[PieterCasparzen]

A) A small business, privately-held, that is an advocacy group / think tank - but organized as a for-profit small business - who's mission it is to end the influence of NGOs.

I'm sick to death of this not-for-profit disaster we have going - it is completely corrupting. Thousands of stinking "non-profit" elitist institutions, think tanks, etc., present some kind of marketing boondoggle for wealthy liberals and some big businesses which they use to pretend they are somehow "doing good", when in reality they're just pushing one diabolical yet idiotic scheme after another through Congress and State legislatures that enrich themselves - and squeeze the daylights out of most American's wallets and rights.

NGOs have got to go, that's my slogan.

This is an opportunity for local businesses to have their own advocacy group that has tremendous political influence - WORKING FOR THEM instead of against them.

There are many small business groups, some very large. If they're large - does the individual small business person GET HEARD ? No. If the small business advocacy group is small enough for the individual member to be heard - can the group defeat BIG non-governmental organizations like the Soros network, unions, etc. ? No.

In my State, New Jersey, there are hundreds of thousands of small businesses. Congressional staffs simply can not listen to 200,000 ideas. The 200,000 ideas can be used, however - with ORGANIZATION that smart people in the private sector can figure out. It ain't rocket science. This can work as a for-profit corporation full "C" corporation that has the right idea and executes it.

There are several competitive differences between this group and other advocacy groups that will allow it to scale to a point where it can both have significant impact and yet still provide responsiveness to members (these will be kept private at this point).


B) Full Public Cisclosure

Not of internal working documents - but correspondence with a legislator, where we provided expert opinion or advice. No "backroom" deals. Public, in the open, where pressure comes only through marketing and influencing thought leaders in society until there is enough public support.

No one who was ever elected to any office will be a shareholder, employee or paid contributor or consultant in any way, shape or form, as this is not a lobbying firm.

Any and all pressure is out in the open pressure, not secret pressure or secret deals. We are not asking for special treatment, only a level playing field, the rule of law and getting government out of the way of everyone, so these things can be asked publicly.

Publicly disclose ownership, resumes of fellows, funding, etc. That is really a key part of the marketing - it's a small business about small business, not a front for some mega-corp or Dr. Evil.

If NGOs operated completely in the public - and their recommendations received the media attention they should - at least the public would have a chance to call their Congressman and voice any response or opposition, but that is not the case. Most people are unaware what is in bills except for behind-the-scenes players until laws quietly get passed - if then. Only advocacy groups can affect legislation significantly, and small business is woefully under-represented in that arena.

This group would not be trying to "sneak" bills into law, but the opposite: garner public support to "sweep" bills into law. A slower process, to be sure, but a legitimate process.


C) No asking for any government money for support, nor are donations to the company tax deductible.

Revenue is from real people who want to support the effort, not get a tax deduction. And no donations or management can be from large corporations. This is not an effort by big business, it's an effort by small business and real people who are not uber-wealthy. Donations, membership options, etc., need to be of set, limited sizes.


D) Advocacy Focus and Efforts

1) Produce white papers written by "experts". However the "experts" will not be from academia or the big business world. Anyone can be a member, but the "fellows" who write the papers must have some demonstrated record in small business, no matter how brief, and their resume can not be one of pure academics or working for mega-corps. It's an "everyman's think tank", and it's not about fantasies or cronyism, but reality and legitimate business.

Small businesses that are members are assured that their input will be read along with every other member's input. Through collaboration and meetings their voice will be heard. Some will not want to take the time, and don't want to make input - but they will be able to know that the group is working on their behalf. They will be privy to internal publications - so they will know what is going on in many areas that they are concerned about and impacted by, both nationally and locally.

2) Identify, expose and oppose the activities of any groups or persons that:

Present challenges in and barriers to entry to marketplaces for SPHB (including, but not limited to, bureacracy and regulation, unfair competition, extortion, corruption, etc.)
(these challenges and barriers may originate locally or from outside the local marketplace and from within the public or private sector)
Oppose Judeo-Christian principles, principles of Western Civilization
Have undue or secret influence on legislation and policy and are unelected, as this activity works in opposition to SPHB, Judeo-Christian principles as well as American principles

3) Market and Advocate for:


Public disclosure of all sources and influences on legislation and government policy (who is doing what)
Small, privately-held business (SPHB)
True free enterprise
Net-balanced trade
Judeo-Christian principles, principles of Western Civilization such as the rule of law, true liberty, etc.
Citizens who rely on and benefit from SPHB and free enterprise (including, but not limited to, employees, consumers, retirees, students, etc.)
Local issues as gleaned from member input

4) Provide collaborative information management environment for members, fellows, researchers, writers, etc.

5) Publish a Journal

6) Partner with other like-minded organizations

7) More, of course.

[GOPJ]

Is part of the goad to expose non-profits for what they really are? That holds promise...

[Kevmo]

What is your stance on illegal immigration? Here’s one of my proposals. From my home page:

___________________________________________________________________

Whenever an illegal alien kills someone in a drunk driving accident or something similar, here’s what I recommend:
What can we do about it? Here’s my standard post.

RICO —Citizen Recourse

Private persons and entities may initiate civil suits to obtain injunctions and treble damages against enterprises that conspire to or actually violate federal alien smuggling, harboring, or document fraud statutes, under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO). The pattern of racketeering activity is defined as commission of two or more of the listed crimes. A RICO enterprise can be any individual legal entity, or a group of individuals who are not a legal entity but are associated in fact, and can include nonprofit associations.

Here’s what I’ve been pushing: it’s time to file Racketeering, Influencing, and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) lawsuits.

RICO lawyers could turn it around in a few years and MAKE MONEY at the same time. I’m surprised they haven’t done it already.

In the absence of enforcement, we can get the word out in the meantime that there is money to be made in filing RICO lawsuits against employers who hire illegal aliens like this jerk.

Employers would have no trouble shutting down the border if they could get sued by someone under the RICO statutes for hiring these people in the first place. The next time an illegal alien kills someone in a drunk driving accident or somesuch thing, I’m going to point out that the victim’s family might be able to seek compensation from the employer under these statutes in the hopes that it would catch on. If this did catch on, would see such a swift backlash against illegal immigration that no employer would go near these people and they’ll all simply want to go back home.

---

[PGalt]

Very interesting. Thanks for the ping, LucyT. BTTT!

[Graewoulf]

PING.

[Ouderkirk]

I like your idea but will play devil’s advocate for a minute

The experts are experts because they have claimed that ground for themselves. It was a gift tot them they seized it of their own accord to benefit themselves.

Think of it like the education mafia. If one goes to a school board meeting to question the efficacy of some hair brained scheme
, you are immediately dismissed as unenlightened and if you don’t have education credentials you are the enemy.

I have a Ph.D in applied physics from an Ivy...yet I am just a quack in their minds because I do not have an Education background and am therefore unqualified (in their minds) to render an opinion or question their assertions.

I believe that this same “think tank” idea is fraught with some peril for those who write these white papers and don’t have the credentials to back it up. That you were a successful business owner is too easily dismissed as anecdotal and not representative of the macro.

I am not trying to poo-poo your idea and it does have significant merit. Better to be prepared for the inevitable criticism that will come from those who do not share the opinion presented.

[jazusamo]

Am pinging the Sowell ping list at the request of the poster of this thread in case any of you are interested regarding the formation of a Conservative Think Tank and ping list.

The two following links are to the second and third threads regarding this endeavor.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2960965/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2961730/posts

[jazusamo]

Am pinging the Sowell ping list at the request of the poster of this thread in case any of you are interested regarding the formation of a Conservative Think Tank and ping list.

The two following links are to the second and third threads regarding this endeavor.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2960965/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2961730/posts

[jazusamo]

Am pinging the Sowell ping list at the request of the poster of this thread in case any of you are interested regarding the formation of a Conservative Think Tank and ping list.

The two following links are to the second and third threads regarding this endeavor.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2960965/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2961730/posts

[oldbrowser]

It is an interesting concept. I do believe that it must have an element to hold it together. I think the concept is too ethereal to bond the members for very long.

Some sort of small business association that might provide a service such as group purchasing, legal services, etc. to organize around and then have a function where they can discuss, develop, disseminate, educate, and advocate for small business.

[golux]

Bump - ping

[MHGinTN]

“NGOs have got to go, that’s my slogan.” ... And yet this thread invites freepers to join in forming an NGO. Alinsky would be proud.

[Carry_Okie]

You can read my writings here, here, and here. I will soon be integrating that material and more into a new site. My suspicion is that the total scope will surprise you.

Think of your "think tank" as a network.