Here is the draft:
Mission Statement
The "Institute to be named later" is dedicated to educating, informing and being a trusted resource for it's members, as well as for thought leaders, political leadership and the public at large, regarding policy and policy sources, and their effects on individual economic liberty and prosperity. These efforts are undertaken from Judeo-Christian, Western Civilization viewpoint, and, more specifically, that of small, independently-owned business. Accordingly, Principals and Fellows of the Institute are drawn exclusively from the ranks of small business. They lead our activities with our members in a highly collaborative manner, and academics, business leaders, policy makers, lawmakers and citizens participate in them as well. The Institute sponsors research, holds conferences, and publishes books, monographs and articles; it also generally promotes small business free enterprise and it's concomitant economic liberty.
Sometimes the idea can seem a little murky - What
is a think tank ?
We need clarification from
the last post !
A
think tank is not a
lobbyist and it is not a
PAC. My proposal has some characteristics of
advocacy groups - but it is NOT - definitely NOT - a pure advocacy group. It will not organize marches, rallies, sit-ins, boycotts or anything remotely like that. It will have a website, but it will NOT have any place for non-members to log in or post their feelings. Is not a blog, it is not social media, it is not a public forum website.
What does the think tank actually do you ask ? It has a research staff headed by "Fellows" that write scholarly papers. In the industry these are called white papers. It hosts conferences of various sorts - where panels of experts speak on it's topics of concern before interested audiences. As the reputation for quality insights of the outfit grows, people who have need of experts in it's field actually start to seek out the wisdom of the Institute and it's researchers. White papers written are selected for publication in the Institute's very own Journal publication, for which subscriptions are sold. As the mission statement indicates, it hosts conferences, and it generally promotes small business, which could include consulting, partnering, marketing, etc. There would be a local committee in every State. An Executive Committee and other committees would do a lot of work, especially early on, outlining general goals, strategies and plans.
This think tank is to be
owned by small business. With it's "elite fellows" being small business people. Writing white papers teaching about truthful ideas. Rolling up our sleeves and becoming a preeminent influence amongst thought leaders.
For "Members" of the think tank, I'm talking about your local business owners. Dry cleaners. Farmers. Sheet metal fabricators. Taxi companies. Realtors. Etc. Anywhere there is an LLC, or Corp, or LLP or S Corp or Partnership or whatever... owned by individual people trying to make a living. People who abide by the belief that shouldering their responsibility goes hand-in-hand with Judeo-Christian liberty.
Also, young people, students, who are Interested in American, Judeo-Christian, free enterprise would be welcomed as "Members". Retireees as well. Military and ex-military as well. Anyone who wants to pay for a membership. But..... ONLY people who have real, live, documentable small business ownership experience (have ever owned all or part of a privately-held business) would be eligible to apply for the status of "Member Business" (if their application is accepted after review, to deselect criminals, etc.). Member Businesses are the ones who take part in the decision-making part of policy collaboration (see the mission statement !).
Perhaps YOU yourself have some free time, and you'd like to see what is being discussed and researched and perhaps do some writing or researching or perhaps just contribute some ideas. Or maybe you have no time to do anything but would love to be a member to support the effort, or maybe you'd just like to own a piece of it. You could take part. In
Hillary Clinton's worst nightmare.
Please do not think that I am talking about a small, rinky tink effort to advocate for one issue; one has to step back enough to see the big picture.
You know how Ayers & Co., and many other collectivists have been seeking to change America from the inside out for over 100 years ? Do you remember ? It's always discussed here on FR. That's the scale and scope that I'm talking about.
It will take years. It is a
long-term strategy. It is NOT about getting this Republican or that elected in the next election.
It is a critical spark to start a groundswell movement aimed at improving a significant aspect of the culture of America. Not overnight and not all at one time. But by ticking the needle, person by person, family by family, block by block, town by town, County by County, State by State, region by region, year by year, decade by decade, century by century.
This is a chance for the little guy to make something happen, for real, with both the influential thought leaders and the general public.
As a small business owner I would be interested.
