My first swipe at a New Democratic Paradigm: Or the way to stop a horse race is to stop betting on it.

Since I refer to this term so often I thought I had better start trying to define what I mean when I say NDP. What brings us all to this group is the realization that the current two party system is ineffective or moot in responding to basic human needs. We all are doing what we can to change this. As a novice student of history and politics, I have tried to educate myself as to why we have become essentially a one party nation, and how free thinking people have been cut out of Public affairs.
This is why there is a need for a new Democratic paradigm.

To me, the direction of the country will remain stagnant as long as we maintain the illusion that we can evolve by merely helping more freethinking people get elected.
When we give up this illusion, we place ourselves in a precarious position. First, we take ourselves out of the political process, and in a sense, marginalize ourselves. Then we are left with no leadership, organization, or direction. Well, I see this position as a golden opportunity, a chance to create something new, and our chance to take ourselves out of a dysfunctional cycle.

It seems impractical, and downright ridiculous to go back to square one or reinvent the wheel, but I fell like in this case, it is imperative. In doing this kind of work, we all need to develop tolerance for ambiguity. Inherent in this is the willingness to do our work regardless of feeling fear of the unknown.

Now, for some specifics: If we were to start with a neighborhood that needs some help with supplying itself with food (for example). We go into this N and, at their request help them start a community garden, or some kind or co-op that serves their particular needs. While we are doing this, we will be having organizational meetings to figure out what we want to do as a political group.

We can benefit from the co-op project by getting used to working with each other while having the momentum of possibly creating a sense of community. What a Co-op project, what ever it is, will get us use to dealing with basic human needs. I think this kind of mindset is necessary in creating a new political paradigm.

All criticism and comments will be appreciated.

Bill Turley
8/6/06

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Via cookiebear at DailyKos I noticed the news about Senator Nancy Riley switching from the Republican party to the Democrat party. Her reasoning? (more on the flipside):

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The Tulsa World blasted 1st District Congressman John Sullivan (R) in an unusually harsh editorial in this morning’s edition. The editorial writer claims Sullivan is jumping on the bandwagon of those groups who use hate-filled speech, fear-mongering, bigotry and distortion of facts, about these people, claiming to be protecting our way of life.

What prompted Sullie’s remarks is a comment Tulsa Police Chief Dave Been made about a 20 year policy of the TPD’s treatment of economic refugees who are here without permission. Chief Been said, “The policy, in short, is that Tulsa officers do not track down and arrest immigrants because they might be illegals.” Officers also tap information from illegals to help solve other crimes.

Some local RWR groups are after Mayor Taylor to fire Been because of his ‘hands off’ policy toward this group. Seeing an opportunity to score some points with these myopic xenophobes, Sulllivan joined their chorus.

The World is right about Sullivan…..to paraphrase Frosty Troy, “he’ll stoop so low that it’ll take a depth-finder to locate his social conscience.”

Read the editorial here.

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