2008 election cycle

“How can we best create a space on the Future Majority website that is a think tank for youth campaigning - tactics, strategy, policy - that includes candidate or Dem. campaign participation?” ~Mike Connery

Stemming from a number of convergent factors—momentum building off the record youth voting trends of 2004 and 2006; a growth in GOTV youth organizations and projects; the ongoing Iraq War controversy; new and innovative social networking technologies; a half-decent crop of candidates; and the “Bye-Bye Bush” election—the 2008 election cycle is already shaping up to be a watershed in the history of youth politics.

The question arises: how can we who are committed to forwarding this movement help the 2008 Presidential youth campaigns realize their highest potential while also wikifying our “movement memory” for future election cycles and generations of youth? How can we also use this as an opportunity to unify the progressive youth politics movement so that we can leverage our collective political weight to make significant headway on pressing issues that are directly affecting young voters?

A discussion has recently arisen about the possibility of Future Majority serving as a virtual platform for this process to take place. Such a project would entail bringing together campaign youth staff, young voter experts, and young voters themselves to engage in dialogue about tactics and strategy, share stories and lessons from the frontlines, and seek advice from “youth elders” and campaign veterans.

There are many ways this process could be facilitated and structured. This is an idea still fresh in the making, so share your creative vision and help make this happen.

How can we most successfully set this up with the resources and networks currently available? How should FM host this process and what should the format be? What site designs will need to be implemented to make this happen?

Lotz of questions still to be raised and explored!

Update by Mike: I’ve added this to the Big Ideas section of the DIY Wiki. As this post moves off the front page, let’s make sure the discussion keeps going over there.