What is the theory behind their success?

Barack Obama’s Organizing for America

And does that theory work from Government?

Providing strategic coordination and

Digital tools that

Help regular people transform our 5 fungible (transformable) resources into social, political and economic change.

1) Opinion

2) Relationships

3) Vote

4) Creativity

5) Money

Three major types of tactics

1)Speak up: Direct communication to influence decision makers.

2)Speak out: Public communication to influence others

3)Organize: Building long term grassroots power

Speak up!

Resource Speaking up examples

Opinion Calls, faxes, letters to Representatives, attending “townhalls” or direct lobbying

Relationships Bringing friends to lobby visit

Vote Voting!

Creativity Sending photo of local problem to representative

Money Donating to a candidate or party

Speak Out!

Resource Speaking Out examples

Opinion Letters to the Editor, signing public petitions, attending rallies and major events

Relationships Posting on Twitter and Facebook

Vote Signing a public “voter’s pledge”

Creativity Making a short film, altering a corporate logo

Money Funding ads or any form of public campaigning

Organize!

Resource Organizing examples

Opinion Speaking at house parties, calling other voters

Relationships Inviting friends to join organization or local chapter

Vote Joining a well recognized “voters block”, helping with “GOTV”

Creativity Creating lasting brands that bind people together

Money Donating to fund organizers and lasting organizations

Organizing for America – First attempt to make the leap

20 Million Online Supporters

Vast Field Network

Speak Up!› 4.2 Million direct Congressional contacts

Calls Letters & signatures office visits townhalls

Speak Out! › 33,000 Public events in 4,000 cities and

towns› 450,000 Letters to the Editor › 3.2 million voter-to-voters calls made and

doors knocked

Organize! › 3,986 trained volunteer leaders› 5.2 million new OFA supporters› 181,000 took their first offline action

Opinion › Congressional Contact, Letters to the Editor,

etc. Relationships

› Volunteer recruitment, FB & Twitter posts, etc. Vote

› “You Fight, We’ll Fight” election pledge Creativity

› Health Reform Video Challenge Money

› Over $US 30 million raised for ads, organizers, materials, etc.

Theory of Change: Inside Access or Outside Power?

Accountability: Party or People?

Mission: Elections or Advocacy?

Network technology will continue to open the democracy to new leaders

Activism will merge with media as we need to fight harder for attention

Aggregated, strategic and independent organizing will remain vital to strengthen and maintain our new democracy – supervised by the citizens