[statecom-discuss] Three fundamental ideas for GRP strategy

[Ron Francis]

Which way forward for the GRP in the next 5 years and what are the key ideas ? Let me suggest 3 ideas that must inform all strategic thinking.

1) Recognize that we are in competition with the "Progressive Democrats" of Massachusetts.  

They have a fundamentally different strategy but politics that are identical to ours in some cases (they favor single payer for example) and in other cases their politics can be made to sound similar to us.  These folks are fairly well organized, have excellent models of organizing on the ground, have been successful, and are poised to build.  If we think we can ignore these efforts, especially with the misnamed "spoiler" effect then we are shooting ourselves in the foot.  The "progressive Dems" will attract people and make it harder for GRP to build with our social justice vision.   In order to counter this effect we need to carryout actions and plans that distinguish us from the Progressive Dems in a way that is clear and simple to the public, or else we will lose the competition.  This will necessitate root-cause discussion.

2) Focus on local organizing with well thought out models

To have actual power in a community means having a base of support built up.  This can typically only be done locally for groups, like ours, that do not have large resources because of our politics mainly.  A healthy GRP will have chapters growing in each local district using well tested models.  The bottom line is this:  If we don't execute replicatable local models of local base-building then we aren't going anywhere.  This is a cold but true reality.   Our growth rate must exceed our loss rate.  As a side note I would say that the best models are ones that involve DIRECT local organizing meaning activities that put us in contact with new and ordinary people on a regular basis (and this is whether one is trying a candidate approach, an issue approach, a ballot approach, or a project approach)

3) Use the "foco" theory

Che Guevara understood that with limited resources one needs to focus efforts one community at a time and hope the focused effort creates a stronghold that is solid.  Thus, regardless of what planning one has, realize that it will probably need a kick-start that involves people from a given regional area focusing together on a given local effort to solidify that effort to the point where the effort is selfsustaining.  As an example:  rather than run 3 state Rep candidates in Briston county, instead pull together many Bristol county GRP's and solidify one local area.  (And we shouldn't cheat !  Let's establish criteria for what it means for a local area to be established and if we don't have it yet then keep concentrating the forces until it truly is established).  This means making some choices about with local area to choose; let' s not be afraid to do that.

Let me know what you think...

Ron