Billionaires can create policy.

[C......N......C]

How many people on here and other public forums are really paid operatives trying to influence public opinion. If I were a billionaire I would think that would be a very good return on every policy dollar spent. I have seen several posts where people are suspicious of other people. Is there a good neighborhood watchdog system operating on DU? For the record, I am a liberal who believes in helping poor people. I think that quality human life for everybody supersedes making a profit for the stockholder. I believe in everybody rather than in more.

[Orrex]

1. I know of one right here on DU

His name is Elmer J. Fudd, millionaire. He owns a mansion and a yacht.

[Deja Q]

2. You'd have my vote.

:thumbsup:

[KharmaTrain]

3. Define "Paid Operative"

I'm curious of your definition. Somone from a lobbying firm? A PR person? A person who works for a corporation who just happens to favor a company position (rare as that may seem around here)?

[C......N......C]

4. Someone who gets paid to interact on web forums.

Could be a college kid or telemarketer or anybody that gets money for spending time trying to get certain talking points across on public forums. I can see this as a very cheap way to get your point across. Do you think that all of MSNBC's emails that they read on air are genuine viewer submitted emails. I have tried to write to different shows and you have to go through hell and high water to get an email address.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Lots Of Activists Out There

I've known of several political operatives who are DU members...a couple have come out and provided some very valuable insight into how the system and beltway games work. There are also many passionate people here who will act on their own with no financial motives, just the desire to make change happen. Look around DU...it's a big community and you'll find all types of people here. Most definitely there are agent provacateurs, but the blatant ones get a tombstone pizza in a hurry.

Regarding emails...Brent Bozell is notorious for his spam mail and email to the networks when his right wing panties are twisted the wrong way. It's an old right wing tool going back to Richard Vigurie and the "moral""majority" back in the 80's. The internets and the ability to generate millions of emails diminishes a lot of communication...especially when your email gets stuck in the electronic pile with hundreds or thousands of others.

I've always found that if you want to reach a "decision maker", either send a registered letter with return receipt. It ensures you that your letter arrived and shows how serious your letter can be. Or, if you have the time and resources, contacting network advertisers and getting names of the honchos that move and shake what's seen or heard and go directly for them.

Good luck...

[C......N......C]

6. Thank you for your reply. It was thoughtful and informative.

I hear a lot of degrading references to ideologues. Is that a way to keep reform and change down? Is there a better term for a visionary who wants change in the direction of human rights so he won't be called an ideologue? They seem to apply impractical to ideologue thus taking away the importance. The society we have now needs ideologues.