The Tsunami - An Enduring Progressive Movement?

[HootieMcBoob]

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/04/49/powerlines-meyerson.php
...<snip>

If John Kerry is elected next Tuesday, the tsunami of volunteer activity within the independent groups will be in large part responsible. Whether this tsunami can be bottled — whether this coalition will take on a permanent life of its own, become an enduring progressive presence in American politics — is a question of resources, opportunity, Zeitgeist and even law (the legal status of the 527s may be under attack if Bush wins). But the leaders of progressive organizations, Democratic elected officials, and the hundreds of thousands of phone bankers and precinct walkers, each for their own reasons, want the outpouring of 2004 to become a fixture of American politics. “Progressives have been waiting for decades for a citizen-based movement to happen,” says Ed Cyr. “One that’s independent of the party, that’s integrated, that’s effective.”

This is the first step :) :toast:

[Paradise]

1. That's us... The Tsunami! Thanks. :) n/t

[wildeyed]

2. I will not stop working, no matter what happens on Nov 2.

The Rwingers have damaged our country immeasurably in the past 10 years. It will take more than one election to put it right again. But I have learned my lesson, and I will never be complacent about freedom again.

[LizW]

3. Remember, some tried to say that

the Dean grassroots surge would not be transferable to the Democratic nominee. But of course it was. I firmly believe that the tsunami of Progressive activism will continue.

It will have to continue. President Kerry will come under attack from the right from day one. These people aren't just going to go quietly. We better be ready to keep fighting.

[IrateCitizen]

4. The desire to oust Bush does not equal love of Kerry among progressives...

A sizable portion of the most active people for the Democratic Party in this election are not exactly crazy about John Kerry, outside of the fact that he's not Bush.

The left has largely kept its criticism of Kerry's promises to "win in Iraq" and continue our military involvement there in order to help boost him to victory. My hope is that he wins on Nov 2, and on Nov 3 the entire antiwar movements suddenly starts screaming for him to bring our troops home ASAP.

Likewise, I hope that the entire environmental movement starts jumping up and down for REAL investment in alternative energies and REAL reform to greatly improve auto fuel efficiency standards. I hope that they FORCE the Kerry administration to adequately address the coming crisis in global climate change, which makes the "terrorist threat" look like child's play by comparison.

Vote Kerry on Nov 2. Hit Kerry hard and non-stop on the areas in which reform is so desperately needed starting Nov 3.

[RedEagle]

5. "We the People" must become engaged again

My research into BBV keeps pointing to one fact:

Government has been an exclusive club of corporations and big money.

(Yeah, we knew that, but did we know how far its gone?)

There are too many "nonprofit" organizations meddling in government from the local level on up.

When you track them down, if you can, the money comes from foundations or business.

Business needs some representation but it should not totally shove "We the People" out the door.

Were citizens involved in the evolution of voting systems? No.

You won't see any hearings or committees in D.C. with voting activist participation. An occasional computer scientist, yes, with plenty of time for vendors to counter. And two of the most invited scientists to these events have been on the no-paper bandwagon for years and are just about the only two. Funny how they get invited to the bulk of the meetings.

Solution:

"Insert people, save democracy."