Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 71 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
General News    H2'ed 3/26/10

What is Coffee Party USA?

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   6 comments
Message Richmond Shreve
Become a Fan
  (17 fans)
About two months ago a couple of young people, Annabel Park and Eric Byler, disturbed by the excesses of the Tea Party Movement, decided to create their own movement calling it Coffee Party USA. In the weeks that followed they have done some impressive work creating a web based network and founding a movement that is unlike any advocacy group to come down the pike, and very unlike the infamous Tea Party that has been in the headlines.

Park says, "We want to get the majority of Americans to become active citizens." She explains that we need to engage with each other in a civil way with a sense of civic duty and honor. Park and Byler have refused to put forward any platform or agenda. Instead they have created a process for people of divers views to engage in conversations on the most important political issues of our time. It begins with an on-line questionnaire that helps individuals describe their personal position on dozens of issues. The software then generates a circular diagram that represents that profile graphically.

(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA


When people sit together and share these charts, a dialog takes place that fosters mutual respect and understanding. Often the result is that groups find consensus. Byler says. "We've really, really benefited from the wisdom, the expertise, the creativity."

This approach demonstrates one of the core goals of the group: to move people away from extremes and polarization, and toward a sense of common purpose and community.

This weekend (March 27/28) is The Coffee Party USA National Coffee Summit. Across the country more than 400 groups are gathering to discuss their shared commitment to be involved citizens. Many will use the Coffee Party Sphere to spark dialog on the issues. Next week, as legislators return to their home districts with congress in recess, members of these groups will be introducing themselves to their local Congressional Representatives not necessarily to lobby, but to present themselves as involved concerned citizens who are respectful and thoughtful about the issues and start an ongoing relationship.

A party without platform? Activists without a cause? Not exactly. One unifying interest among the members is to counter the influence of special interests and lobbying groups. There is a theme to Coffee Party USA's actions -- grass-roots, bottom-up, democracy. What a concept.
Well Said 2   Supported 1   Valuable 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Richmond Shreve Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Richmond Shreve is a retired business executive whose careers began in electronics (USN) and broadcasting in the 1960s. Over the years he has maintained a hobby interest in amateur radio, and the audio-visual arts while working in sales and (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

The US is Broke -- Not!

Barstool Economics - A Viral Conservative Fable

Infiltrating the Truth Movement

What is Coffee Party USA?

O'Reilly -- On Obama and the Race Problem

How I Became a "Bestselling" Author

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend