[Campaigns-l] A few thoughts...

[Malcolm]

Hi all!
I've been following the discussion with interest since I joined a couple
of days ago. Perhaps I've misunderstood, but some of the ideas I've
heard expressed on this mailing list seem not to have taken the mission
statement into account. It strikes me that there are two things in the
mission statement that should not be forgotten. 
1)      The idea of 'building a knowledgebase'
2)      The idea that this is 'a new Wikia website aimed at being a
central meeting ground for people on all sides of the political spectrum
who think that it is time for politics to become more participatory, and
more intelligent'.
 
The idea that the wiki should fundamentally take particular political
stances, such as backing the idea of eliminating professional
politicians, is - to me - the wrong way to go. 
 
However this wiki is structured, it should be a resource for anyone
interested in politics, whatever they think about career politicians or
any other issue. I see it (I think!) as providing key historical and
analytical information on an issue by issue basis (this may need
geographical distinction too), with information on and links to
organisations working in that area, and other relevant blogs, political
websites, discussion forums, etc. 
 
I personally don't think it should try to replace (ie kill) all the
existing discussion forums out there, or sites like the one I run. (FYI,
I am the editor of Manifesto UK (www.manifesto-uk.org
<http://www.manifesto-uk.org/> , a new website where we're creating an
ongoing UK non-partisan political manifesto). If it did that, it would
defeat the object, as it would be closing down discussion outlets rather
than opening them up.
 
So - to conclude - I think this should be a central campaigning
database, not a campaign in itself for things like getting rid of career
politicians, saving the planet from global warming or
supporting/opposing particular political positions. 
 
Keep the discussion going, though!
 
All the best,
Malcolm Mann
 
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