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Yes, liberals have a policy pipeline problem. However, that problem is not due to a lack of think tanks. That flawed conclusion presumes that a small group of smart people can and should construct the ideas that propel America forward. This strategy would only reinforce the criticism that the Democratic party is elitist and out of touch with every day Americans. Such an approach works with Republicans because they by their very nature seek leadership, and are happy to fall in line with a cult-like adoration. One has only to attend one Democratic convention to be disabused of the notion that Democrats are capable of anything similar. No, the real problem here is that Democrats have failed to seek input from average Americans. And I'm not referring to conventional polling. Most people will never have the opportunity to participate in a political poll. Also, traditional polls are front loaded with questions and are thus by their construct not representative of true conversation. Focus groups are fine, but are limited and inefficient. Democrats need a real conversation with America. One way to do that is for the Democratic party to do something that has never been attempted: Put up a website that invites such input—not from third party think tanks, but from the Democratic party itself. Elected officials would publicly invite participation. Ask America what problems it wants the Democratic party to address and how it should do so. Americans would be able to participate in detailed polls on every topic, and also provide unsolicited input. Yes, such an endeavor would be resource intensive and invite cranks. Hackers may run amok and servers may go down. But in the end, America will know that the Democratic party wants its input and it will have received it.
I’m curious how much of this is supply vs demand, or more specifically about competition. The conservative policy pipeline needs to develop new talent from educated backgrounds in part because elite institutions have a very limited number of young conservatives eager to work in policy. Whereas, there is no shortage of educated liberal aspiring policy professionals willing to be paid dirt just to be in the room.
In any senior year undergrad poli sci class, the small handful of conservatives (if that) will be primped and primed to fill the necessary gaps in the conservative talent pipeline - meanwhile the remaining 90% of that same poli sci class will compete in a race to the bottom for the same high prestige jobs before settling on some low pay low growth role with hopes they can pivot to something better later. Hell, I’m pretty sure the over abundance of liberal highly educated policy professionals is a contributing factor to the “groups” problem: actual high quality organizations will under pay and not cultivate talent because they know there’s always another eager young liberal professional waiting in the wings. And then for the other young educated professionals left out of the pool, they do what everyone does: make another consulting organization. Repeat ad nauseam.
Yes, liberals have a policy pipeline problem. However, that problem is not due to a lack of think tanks. That flawed conclusion presumes that a small group of smart people can and should construct the ideas that propel America forward. This strategy would only reinforce the criticism that the Democratic party is elitist and out of touch with every day Americans. Such an approach works with Republicans because they by their very nature seek leadership, and are happy to fall in line with a cult-like adoration. One has only to attend one Democratic convention to be disabused of the notion that Democrats are capable of anything similar. No, the real problem here is that Democrats have failed to seek input from average Americans. And I'm not referring to conventional polling. Most people will never have the opportunity to participate in a political poll. Also, traditional polls are front loaded with questions and are thus by their construct not representative of true conversation. Focus groups are fine, but are limited and inefficient. Democrats need a real conversation with America. One way to do that is for the Democratic party to do something that has never been attempted: Put up a website that invites such input—not from third party think tanks, but from the Democratic party itself. Elected officials would publicly invite participation. Ask America what problems it wants the Democratic party to address and how it should do so. Americans would be able to participate in detailed polls on every topic, and also provide unsolicited input. Yes, such an endeavor would be resource intensive and invite cranks. Hackers may run amok and servers may go down. But in the end, America will know that the Democratic party wants its input and it will have received it.
This post has some good takeaways. Getting to know the voters is the most important.
Its' not just a pipeline problem, it's a policy problem.
Trying to be the "party of everyone" has given them a platform list so long they can't even you tell you what all is on there.
Anyone with a $10 bill can get another plank added.
They need to streamline and prioritize what matters most: RCV/MMD, Medicare for all, ending money in politics/corruption.
Set the narrative instead of being reactive.
I’m curious how much of this is supply vs demand, or more specifically about competition. The conservative policy pipeline needs to develop new talent from educated backgrounds in part because elite institutions have a very limited number of young conservatives eager to work in policy. Whereas, there is no shortage of educated liberal aspiring policy professionals willing to be paid dirt just to be in the room.
In any senior year undergrad poli sci class, the small handful of conservatives (if that) will be primped and primed to fill the necessary gaps in the conservative talent pipeline - meanwhile the remaining 90% of that same poli sci class will compete in a race to the bottom for the same high prestige jobs before settling on some low pay low growth role with hopes they can pivot to something better later. Hell, I’m pretty sure the over abundance of liberal highly educated policy professionals is a contributing factor to the “groups” problem: actual high quality organizations will under pay and not cultivate talent because they know there’s always another eager young liberal professional waiting in the wings. And then for the other young educated professionals left out of the pool, they do what everyone does: make another consulting organization. Repeat ad nauseam.
Can applicants submit proposals for multiple policies in their applications?