mackler
01-14-2008, 12:34 PM
Dear Friends,
Many of you have read my post highlighting some of the mistakes (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=85242) that "we" (the grassroots) and "they" (official HQ) made in New Hampshire. In this post I wish to propose a way that we can can finish first in other states. While I'm glad that my other post found enough support to be made a sticky, if one of my posts is going to be sticky, I hope that those who decide such things will find this post more useful that that one.
Background
Our greatest strength is also our greatest weakness: the decentralized nature of our volunteer base. If I had to sum up the biggest flaw in New Hampshire, it was GOTV. GOTV requires organization.
Note: If you are not familiar with the term GOTV, please acquire yourself some background understanding by googling "gotv techniques" (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22gotv+techniques%22&btnG=Search) or checking the wikipedia article on that topic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_out_the_vote).
GOTV takes organization. But as we've seen, HQ is not capable of effective GOTV organization, and we the grassroots do not have a GOTV organization strategy. We must have GOTV organization that is decentralized. Here is my proposal for achieving this goal.
How this will work
First, I hope that some others here will consider this proposal, and suggest improvements that are consistent with the stated values and principles.
Once the pledge is fully described, at least one person in each state should set up a list of every precinct in that state where people can sign up to indicate that they have taken this pledge to be part of this project. The people maintaining the precinct sign-up list have no authority over those signing up to participate. Ideally the list will be published in more than one place so that no one list-keeper can corrupt it.
Once there is a sign-up list, the goal is to have at least one person in each precinct take the pledge and sign up to be a Precinct Autonomous Unit Leader. Ideally the Unit Leaders will choose precincts where they themselves live and vote, but it's more important that every precinct have a Unit than every Leader be from her or his chosen precinct.
Once every precinct in your state has a Unit, you can join an existing Unit as a volunteer, or take the pledge and start your own second Unit in a precinct that already has one. The more (operational) Units we have, the better.
The Pledge
Warning: This solemn pledge is a serious undertaking on which will depend your public honor. If you take this pledge you will come under heavy pressure to violate this pledge. The official campaign will tempt you to become a "Ron Paul Precinct Leader." You will be told "the official campaign needs you." On the day of decision you will receive urgent requests--perhaps from people you trust--claiming that "HQ is short of volunteers and needs you now." If you take this pledge, the true grassroots Ron Paul movement will be relying on you to refuse these temptations and to lead yourself and your precinct to victory. Do not take this pledge if you are not prepared to keep it.
Statement of Values
We believe in self-government. We believe people should make the choices that affect themselves.
We believe that centralized authority is inefficient. Even when conducted with the best intentions, information failure will prevent centralized decision-making from working as well as individual decision-making.
We believe that ownership breeds responsibility.
Affirmation of Principles
Autonomous Unit Leaders should should interact with the official campaign as little as possible.
Autonomous Unit Leaders should not accept any information from the official campaign except for the times and locations of Ron Paul's public appearances.
Autonomous Unit Leaders should accept campaign materials from the official campaign only if decisions of how to use the materials are left entirely to the discretion of the Autonomous Unit Leader.
Autonomous Unit Leaders should never accept so-called "voter" lists from the official campaign.
Autonomous Unit Leaders should never provide voter names to the official campaign.
By taking this pledge, I am declaring myself to be a Precinct Autonomous Unit Leader. I have chosen and announced my precinct, and I take this...
Pledge to Action
As a Precinct Autonomous Unit Leader I am responsible for my precinct. I am responsible for bringing Ron Paul as many votes from my precinct as possible. Failure to do so will be mine an no one else's. I will own my precinct.
I pledge to find and meet every Ron Paul supporter in my precinct. I will knock on every door, visit every business, and do everything I can think of to establish relationships with every person in my precinct who can be motivated to vote for Ron Paul. I will learn who they are and how to find them again.
I will assemble a team of volunteers to help me in my mission. I will not let anyone who works for the official campaign be on my volunteer team.
For my primary, I will assign the volunteer duties for voting day. I will leave nothing to chance. I will be responsible for having at least one person inside the polling place at all times and will not leave before the vote totals are certified as official, including absentee ballots. I will be responsible for making sure than Ron Paul has people holding the largest sign of any candidate outside my polling place.
If a primary, I will assign volunteers to knock on the door of or call every Ron Paul supporter starting early in the day and repeatedly until every one of them votes. We will be pests on election day. I will be responsible for assigning volunteers to be door-knockers, phone-callers, drivers, poll-watchers and sign-holders. I will leave nothing to chance.
If any of my volunteers needs credentials from official HQ (to be a poll-watcher, for example) I will acquire the credentials well in advance, and without compromising the integrity of this pledge.
If a primary, I will learn who has authority for conducting my polling place. I will introduce myself and my volunteers. We will be cordial and friendly to election workers at all times.
If a caucus, I will make sure that every Ron Paul supporter in my precinct attends the caucus.
If a caucus, I will familiarize myself with the rules of procedure for selecting delegates well in advance of the caucus.
If there is another Autonomous Unit in my precinct, I may, but am not required to, work with the leader or volunteer team of that unit.
I publicly pledge that I will answer to no one but myself and will be guided at all times by my best judgment of how to maximize the number of votes counted for Ron Paul in my precinct.
I am a Precinct Autonomous Unit Leader.
I support Ron Paul, but I do not work for the Ron Paul Campaign.
Many of you have read my post highlighting some of the mistakes (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=85242) that "we" (the grassroots) and "they" (official HQ) made in New Hampshire. In this post I wish to propose a way that we can can finish first in other states. While I'm glad that my other post found enough support to be made a sticky, if one of my posts is going to be sticky, I hope that those who decide such things will find this post more useful that that one.
Background
Our greatest strength is also our greatest weakness: the decentralized nature of our volunteer base. If I had to sum up the biggest flaw in New Hampshire, it was GOTV. GOTV requires organization.
Note: If you are not familiar with the term GOTV, please acquire yourself some background understanding by googling "gotv techniques" (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22gotv+techniques%22&btnG=Search) or checking the wikipedia article on that topic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_out_the_vote).
GOTV takes organization. But as we've seen, HQ is not capable of effective GOTV organization, and we the grassroots do not have a GOTV organization strategy. We must have GOTV organization that is decentralized. Here is my proposal for achieving this goal.
How this will work
First, I hope that some others here will consider this proposal, and suggest improvements that are consistent with the stated values and principles.
Once the pledge is fully described, at least one person in each state should set up a list of every precinct in that state where people can sign up to indicate that they have taken this pledge to be part of this project. The people maintaining the precinct sign-up list have no authority over those signing up to participate. Ideally the list will be published in more than one place so that no one list-keeper can corrupt it.
Once there is a sign-up list, the goal is to have at least one person in each precinct take the pledge and sign up to be a Precinct Autonomous Unit Leader. Ideally the Unit Leaders will choose precincts where they themselves live and vote, but it's more important that every precinct have a Unit than every Leader be from her or his chosen precinct.
Once every precinct in your state has a Unit, you can join an existing Unit as a volunteer, or take the pledge and start your own second Unit in a precinct that already has one. The more (operational) Units we have, the better.
The Pledge
Warning: This solemn pledge is a serious undertaking on which will depend your public honor. If you take this pledge you will come under heavy pressure to violate this pledge. The official campaign will tempt you to become a "Ron Paul Precinct Leader." You will be told "the official campaign needs you." On the day of decision you will receive urgent requests--perhaps from people you trust--claiming that "HQ is short of volunteers and needs you now." If you take this pledge, the true grassroots Ron Paul movement will be relying on you to refuse these temptations and to lead yourself and your precinct to victory. Do not take this pledge if you are not prepared to keep it.
Statement of Values
We believe in self-government. We believe people should make the choices that affect themselves.
We believe that centralized authority is inefficient. Even when conducted with the best intentions, information failure will prevent centralized decision-making from working as well as individual decision-making.
We believe that ownership breeds responsibility.
Affirmation of Principles
Autonomous Unit Leaders should should interact with the official campaign as little as possible.
Autonomous Unit Leaders should not accept any information from the official campaign except for the times and locations of Ron Paul's public appearances.
Autonomous Unit Leaders should accept campaign materials from the official campaign only if decisions of how to use the materials are left entirely to the discretion of the Autonomous Unit Leader.
Autonomous Unit Leaders should never accept so-called "voter" lists from the official campaign.
Autonomous Unit Leaders should never provide voter names to the official campaign.
By taking this pledge, I am declaring myself to be a Precinct Autonomous Unit Leader. I have chosen and announced my precinct, and I take this...
Pledge to Action
As a Precinct Autonomous Unit Leader I am responsible for my precinct. I am responsible for bringing Ron Paul as many votes from my precinct as possible. Failure to do so will be mine an no one else's. I will own my precinct.
I pledge to find and meet every Ron Paul supporter in my precinct. I will knock on every door, visit every business, and do everything I can think of to establish relationships with every person in my precinct who can be motivated to vote for Ron Paul. I will learn who they are and how to find them again.
I will assemble a team of volunteers to help me in my mission. I will not let anyone who works for the official campaign be on my volunteer team.
For my primary, I will assign the volunteer duties for voting day. I will leave nothing to chance. I will be responsible for having at least one person inside the polling place at all times and will not leave before the vote totals are certified as official, including absentee ballots. I will be responsible for making sure than Ron Paul has people holding the largest sign of any candidate outside my polling place.
If a primary, I will assign volunteers to knock on the door of or call every Ron Paul supporter starting early in the day and repeatedly until every one of them votes. We will be pests on election day. I will be responsible for assigning volunteers to be door-knockers, phone-callers, drivers, poll-watchers and sign-holders. I will leave nothing to chance.
If any of my volunteers needs credentials from official HQ (to be a poll-watcher, for example) I will acquire the credentials well in advance, and without compromising the integrity of this pledge.
If a primary, I will learn who has authority for conducting my polling place. I will introduce myself and my volunteers. We will be cordial and friendly to election workers at all times.
If a caucus, I will make sure that every Ron Paul supporter in my precinct attends the caucus.
If a caucus, I will familiarize myself with the rules of procedure for selecting delegates well in advance of the caucus.
If there is another Autonomous Unit in my precinct, I may, but am not required to, work with the leader or volunteer team of that unit.
I publicly pledge that I will answer to no one but myself and will be guided at all times by my best judgment of how to maximize the number of votes counted for Ron Paul in my precinct.
I am a Precinct Autonomous Unit Leader.
I support Ron Paul, but I do not work for the Ron Paul Campaign.