The Coffee Party Movement

[impik]

This is awesome. almost 30,000 members already. Join and spread the word!

http://www.facebook.com/coffeeparty?v=wall

[razorman]

1. Sounds good. But will the really hardcore members be in the "Espresso" branch of the movement?

[stray cat]

2. Interesting - civility and reason in government - I'm in

but i suspect many DUers are against both - hence the unrecs

[stray cat]

3. For those interested- an interview with the founder

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2010/02/26/DI2010022602928.html

[mikehiggins]

4. How to join? Facebook sucks

Okay, I admit I still haven't "grokked" Facebook at all.

Whatever the point of it is I'm happy to leave it to 15 year olds that want to live via video screen.

How about something concrete for those of us in NYC?

[stray cat]

5. NY city has a chapter - see below; most groups are organizing meets

http://www.facebook.com/coffeeparty?v=wall#!/pages/Join-the-Coffee-Party-Movement-NYC/325193034182?ref=sgm

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Odd to post this on a 'video screen;.

DU and other message boards are not all that different from facebook. Oh and the coffee party is working on realworld activities with local branches. I'm sure NYC will be included. The details can be found on facebook.

[drm604]

6. What would we be joining here?

I looked at their Facebook page and their official website and they don't seem to even have a platform yet. The best I could come up with is this:

We want a society in which democracy is treated as sacrosanct and ordinary citizens participate out of a sense of civic duty, civic pride, and a desire to contribute to society. The Coffee Party is a call to action. Our Founding Fathers and Mothers gave us an enduring gift — Democracy — and we must use it to meet the challenges that we face as a nation.

Which is just fuzzy feelgood stuff that just about anyone anywhere on the political spectrum could read as applying to them.

If we join, what are we supporting?

There are no specifics which, in all respect, is a lot like the Tea Party movement.

[stray cat]

9. a democratic movement who wants responsible government not sold out to corps

http://www.facebook.com/coffeeparty?v=wall#!/pages/Join-the-Coffee-Party-Movement-NYC/325193034182?ref=sgm

However, not stuck on labels or political party platforms.

[drm604]

14. But then what is it "stuck on"?

We're all for responsible government and not selling out to corporations, but I suspect that most teabaggers would tell you the same thing, yet they stand for things completely different from what most of us here stand for.

I like the idea of calling it the "Coffee Party Movement" - which indicates it's in opposition to the tea party movement - but beyond being an alternative to the teabaggers there doesn't seem to be any substance to it.

For all I know, the thing was started by some disaffected teabaggers who've realized that their movement is actually corporate sponsored and have split off to do their thing without that influence. I certainly wouldn't want to become involved with that. I'm not saying that's the case. In fact it's probably not the case. But I can't tell. There's no indication that I can see on where this movement stands politically.

[patrice]

11. I gues you would be supporting whatever your local chapter makes it.

[drm604]

16. Doesn't that make it sort of meaningless as a national movement?

We might just as well all start our own little local clubs and do what we want.

[patrice]

18. Meaningless?

That depends upon whether you're an authoritarian or an egalitarian, a.k.a. "power only comes from the top down" or "real power comes from the bottom up" - a discussion that was kicked off in its current incarnation by George Lakoff in Don't Think of an Elephant.

Personally, I have a long history of pretty much determining my own meanings, but I'm always happy to discover others who manifest similarities (and obviously also some certain specific differences) in what they find meaningful and I never have cared very much for labels; meaning is constituted in action.

From where I sit, my friends and I have been talking about the PRIMACY of local foundations, oh say, for about 6 years now, ever since the inception of Democracy for America.

[drm604]

19. Of course people should start local organizations if they want.

I'm all for that, and I'm definitely not an authoritarian and I don't care for the implication. But this isn't a local organization, this is a national movement with local chapters.

If you don't want to belong to a national movement, then don't join one, but if you do join one then you should at least know what it is you're joining. Personally I can't figure out what I would be joining with this. It's precisely because I'm NOT an authoritarian that I'm bothered by that. I think for myself and I don't support things blindly.

[patrice]

21. sorry! - but - "blindly"? I'm bothered by the implications too.

I make it a point to always have a pretty good estimate of what it is that I'm doing. Are you assuming I don't?

Perhaps, in such hypothetical circumstances, that's more of a question for you?

Not for me.

[drm604]

22. This is turning into a big argument over something I'm not even that concerned about.

Originally I simply pointed out that I couldn't figure out what the organization stood for. People jumped on me for that, I responded, and somehow it's turned into a big argument with accusations about who is or isn't authoritarian and whether or not people know what they're doing.

People here are being way to sensitive, myself included. I don't even care that much one way or the other about this organization. Everyone do what they want. I'm going to take a pass at least until I have some idea about what they stand for and who is behind them. If anyone doesn't like that, that's their right.

[jkshaw]

12. I hope to goodness we won't be supporting

"funny hats" which someone suggested, to get the media's attention. Please, please, please -- NO funny hats!

[drm604]

15. Yea, that's it!

We could glue coffee... uh... beans or grounds or something... to our hats.

[mzteris]

8. I'm waiting for the Beer Party!

:toast: :party: :beer: :party: ::toast: :party: :beer: :party: :toast: :party: :beer: :party: :toast: :party: :beer: :party:

[mstinamotorcity]

10. Liquior is quicker

:hi: :toast: :bounce: :toast: :bounce: :toast: :bounce: :toast:

[Kablooie]

13. Yeah! Coffee is an American's drink. Tea belongs to the English.

[Lilyeye]

17. Thanks for posting. I looked through their page and found something interesting discussions.

[Blue_Tires]

20. if we're making names, why not a pizza party?

no one would refuse!

[ensho]

23. how about a 'loose tea' party? because loose tea by the pound

is cheaper then tea bags. and you have a large selection of teas from all over the world.

the progressive way to drink tea.