Are there active democratic political think-tanks working on long term strategies?

[Equinox Moon]

That's the question. Are there Dem think-tanks working on strategies for America to get out of this mess, and to recover from it, long term?

[Thekaspervote]

1. I do believe the organization formed by holder and Obama are working on solutions

ACLU, southern poverty law cntr have always taken the long view

[Equinox Moon]

2. Thanks. I think that is true.

We need more.

[TheRealNorth]

3. THINK Tanks

Only one on the left that I know of working on long term election/political strategies is the one being headed by Eric Holder. The ACLU and SPLC are more special interest groups whose interests more or less align with Den interests, but to my knowledge are not working on strategies to elect Democrats.

[hedda_foil]

4. Center for American Progress is the main one. Brookings was one but I don't know if they still are.

[mia]

5. Brookings

https://www.brookings.edu/

[appalachiablue]

6. That's a very good question about what's being undertaken

and strategized to improve this current situation and trends. As stated by the other poster, all I've known of is the Ctr. for Amer. Progress, and agree that Brookings may not be as active now. ACLU and SPLC are specialized. Clearly the Dem. side has nothing like the resources and power stink tanks on the right. There's a progressive economic organization or institute but I can't think of the name now.

[Equinox Moon]

7. I think this is an area we are severly lacking in.

We need to change the national narrative. It is shocking the fake criminal president has such high approval ratings. That means people are not understanding what is going on.

We need powerful think tanks working on saving our democracy.

[appalachiablue]

8. The EPI, Economic Policy Institute is the other one I was thinking of.

EPI is an economic based, non-partisan think tank with Robert Reich, Robert Kuttner and others. Again Democrats don't have anywhere near the long time foundations and think tanks of Republicans and the right like the Heritage Fnd.; Cato, the Libertarian think tank founded by Charles Koch in 1974; the Bradley Foundation; the Waltons; the Mercatus Center at George Mason Univ. in NoVa allied with the Kochs; ALEC, and others. I believe the Mercers have a group also. Democrats could use more strategy, public policy institutes and organizations working towards preserving our democratic institutions and society.
https://www.epi.org/

(Wiki) The Economic Policy Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit American think tank based in Washington, D.C. that carries out economic research and analyzes the economic impact of policies and proposals. The EPI describes itself as a non-partisan think tank that "seeks to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions".
It is affiliated with the labor movement, and is usually described as presenting a liberal viewpoint on public policy issues. The EPI has a sister organization, the EPI Policy Center, which is a 501(c)(4) organization for advocacy and education. The EPI advocates for policies favorable for low- to moderate-income families in the United States. The EPI also assesses current economic policies and proposes new policies that EPI believes will protect and improve the living standards of working families...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Policy_Institute

[karynnj]

10. The biggest difference in resources may be that the Republican think tanks have the Republican

echo chamber to propagate dumbed down versions of their analysis.

This has been the case at least since the turn of the century. There would be a policy paper, written in scholarly form from one of their think tanks - often the Heritage Foundation. Then nearly identical talking points from it will be on several talk radio shows and Fox News. These are then made more odious - but the same - in the right wing sewer on the internet.

Then you have legislators referencing the think tank paper in hearings ... and THOSE clips are then shown or heard on the FOX News and talk radio sources - that had themselves already socialized the key points chosen to be repeated. To viewers who follow several right leaning sources, this information is being said by everyone. It is "common knowledge" - meaning no need to vet the information anywhere else.

Our think tanks are also augmented by most (not all) academic institutions. The total quality and quantity of analysis on our side is not worse. Where they excel is in effectively brainwashing their base. I think we need to improve getting good information out, but I absolutely think that what they are doing is not the right way to go.

[appalachiablue]

11. For sure they have a decades long, well funded and valuable resource

in Fox and RW radio, there's nothing even close in terms of media on the left. And I don't doubt that the quality of research and analysis on the left is at least equal, maybe superior.

Re the Libertarian and conservative right, the Kochs also fund around 200 American colleges, mainly the business, economics and law depts., also some public policy programs. Their reach also extends to US high schools where they endow classes and studies in business, economics/marketing. Their ultra conservative ideology is shaping the minds, and economic and political views of generations of people. The Koch allied institutions are all over the US, not just in more conservative Dixie or Mountain West states.

We absolutely need more unbiased media and progressive media which is also accessible and affordable. Huge issue.
A few years ago, every time I tried to watch CSPAN, weekends mostly, it was heavy, majority presentation by speakers and authors from RW think tanks and Libertarian conferences, also CPAC, et al.

Then a couple years ago, the network began adding a few more Democratic and progressive Book TV authors and In Depth discussions on topics like the environment, income inequality, etc. Although their programming still seems about 70% right, and 30% left, there's been some broadening of viewpoints IMO.

[Demsrule86]

9. You need funding for this...and many top Democratic donors were driven from the party as being

corporate.

[Crunchy Frog]

12. I think we're about 30 years behind the Rs on that.

Maybe more.

[Equinox Moon]

13. Why do you think that is?

We have to plan in order to restore and keep our democracy. We need think-tanks working on strategy. We need smart people and regular people working on this. Why aren't we?