Progress: http://www.standupcongress.org/content/page.php?cat=2&content_id=43 3 Bottom-line foreign policy demands
Grassroots Netroots Alliance: Candidates Survey at http://grassrootsnetroots.org/2008platform.cfm A bold platform focusing on hot-button issues politicians often avoid. Use it as a resource and with one click send your candidates there. Visit Homepage here,and listen to PSA with Ronnie Cummins with button to the right.	Backbone Campaign: http://QuestionsfortheCandidates.org Over 16 enlightening 2-3 minute audio recordings by leading progressive policy experts. Each one ends with one or more questions for Congressional and Presidential candidates. Use these to create your platform submission and promote to community radio stations. Also see Backbone Campaign's Progressive Platform (Not recently updated but VERY useful - with comments from users.)
Progressive Democrats of America's Progressive Challenge http://progressive2008.org/ or download a pdf here. 7 short progressive policy statements spanning the policy spectrum. PDA Homepage.	Other: US Green Party (draft) 2008 Platform download here. Independent Ralph Nader's 2008 Platform here http://consideringdemocracy.org - An interesting project 8 things to ask your representative. Video Archive here

Photo by Peter Ray, taken at Strawberry Festival, Vashon Island, WA July 2008.