THE Online People’s Think Tank
THE MIDDLE GROUND
Presenting the people’s creative, nonpartisan solutions to American problems — on video
OUR MISSION
The Middle Ground is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to restoring the voice of the people to its rightful first place in American society. By submitting their videos or video scripts for posting on TMG’s participatory YouTube channel, ordinary Americans can become part of TMG’s “people’s think tank.” The Middle Ground’s limitation to “ordinary Americans” means that TMG is a “no politicians zone.” Polarizing divisiveness from special interest groups and extremists are also excluded. Instead, TMG’s YouTube channel and website are safe havens where bona fide “grass roots democracy” can grow. On The Middle Ground’s curated YouTube channel, concerned citizens can develop new, creative ideas to address social, economic and governmental problems unhindered by the acrimony that ruins most online forums. With TMG, reasonable people without an axe to grind can gather, online, in a positive, cooperative setting to try to make things better for everyone.
The Middle Ground’s mission is to use the power of the internet for good by focusing and magnifying the voice of the people instead of the noisy voices of self-interested politicians, media elites, extremists and profiteers that currently dominate online conversations. The Middle Ground’s principal criterion for choosing submitted videos for posting on the TMG YouTube channel is that the idea must be a “win-win” solution that helps everyone, not just one side or the other. Some ideas might be borrowed or revived, or even tweaks of mainstream ideas.
When the online community promotes its favorite TMG videos on Facebook, Twitter and other social media, the people are taking control of the agenda and can drive real, constructive changes that help everyone, not one side or the other.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, The Middle Ground does not support or advocate any particular ideas and never supports a political candidate, political party, special interest group, private business or individual. It’s up to the people visiting the TMG website and YouTube channel to submit and promote the best ideas that can help everyone.
HOW THE MIDDLE GROUND WORKS
Americans with nonpartisan, constructive ideas for addressing social, economic and political problems create their own videos and submit them to TMG for possible posting on The Middle Ground’s YouTube channel. To be considered for posting, videos must be short (5 minute maximum, 3 minutes or less preferred), nonpartisan (no promotion of political candidates, parties or platforms), moderate (no extremist views, left or right), positive (no racism, sexism or hatefulness of any kind) and constructive (no divisiveness, vengefulness or unrealistic nostalgia).
Most important, however, is the quality of the idea proposed in the video. Is it thoughtful, creative, innovative and, hopefully, realistic? Even if there doesn’t seem to be a path forward for the idea to be implemented right now, wishful ideas will still be considered for posting. Sometimes the acceptance of less ambitious changes in the future will pave the way for ideas that might seem like unrealistic idealism today.
DONATE TO THE CAUSE
Like what The Middle Ground is doing but don’t want to submit your own video or script? You can still volunteer or make a donation.
All donations will be used to manage and maintain The Middle Ground as an independent, nonpartisan forum for ordinary Americans.
Because The Middle Ground is a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are eligible for deduction from your taxes as charitable contribution.
Ways to Help
AS A TMG TUBER
Join TMG and make a video, submit it to us, and wait for publication or feedback. While The Middle Ground does not have the resources to provide individual criticism, promising videos that fall short of TMG’s standards for posting may receive feedback in the form of advice, suggestions or constructive criticism along with encouragement to re-submit an improved video. Making a video for The Middle Ground should be a fun way to make a positive contribution to TMG’s mission. Political correctness is not a TMG standard but, for everyone’s sake, mutual respect and civil discourse is a requirement for all posted videos.
AS A TMG SCREENWRITER
If you just can’t imagine yourself making a video, even a basic one using your smartphone, then you can submit your script for a video describing your moderate, constructive idea in writing here. The Middle Ground will then review your script and consider whether to make a TMG video about your idea for posting on the TMG YouTube channel. You can even submit an idea, instead of a complete video script, and ask TMG to write the script for the video.
TMG will do its best to turn great scripts and ideas into great videos.
AS A TMG VOLUNTEER
If you support The Middle Ground’s mission but don’t have the ideas or video ambitions to be a TMG Tuber or Screenwriter, consider joining TMG and volunteering your time to help TMG manage the process of reviewing, considering and posting video ideas submitted by Tubers and Screenwriters. If you don’t see your talents lying in that area, TMG needs the help of volunteers in many other ways.
Write to The Middle Ground with a résumé or other summary of your skills or interests and we will do our best to find a place for you. We are looking for people who share our passion for compromise, taste for moderation and zeal to help nonpartisan, constructive solutions be heard and considered.
AS A TMG DONOR
As a nonprofit, The Middle Ground’s only source of support is donations. There is no charge to view TMG videos, submit videos or written ideas to TMG. TMG Donors provide financial support and share their views on the causes of problems as well as potential solutions. Donors do not commit time or effort to help The Middle Ground develop concrete proposals for action. They do, however, provide the critical financial support needed for TMG to fulfill its mission of giving a home and a voice to America’s “Moderate Majority.”
Your donations will be to support that mission. Because it is a IRC 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, donations to The Middle Ground may be deductible from income taxes.