Credit to all (and thanks to VL for being such a good host). Mistakes are mine. Please pardon me if I misrepresent your views or efforts.

Historical wrap-up: PB1.0 relied on the inherent goodness of human beings for honesty and fairness. Whoopsie.

The issues:
1. “Why should we post?” — principles, “we believe”, “progressive”
2. “Where should we post?” — decentralized structure
3. “How should we post?” — the procedures
4. “Who should post?” — those who adhere to the principles
5. “What should we post?” — truthful narrative

Why should we post? Principles

Who are we: PB2.0 is an honest broker on behalf of the progressive movement.

Mission statement: To make the world better through progressive efforts and advocacy of values, ideals, and merchandise. (Heh. That last one is a joke.)

Core values: Honesty, transparency, fair play, intellectual rigor, usefulness, humor, earthiness, hands-on, decentralization, issue/party/geographical ivariance

Methods: organizing, advocating, persuading, shining a light, documenting, improving, engaging, and acting

Where should we post? Decentralized structure

Form: A business entity and webring, each reinforcing core values in deed as well as word.
1. Creative Corporation
2. PB2.0 franchise or brand

I. The business of PB2.0 is handled by a Creative Corporation, a business entity with a structure that reflects progressive values such as transparency, profit sharing, social investment, ceiling on profits, continued reinvestment, and so on. The corporation will have as board of directors people with a material stake in practicing the goals embodied in the charter and mission statement of the corporation.

Risk, such as expenses, will be handled as check and balance. Meaning, don’t write a check if the checkbook doesn’t balance AKA, operation on a cash basis. The only exception to this may be loans made under a social investment agreement.

Rewards, defined as net profit and access to greater exposure, will be shared according to a bounty system. Basically, pay the bills, and that includes contributors, reinvestment, social investment in others, dividends, and then anything left is parceled out to non-profits as one-time donations.

Sadly, money is never just money and it needs to be treated as openly and fairly as possible.

All financial information about the business entity should be always available, including hit rates, ad rates, and other measures of success. Click a button that says, “Our Vast Fortunes” and get the PDFs of these reports.

The Creative Corporation also handles the process of joining PB2.0 and gaining the right to be an officially branded site with all the benefits and responsibilities.

To researched (is there a lawyer in the house?):

-Can a Creative Corporation even be created?
-What state would accept incorporation (LLC or s-corp, let’s keep it simple) based not primarily on maximizing profitability, but on these other values we’ve discussed?
-What are the most basic rules to add or subtract stakeholders? For example, if contributors on Corrente or other sites wish to become stakeholders, do they buy a seat (buying here doesn’t mean writing a check, though that could be an option; working it off, trading services, etc., can also be a means to purchase)?

II. Corrente becomes the flagship member of the PB2.0, a webring of federated blogs

A. Shared revenue or risk and reward is handled by the Creative Corp

B. Shared content

Once a site or blogger comes on board, they receive member premiums, including a seat at the table, widget with headline feeds and alerts, as well as press outreach, and so on.

C. The imprimatur of PB2.0 also means that this site/blogger takes on the responsibility to be an honest broker. This is embodied in the mission statement of the organization, as well as its business entity (Creative Corp) and procedures. Lots more to do here, esp. regarding how do we know we're being honest?

How should we post? The procedures

Lots more questions, but let’s start here.

Procedures must be verifiable.

Procedures are about creating content; they’re useless unless they are practical and workable.
-Minimum lengths
-Point/Counterpoint: Box with links “Opposition in a Nutshell” (and my own favorite, “Opposition in a Nutbar”)
-Editorial standards
-Moderation

Who should post? Those who adhere to the principles

What does PB2.0 offer to franchisees?
Imprimatur of the honest progressive broker
Tools (widgets, downloads, etc.)
Shared goals, community
Press, higher visibility

What should we post? Truthful narrative

PB2.0 can offer a set of contexts for posts, but the author determines which context for his or her article.

- quick takes: just a link and a little text as to why people should follow the link
- background pieces
- taking action pieces
- critical analysis pieces
- advocacy
- vegetable buttcracks
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I have more on the business side of all I can add if you want it.

UPDATED: Source banking as another resource to offer readers and franchisees; I've got nothing in here about decisionmaking process (yes, there should be one and I'm thinking one chair-one vote, with the usual corporate structure to set agenda, but the corporate offices are rotated more than once a year). Another big topic.