IN, Indiana

Hey, My name is Mark Duwe and I'm from Columbus, Indiana. (pronounced same as: D-E-W-E-Y)

We are going to make Indiana the biggest Coffee Part Movement state in the country!

We were born out of the idea that the 'Tea Party' assumed it was the 'voice of the people', but most people just sat at home wondering who would speak for them. As we follow legislation and come together to talk about it we learn about the issues and come to a consensus. No hate speech, no Hitler mustaches, just good solutions to current problems.

We need to get active. If you have a printer I recommend buying some of those business cards you can print yourself and making some up to hand out. Talk to everyone you know and tell them about the coffee party. It's a good thing the 'Tea Party' is starting to reveal itself a bit more, a bit reluctantly though.

It is always good to find common ground. I recommend a book called: 'Getting to Yes'. It was required reading when I took the certification course for being an Indiana business and family mediator. We must never speak badly about any one individual or group of people, not even politicians. What we can do is disagree with ideas.

I believe we can compromise as long as we don't compromise the constitution or the best interests of the American people. In any negotiation, the path to 'YES' can be a bumpy one. We need to come together as a very active and vocal group that will speak for those who want this country to move forward, into the future, and become the best it can be.

We will have influence in elections and legislation. Candidates will seek us out as a voting block. The media will need us to balance stories and BE the story. Join us! If you want to be a community Coffee Party organizer just download the local organizer tool kit and email me or give me a call. I'm always here to help.

Contact: markduwe@yahoo.com
(812) 374-7412

Getting to Yes on amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Yes-Negotiating-Agreement-Without/dp/01401...

Let's start a campaign to make fun of the current gerrymandered districts so that we can get more or less rectangular districts in 2011.

How proud I am that Indiana's attorney general has joined the ranks of other states' attorneys general in filing suit against the newly-passed health care bill. It's a wonderful use of the state's time and money, and since the state coffers are just about empty and the educational system is tottering on the brink of bankruptcy, among other important things, it just warms the heart to notice that our state government is engaging in a futile and hopeless legal direction.

At least our attorney general will get to enjoy the limelight for a bit. I hope his fifteen minutes of fame will translate into total electoral defeat for the entire GOP!

Indiana Coffee Party Local Event Host and Coordinators -- If you have an event planned for Saturday, Sunday or next week, please be sure you create your event on this main website. We need to be sure that anyone interested can find your gathering!

Also, even if your location is yet to be determined, please include at minimum a zip code. Your event will not come up in a map search without it, and we want people to be able to find you!

Plus, on the front page of this site, you will see a small red box just above the Civility Pledge link on the upper right. This "Local Organizer Tool Kit" has a bunch of tools and documents you will find useful!

If you have a chance, please send me a quick message by clicking on "lafftur" next to the date above.

Yours in Coffee,
Laurie Atwater
Indiana Coffee Party Coordinator

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34873.html

I notice that the 9th district includes Bloomington.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin rolled out a list of Democratic members of Congress she intends to target for defeat this year, announcing that she'll go after lawmakers who voted for health care reform and hail from districts she and Arizona Sen. John McCain won in the 2008 presidential election. Forty-eight Democrats represent districts that voted for McCain.

Baron Hill is on that list.

To member cwr: IMHO, any movement for social or political change starts with the "We're angry and we're not going to take it anymore!" We have been frustrated with what has been going on (or not going on!) in Washington and in many state governments. People need to work through the "angry" (by posting) so that they can get to developing ideas. That being said, I, for one, would be happy to hear YOUR ideas.

(Note: For some reason using "reply" to cwr would not work for me.)

I see a lot of name-calling and language that Tea Party members (and members of congress) would use.

AND NOT MANY IDEAS.

So what is this movement? Is it a movement? Is it progressive? Civil-rights based?

I joined this site, but I'm already considering leaving with so much negativity here. Let start discussing ideas and stop trashing other parties... I thought that was the point...

Anyone in the Hammond / Whiting area?

My issue issue is the war; I want to see it over and our troops home. We as a country need to mind our own business.

I just heard an interview with Ms. Park on C-SPAN. The "Coffee Party" is an excellent idea. Let's hope that it does not become corrupted from within or without. Ms. Park seems to know that many of our country's problems come from total inablity of the two (or more sides) to compromise. I'm tired of Democrats vs. Republicans, Left vs. Right, talking head vs. talking head, and the whole ridiculous mentality that has caused our system of government to resemble ongoing athletic contests between a bunch of semi-educated, irresponsible, hormore-driven adolescents. Let's get rid of the philosophy that shouts, "My team, right or wrong!"

I thought this group was open to anyone no matter their political alignment or affiliation. This is the BIGGEST issue we are facing! Partisan politics are part of the reason this country is failing. Get over yourself and your ideals, we need what is right for the people!

Please end the discussion on your affiliation and talk about what can be done to improve all of our lives.

I've set up a coffee party at Strange Brew Coffee Shop in Greenwood, IN.

Full disclosure: I am related to the owner. It's an independent coffee shop with adequate seating and while I live in Greenfield -- not Greenwood -- there's only two of us on the east side of Indianapolis and I don't know any coffee shops there. I figured if no one else shows up, at least I can visit with relatives.

I participate in sports in Indpls every Sat afternoon so I set up the coffee meeting for 6-8pm. There's a Hampton's market next door and a Mexican restaurant and (I think) a Pizza Hut in the same strip mall. The coffee shop also offers sandwiches.

Please register if you plan to attend. If this time isn't convenient for others, I can change the time but I may arrive late if the start time overlaps my time at practice.

Does anyone know if there will be a coffee party event 3/13 in West Lafayette?
It doesn't look like anyone has set one up on the official coffee party site. I'm interested, but I don't want to be the only person to show up. That date is not ideal for Purdue students, since that falls during spring break.

Anyone else here from West Lafayette? Want to meet up?

Fellow Citizens,

I may have stumbled upon the answer.

I have authored a book that explains a specific strategy to regain control of our federal government. Though listening carefully, I’ve heard of no other solutions being offered so far. The book includes as yet unspoken analysis, entirely unique perspectives, a full explanation of the logic leading to my conclusions and a step-by-step plan that could enable the masses to re-establish control of our Federal government. Here's a sample

Votimate Our Politics

Our country needs a new way of doing business. Under the current system politicians have many motivations. This strategy could reduce their need for multiple motivations. This strategy could help create a system where politicians are:

Votimated

Politicians Motivated for Votes Only

PREFACE

We’ve heard from the Politicians, the Pundits, the Experts and from all of those who can buy a platform from which to speak, yet nary an answer for that which ails our country. Clearly it is getting worse with no end in sight. Perhaps it is time to hear from “Joe Public.”

I can’t say that I speak for the 99%, but I come from the 99% and after losing everything, perhaps even the bottom percent. How can the 1% get away with robbing and causing such harm to the 99% when the 99% of us control the vote? Armed only with the logic of a layman and the urgent need of a pauper I drilled down deep into this dilemma and made some discoveries that might be worth hearing.

The first several chapters offer unique, unspoken perspectives, intended to expose, categorize, organize and simplify the basic core issues within the bigger issue, our politics, or more specifically, our lack of effective governance for the 99%. The next several chapters offer unique comparative analysis, completely “out of the beltway” ideas and surprisingly possible solutions to the core problems. The final few chapters include stunning, previously undisclosed analysis exposing clearly why we must take action soon - and what the result of taking action could mean for us.

This is not just conceptual. I propose specific action. This is “nuts and bolts.” This is “what’s the next step”, a potential roadmap to restoring a government that works for us, the 99%. Restoring our democracy is the only issue worth talking about. Until we adapt and upgrade our political system, the 99% will continue to lose. Until we do, nothing else matters. Without a functioning government, we have nothing.

INTRODUCTION

I’m not experienced with politics and have no education in economics. Like many, I’ve lost everything and see little happening to bring me hope while watching our country implode seemingly like never before. This is saying a lot because at 54 years old, I survived the horrific Richard Nixon 30,000-dead-to-get-re-elected-war/impeach-a-crook-Watergate era.

Many of us are in need of hope. They say that need is the mother of invention. America is in need of solutions. While most solutions to complex issues include in-depth analysis and long explanations, true also in this case, like most straightforward arguments, mine too has a short answer. So I’ll cut to the chase and work my way backward.

In January 2010, while watching the disturbing display of the four “Too Big To Fail” banksters acting innocent and clueless in front of Congress, I found myself wondering, “How can our country become as successful as these corporations have become?” Even more to the point, how can we, Joe Public, benefit from our government like their shareholders benefit from their successful banking corporations? After all, who would argue that those corporations have pimped our system and punked us all? We know it. They know it. Everyone knows it.

Simply put, it is an industry licensed by, governed by and residing in the United States of America that has become more powerful than the Federal Government of The United States of America. That’s a mouthful. Other than two senseless wars, this is the worst realization of my lifetime. It’s huge. It cannot be overstated. It is bleeding us dry and I don’t see it changing on it’s own. It has stolen our Democracy. But what on earth can we do about it?

The status quo approach would be to peck away at it with legislation that will start with good intentions, but with powerful lobby bribes end up watered down, rendered ineffective and/or reversed by the next congress and administration. First, it is: our political/governing system needs an overhaul from the bottom up. It no longer works, which begs one of many questions, “which specific part is broken?”

To that purpose, I analyzed the differences between how the Wall Street banksters and health insurance providers do business from within their system – the free market corporate model – and compared it to the way the U.S. Government, does business from within our current political/governing system. I drilled down deep and what I found astounded me and might surprise you too. They are very different. Ergo, it’s the differences in the two structures/systems that allow the banksters and insurance providers to be so successful while operating from within theirs and what makes our government fail while operating from within ours, which allows private industry to dominate us.

By comparing the structures side-by-side it became obvious; the deficiencies in our system of governing are glaring and alarming when compared to their adapted, efficiently incentivized system. Upon identifying it the ultimate question arose, “how can we fix it?” The answer to fixing it is surprisingly obvious and has been readily apparent all along, despite the requisite in-depth analysis and long explanation disclosed herein.

My argument’s short answer is to propose applying elements of their successful free market corporate model to our system of politics and governance and we, Joe Public, should be rewarded like shareholders of a successful corporation. Once you go to this simple, logical perspective fantastic advantages naturally arise benefiting the citizens of America, not just the chosen few as it is now. On the following pages I will propose specific, step-by-step methods to reigning in the parasites.

Paradigm Shift

In my view, we can’t expect this type of “system overhaul” perspective and change to come from – or to be driven by – politicians fighting for their careers within our broken system. Ever since special interest groups have been counting profits in the billions, maybe even trillions, they’re far too powerful and already own our political/governing system.

If ever a “grass roots movement” were needed, it is for this “paradigm shift.” The 99% must conceive and drive this change and do it soon or our beloved country will implode from the unintended consequences of insatiable special interest capitalism. So let’s take a page from those who are doing it to us and make it work for us. With the strategy outlined herein, “we the shareholders” can take our government back from special interests.

United and armed with this plan, we can simply insist.

To find out more, visit votimate.com. I have lowered the cost for the “download” format to my cost only, $1.49, through Friday, March 12. You can find the “download” option just under the “Add to Cart” button on the right side of my publisher’s page. By Saturday, March 13th, the price will go back to $10 for the immediate download and Ebook versions. You won't be disappointed.

Best wishes, JP Sayles

so where are my people? or should i be the leader and start our own chapter?
i make great coffee, and would love to surround my self with intelligent, like
minded anti-teabaggers for thoughtful passionate activitism ........hand wringers need not apply.

I am also a liberal/progressive and I thought the Coffee Party was an antidote to the Tea Party. I think that most Democratic centrists (like Bayh) cater to the right and are afraid to get any real work done. I did like Bayh's op ed piece he wrote in the New York Times though, about why he's leaving.

The Coffee Party is much more my cup of tea than the Tea Party is! The Tea Party scares me. So does the way government is going. My take on all of this is that nothing will be changed unless we reform campaign finance laws. Big business (includiing banking and Wall Street) are running and ruining this country. The Supreme Court has recently made it even easier for companies to buy our representatives. This has to stop. I've written letters to Congressional and Senate representatives and receive those lovely "canned" responses back. No one is paying attention to the people and their needs. Health care and jobs need to be the focus. Maybe The Coffee Party will be a way for the average American to let their voices be heard. I sure hope so!