The unemployed need to march...on state capitals, on DC, in counties.

[Skidmore]

We could turn people out against the war and every other thing under the sun, but can't we pool our money as we did during the election and get people to places where we can make a public and very loud demand of our legislators to look at the people and not the corporate heads? We need to march. If we could organize those campaigns this summer, we can gin up our efforts and quit waiting for that bunch of jackals in DC to play their conniving games.

This is where the rubber meets the road and where the strength of the coalition formed this election season will be tested.

[leftstreet]

1. Maybe Obama needs to ask all of us to do just that

[DBoon]

7. Maybe we should just tell Obama we are doing it anyway

and let him decide to support us

[bdamomma]

12. no one should ask us we just need to do it.

we have been played a long time, and we need to tell them this is our country, period.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. And we need to write letters to Republicans and to the media about unemployment

Inundate them.

[brentspeak]

3. I've been saying the same thing for awhile

And economic justice march on D.C., with millions of Americans from all walks-of-life converging on the Capital and K-Street.

[Fire1]

6. Agree.

[bdamomma]

13. one front-- Congress the other the media.

that should be our goal, we will have the backing of this President.

[ananda]

4. Yeah! It's amazing to me ..

.. how apathetic, non activist, and
non proactive the people in this
country are, considering how much
has been lost and destroyed by the
rightwing.

Maybe it shows how effective the
propaganda machine is.

[skeewee08]

5. The unemployed need to hold a Press Conference in every State.

[bdamomma]

14. maybe town hall meetings in every state.

it has to start on a local basis, get the mayors and governors involved.

[Top Cat]

20. Don't forget to include the under employed

[Oak2004]

8. The problem is that most of the organizers who have the means to organize large scale actions are

usually upper middle class people. The "left" in America will organize anti-war protests, and assorted other protests (including anti-globalism as it affects other countries), but they're usually AWOL when it comes to economic issues affecting Americans. Someone recently posted a chart showing how often poverty in America was mentioned in the press: the liberal press mentions poverty less often than the mainstream press, and Democracy Now!, left wing as it claims to be, mentioned it least of all.

Action doesn't just happen of its own accord, the mythology of uprisings notwithstanding. Virtually every significant action for the last several centuries was to some extent planned (though, granted, some actions became much larger and more significant than the planners intended). The protests in Europe are not purely spontaneous events, but grew out of the action of organizers. People don't magically assemble -- they need to be called to come together. For action to happen, some people have to be willing to do the work to organize it (and it's a lot of work even to put together a successful local action).

That's the piece missing in the US up to now. That's what has made us different -- not apathy. George Bush cured America of apathy. Wall Street has incited America. The only thing missing is the people who step forward to organize something.

We cannot wait for the usual suspects to organize us. They've never been all that interested in poverty in America. I believe that the netroots have the means, thanks to the net and to texting, to organize people more efficiently than ever before. But we have to step up, put together an organizing committee or committees, and get to work.

I'm willing to do my part, but my part has to be frustratingly small, given that my health sucks. I've got local and statewide organizing experience, know how to use the net well, have experience working with the media, am crappy at fundraising (a very important skill) but can squeeze the last penny's worth of value out of the ridiculously low budgets organizers generally have to work with. Unfortunately, I'm also extremely unreliable, because I have no clue from day to day and sometimes hour to hour how I'll feel. And I can't travel, not just to DC, but even to the convenience store I can see out my window: I'm homebound.

Still, I am willing to offer my skills to any organizing committee. Hell, I'm willing to declare that an organizing committee officially exists, and to the best of my ability organize an organizing committee, as long as it is understood that others have to grab the reins of the committee out of my hands as soon as possible.

[ChiciB1]

11. ANSWER Coalition Is Still On For An Anti-War March.. In March, But

after going to two of them, I'd rather have another coalition put something together!

[Skidmore]

18. My sentiments exactly. ANSWER gets a little out there for me.

How about some of these others like PDA, Move-on, and and combination of people across the spectrum. It needs to be representative.

[ChiciB1]

23. Late Reply Here, But I Got A Surprise Visit & Chance To Babysit My New Grandson, Still

I want to say that your idea is something I'm always up for. As a Boomer, and I know times have changed regarding making as much noise as we did back then by marching, still for me "being seen & heard" trumps simply blogging, writing and making phone calls.

Given that we have a NEW ADMINISTRATION, and given that we would be SUPPORTING the agenda, the likelihood of getting good coverage is better than it has been in over EIGHT years! I also genuinely feel that MSM would cover it better having seen a program last night on CNN about people who are losing their homes and means of supporting themselves. It was so moving I found myself crying.

I've always been one who has felt the need to make my voice heard by ACTION, and have drummed this mantra into my children and family for many, many years. The fruits on my labor are finally paying off as both my son & daughter were VERY active during this past campaign, and are still closely watching. For many years I stood alone with my message and looked upon as "too absorbed" with politics! I think many have FINALLY begun to "get it!" What happens in D.C. DOES affect ALL of us in some way ALL the time.

I'm not sure I'm even middle class anymore, and my IRA dwindles away these days, but I would LOVE to get out there and be of some help to those who have less than I do. At least I'm not faced with losing my home or job, my husband worked for GTE (a Union company) and he retired with benefits. I also worked throughout and am unemployed by choice. However, we both work on side jobs from time to time when needed. The extra money is very much needed these days.

Anyway, OFF TOPIC! Getting together for a cause is really exciting especially if you actually get results. I live in a very RED county and get very LITTLE opportunity to "hit the streets" because we are so outnumbered.

I wonder if we could start some thread that addresses a call to action. I'm no organizer, but I'm sure there are MANY here who have a lot of experience. Anyway, I just HAD to reply again... this is something I would readily get on board with, and I KNOW my daughter would LOVE it too. It would be nice to get something going in D.C., I love going there and she's NEVER attended any large movement there.

[ChiciB1]

9. Sounds Like A Winner To Me... But I Wouldn't Hold My Breath... n/t

[Top Cat]

10. Don't forget the under employed

[HOLOS]

15. K&R nt

[Blue-Jay]

16. How are they going to afford the trip?

I what you'd call "underemployed" right now, and there's no way in hell that I could afford a trip to DC.

[Skidmore]

17. The same way we got Obama elected, a few dollars from

each and pool our resources. I've been unemployed for 3 years and my husband supports us both. We donated $5, $10, $15 here and there when we could. Pool our resources. We don't all have to go to DC either. There are plenty of state capitals and county seats or major metropolitan areas where we can assemble to be heard at any specified time.

[Top Cat]

19. So am I...

I would find a way to get heard

[blm]

21. I agree. Take the outrage from the internet into the STREETS.

.

[HOLOS]

22. K&R nt