For most of those aspiring to elective office to have a chance under current electoral methods many assets that can only be provided (packaged) by the existing power structure are needed. This would include the front–running of party approval, i.e. the media’s imprimatur of electability, money, ballot access/organization, political consultants, polling data and many other tools that do little to further the interests of the country or the constituency. Moreover, the needs create weaknesses; that can be exploited.

In the open environment of the network proposed, potential candidates and their constituents can meet to create many forums in pursuit of common objectives. With the many possible interactions documented – and many more possible to develop – it should be clear that such assets will lose their relevance; as would the complex that bestows them. There need be no concerns about “name recognition” or staffing and advertising costs. Tactics like opposition research and hot button idiocy would not only become unnecessary, their use in any campaign would be dangerous and foolhardy. Supporters can be found, political organizations built, and messages fashioned and delivered, all pretty much free. Free in the monetary sense and free from the many other constraints that bind negative alliances and create the distortions of our current system. No longer will the current money driven resources be necessary; or even desirable. The goodwill and strong-ties that will develop between candidates and their visible constituents – and between the user-members themselves - will drive issues, principled competition - and candidacies - every day as elections become culminating events of an ongoing process; that is the electoral landscape. Further, the discourse and foundation of substance that will necessarily be established through that everyday process - captured as and driven by the new media this will create - will ensure that there can be no going back; these influences will certainly seep down into all corners of our society. This ensures that when attention shifts from first tier electoral activities to general elections, we will find an enduring foundation of realism that will transcend this network infusing everything; everywhere such matters are considered. For these reasons and others, the money will buy nothing, thereby rendering it meaningless. Further, as this network would be owned, funded and managed by its public; it will be –perpetually - a fully transparent and conflict of interest free environment.

No.

WeLeadUSA, however its formal organizational structure might emerge, should never support a specific candidate or one or another party.

Our sole purpose must be to create a forum that will rebalance power in our country. This will be done by establishing proximate, authoritative and meaningful interactions between citizens, elected officials, and candidates for office and leveraging that into deeper study and decision making. This will happen across a broad spectrum of issues that inform public policy and the daily life of all Americans.

The network will be completely unpartisan yet it will be built to accommodate the work of parties and affiliated voters. Assisting people with opposing points of views to learn more about the opportunities for agreement and action in the public sphere is the very basis of a principled and workable democratic-republic.

The rules governing the ballot access and nominating process, voting, and party affiliations are run at the local-state level. This creates variables that can be seen as a confusing hodgepodge, but are really simple and just the by-product of a much decentralized, very democratic republic. They are easily dealt with and the necessary resources to do so will be present in the network; user-members will use that guidance as they see fit.

A distaste for political parties is nothing new and though quite understandable, we must comprehend what these organisms are – and aren’t; that perspective is an important message of this work. In fact, these dynamics will likely remake political parties into something very much different; that process will be as interesting to behold as to participate in. A basic filter of a party label can be put to use in identifying principles and concerns. Our parties, as we have known them, are in no way monolithic, necessary or permanent.

The change this network might bring to partisan and party politics will be very considerable but with its proper use, it will be highly conscious and considered change for the better.