IdeaLog
Why we wrote our new messaging book
Posted on June 21, 2017
Available at this website and on Amazon in two weeks: Voicing Our Values: A messaging guide for policymakers and advocates, Third Edition. Most Americans are progressive on most issues. By margins of at least...
Now is the time for bold progressive policies
Posted on June 6, 2017
This might seem like a strange time for us to make the case for progressives to go on offense in the fight over public policy. Voters are more polarized than ever, politics is as...
Create a state or local Progressive Economic Platform
Posted on May 24, 2017
There is a true and politically compelling story about the American economy. The rich have spent decades rigging the system to benefit themselves at the expense of everyone else. Without any real knowledge at...
How and why to prepare an amendment strategy
Posted on May 10, 2017
Many lawmakers and advocates work in states, cities and counties where there is no chance to enact progressive policy. The votes for equity and justice simply aren’t there. In that case, your efforts have...
How to earn more media coverage
Posted on April 26, 2017
It is rare that major progressive legislation succeeds without a great deal of publicity. Plenty of special interest legislation passes in the dark, but our side needs the light. How do you get the...
Build your policy coalition
Posted on April 12, 2017
[This is the sixth in a series of columns about best practices for state and local advocacy groups. The first five are about proactive legislation, a Resolution strategy, a 6-step multi-year advocacy program, how...
How to build and use your volunteer base
Posted on March 28, 2017
[This is the fifth in a series of columns about best practices for state and local advocacy groups. The first four are about proactive legislation, a Resolution strategy, a 6-step multi-year advocacy program, and...
How to meet with a lawmaker
Posted on March 15, 2017
[This is the fourth in a series of columns about best practices for state and local advocacy groups. The first three are about proactive legislation, a Resolution strategy, and a 6-step multi-year advocacy program.]...
A Long-Term Advocacy Strategy That Works
Posted on February 28, 2017
[This column is related to the last one that laid out a “Resolution Strategy” for policy organizing. This digs deeper into the six-part program for advocacy described by Michael Pertschuk in The DeMarco Factor:...
A Resolution Strategy for Policy Advocates
Posted on February 15, 2017
Passing legislation is mostly about politics rather than policy. Progressives can have the greatest idea, backed up by a mountain of reports and an army of experts, and get nowhere near enacting it. At...