subjected to so much negative exposure over the years people (on either side) no longer really know what it means. In a political context, it's supposed to mean simply "open-minded" as opposed to the conservative "closed-minded". But that's not a fair exchange, is it?

Thanks to common (mis)usage, the term has come to represent "a naive person who places little value on hard work and constantly seeks methods to redistribute wealth from solid citizens to lazy layabouts."

If you want a better description of BlueNC (and I think you need one), try this:

BlueNC is a community-driven website that promotes progressive values and policies in North Carolina.

The term "progressive" is not merely a replacement for the now-soured "liberal", it's unique and has actually been around for quite a while.

Basically, it's an opinion that situations rarely improve on their own without some form of "action step" by concerned parties. This often does take the form of efforts to aid the less fortunate, but that's not the main "goal" of being a progressive.

As far as what I tell people about BlueNC, it usually ends up being, "You should check it out; we're doing some really cool stuff!"

:)

"I'm the key figure in an ongoing government charade, the plot to conceal the truth about the existence of extraterrestrials. It's a global conspiracy, actually, with key players in the highest levels of power, that reaches down into the lives of every man, woman, and child on this planet, so, of course, no one believes me. I'm an annoyance to my superiors, a joke to my peers. They call me Spooky. Spooky Mulder, whose sister was abducted by aliens when he was just a kid and who now chases after little green men with a badge and a gun, shouting to the heavens or to anyone who will listen that the fix is in, that the sky is falling and when it hits it's gonna be the shit-storm of all time."

This is why Mulder must be kept at a two drink maximum.

before BlueNC. I hated state politics because I didn't know anything about them. This year is so, so different. It's amazing to have a direct connection with so many of the candidates and their supporters who blog here.

What role do you see BlueNC playing the political process?

BlueNC plays different roles for different people at different times. How helpful is that? It's like a giant town hall. Sometimes there are meetings. Sometimes there are quiet conversations. Sometimes there are speeches/reports. Sometimes - there are revolutions planned. There is a lot of self expression going on, and a lot of ideas being worked on and worked out here.

Are you political advocates?

In my judgment, yes, most of us are. Just not for the same cause.

Parajournalists?

I don't like that term at all. It sounds derogatory. Some of the bloggers here put as much work into their posts as you do into your stories, and are as serious about getting their sources right as you are. Betsy Muse and Greg Flynn come immediately to mind. You can trust the work they do to be accurate and every source to be checked down to finest detail. They're just not paid for it. Citizen journalist is how some people call it. I don't claim that term myself. I am a sometime blogger.

Party organizers?

Some people who post here are also party organizers. But this is not a party organizing site.

Or are you more like an interest group?

No, I don't think so. There are too many diversified interests to call it that.

Specifically, how do you relate to the Democratic Party?

I think BlueNC has a love-hate relationship with the Democratic Party. Although many of us are Democrats, you will often see complaints or rants about the Democratic Party on BlueNC. We are not the blogging arm of the NCDP, and nothing that is posted here is official Democratic dogma. There are members of BlueNC who are not Democrats. As a matter of fact, I think there might be a Republican or two hang around.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi