OK.. what have YOU done for "the cause"?

whatever YOUR cause is what have you done for it?
Pro choice?
Peace?
just getting bush the hell out..
what have you done?

sadly..

'Bangin me head against some poor, mad bugger's wall.'

Sigh...

People are furious and ready to move.
Where are the marching orders?

Looks like the leadership we need will not come from
the politicians we worked so hard to elect.
We need someone to rally the great body of angry
citizens who wish to demand change but have no voice.
One person is all it will take.
One clear voice.

But don't beat yourself up, Will. You do great.

Some day we will convict and imprison the whole criminal gang.

That's probably why I never feel as if I'm doing well enough or sacrificing enough. He's STILL THERE.

Now, if by "not enough" you mean you are going to continue the fight, then good, but you have been tireless, Will. Tireless and thankfully gifted with the pen (er, keyboard). To do more than you have would require that you never sleep and we all know how feisty you get when you have insomnia.

Seriously, each of us gives to the cause that which is our talent or strength. You're contribution through your writing is as important as what Andy does. My art installation additions are as important. The thousands of actions I see described here daily are as important. Each unique but good enough.

Most of my free time (and yours) is taken up by trying to bring this country back to its senses. That is enough no matter what the outcome.

finding and maintaining peace within myself, looking for peace in others, letting go of misperceptions, finding peace in every breath.

I am also the moderator of the "WhoreNet" sexworker's rights mailing list, and active in local Democratic party efforts. I campaigned for Kucinich. I write letters.

I wish more Democrats understood what "Sexworker's Rights' are all about.
If you're reading this, check it out.

got two LTTE published, sent countless letters, emails, phone calls, and faxes. I speak to Republicans every day with gentle "talking points" and rebuttals - have converted a couple. Donated more than my husband appreciates. Have given notice to all my volunteer organizations that after this go-round I am resigning my positions to work for (hopefully) General Clark's campaign (or whatever worthy Dem gets the nod). Planning to work a little for whatever '06 candidates here need my help.

I would love to - be able to donate more, more often, attend out-of-town rallies and protests, write better to get more LTTE published.

Don't kick yourself for not working hard enough for social change. We can't all be Martin Luther Kings, but God gave each of us gifts to help humanity in a unique ways. The key is to follow your heart no matter where it takes you.

I have many causes that I care deeply about, but I learned from an old activist that the most effective people for social change had four things in common:

1) They came from a space of patriotism and love for their country.
2) They worked for a positive, not against a negative. (Be pro-peace, not anti-war; Pro-democracy, not anti-globalization.)
3) They focused their energies on one issue at a time.
4) They do not work for fame or profit. Activism is a labor of love.

My "cause" is freeing media from corporate control. I manifest my activism by maintaining a website that encourages critical thinking. This may not sound like a lot, but since I enjoy doing it, it doesn't matter. I know that in my own way I'm helping make this country a better place.

The best way to motivate yourself to do greater things is not by kicking yourself for what you're not doing, but by rewarding yourself for the activities you already do.

That should help!

...volunteered for the Democrats and MoveOn during the election

I run an anti-Wal*Mart group which tries to inform people about the evils of that store and explain why it's important to support local businesses.

I go to peace vigils, Women in Black, etc.

My family and I drove across the state to protest Bush when he was here recently.

I...buy union made clothing.

It's not much, I know, maybe I'm just waiting for a well organized campaign to come along and sweep me up. Maybe I'm waiting in vain...

for the cause of gay rights in Kansas of all places. On the Equal Justice Coalition board, worked deadly hours for the Vote No on March 1st campaign, worked on the Marriage Campaign for Kansans for Fairness and worked on a friends City Council position. Am joining a state wide steering committee to help all the gay rights organizations in our state be organized and helpful to one another.

I post this only because I have finally really found where I can best be used and where my heart is.

I hope someday it is actually a winning issue.

on many, many occasions (phone banking, registering voters, whatever duties were needed at several meetups, etc.). Also, called & emailed on whatever issues were the hottest at the time. For example, I spent an entire day calling the Sinclair Broadcasting sponsers letting them know I'd boycott them if they carried the Kerry smear campaign "documentary." My "activism" all started on 1/20/01 where I spent the day in downtown L.A. protesting the illegal appointment of this scum of the earth nightmare that some people call president. It didn't stop until 11/03/04. However, I've stopped for now to refocus.

:rant:

Give Bush and the Republicans enough rope to hang themselves is more apt to cause a exodus of R/W support than any overt action can match. Bush has sold the notion on war without pain, tax relief without consequence and a God on our side. The lies are showing up as very painful. There is no evidence that any God likes what's going on. IMO Bush's professed communication with his God and faith have short changed him personally. The claim of this God talking to Bush about how to run the country lacks favorable results. Did this God lie to Bush about WMD? Will the next step be like the Roman Emperors of long ago who one upped the deal by claiming to be Gods. I believe the tipping point is past.

IMO Senate minority leader Reid is a master at this game. Look at the polls.

-4 year stint with Greenpeace Action fundraising, petitioning and canvassing neighborhoods in SoCal. Environmental marches and protests in local communities and direct action demonstration (arrested 2x) at Nevada Nuclear Test Site. Ran Greenpeace info tables inside many a concert in SoCal (definately a perk).

-temporary field director of petitioning campaign in Ann Arbor, MI against the War on Drugs to allow first and second time non-violent drug offenders the option of treatment instead of prison. Also ran petition campaign in Michigan to get Carl Levin on the ballot.

-particpant in local protests of Iraq War.

-Given up automobiles (carpooled/bus/bicylcle/walk instead) for a year at a time (totaling several years).

-Given up television for several years.

-helped organize local community to start a local natural foods co-op.
Also active in local co-ops and educating on GM foods and organics.

-letters, emails, calls and more letters, emails, calls to congressmembers about Bush, Iraq, election reform, trampling of civil rights, environment, etc, etc...

-letters, emails, calls and more letters, emails, calls to media (one just published yesterday in local paper) about lame coverage and Bush lies and Iraq.

-conscious consumer(environmentally and politically)

-not timid about views around relatives/friends and coworkers.



edit:spelling

You're a hero! :-)

especially to Republican acquaintances who I feel can be influenced with a little bit of truthful logic repeated as often as it takes for it to finally sink in. If each one of us could convince just one or two Republicans to understand the truth about Bush, it would have a huge snowball affect. Each person you influence would probably influence several others into changing for the better, too.

Also, among the numerous generic threads I've started, I've also added some threads with actual suggestions as to what we can do as Democrats to solve some of our problems, or how we can re-frame our rhetoric to better suit us. Here are a few threads I started with actual suggestions of what we can do:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1703967
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1454502
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1770144
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1766200

I spoke at an anti war rally. I think the question itself assumes too much. As Milton said, they also serve who only stand and wait.

I would like to think that I could be that person who will stand up to the Republican regime but I think I've set too high of a standard for myself.

Really, where's our MLK or Malcolm X?

to several progressive groups: The ACLU, People For the American Way, Southern Poverty Law Center, DRCNet, and Marijuana Policy Project. I recently became a member of Americans United, and plan on renewing membership with Drug Policy Alliance and Equality California. I also made a whole slew of political donations in 2004, to the point where I was badly overdrawn at one point!

I attend what used to be a Kerry Meetup and has changed to an anti-right-wing, anti-Bush Meetup. There are plans to change the name to the "Bush Is Hurting America" Meetup. I also attend DFA Meetups every month, and I attended an Americans United presentation recently.

I did some phone banking and rallying for Kerry last year. I also participated in a filibuster rally last month, which was a lot of fun. I respond to action alerts from progressive groups and write to my representatives and Senators. I probably send e-mails and/or sign online petitions every week.

gave money, pestered the media, marched against the war, AND sat here on my ass far too often.

:hi:

I have signed a bunch of petitions and written letters

I have e-mailed the media, family and friends

given money

and lol.....also sat here too much

and see my post below for the rest of it...........

First of all, I've probaby donated at least $10,000 since 1999 when I started to see that * was a real threat to our democracy and the world. I email, sign petitions, etc., and have attended rallies, etc. I try to compensate as much as I can by giving money, which allows others to do what I simply don't have the time to do, between work and my kids, my girlfriend, and being incredibly depressed inspite of taking anti-depressants, anti-anxiety and anti-panic attack drugs.

I have too many responsibilities to jeapardize my job in any way. I wish I could do more, but for now, at least, I'm being squeezed in all directions.

I am not afraid to get my hands dirty

in response to a freeper letter that stated that Bush "has gone to extreme measures to support the military."

I couldn't let that stand. I ripped that assertion into shreds.

I have...

- Donated over five thousand dollars to various Democratic causes over the last 5 years.

- Become a Precinct Committee Person (a.k.a. Precinct Captain).

- Had over 10 letters on behalf of Democrats published in various newspapers - usually centrist explanations about how various GOP positions are flat out wrong on the facts.

- Walked my Precinct.

- Canvassed on behalf of Democratic candidates in swing districts.

- Held house parties on behalf of various Democratic candidates.

- Phone banked for both national, congressional campaigns, and local candidates for our state House and Senate.

- Stuffed envelopes and cut turf, as above.

- Tabled at Farmer's Markets and County Fairs.

- Handed out hundreds of voter registration forms, sold hundreds of candidate bumper-stickers, stuffed thousands of campaign envelopes.

- Worked as volunteer staff at a dozen candidate events.

- Helped set up campaign offices, including delivering badly needed tables and chairs for people to sit.

- Am active in my local county party, helping to do the nuts and bolts of recruitment, outreach, and rules.

- Rewrote a number of proposed County Party resolutions to make them persuasively positive, rather than negative diatribes useful only for the GOP to marginalize us. So far, the rewrites have all passed unanimously.

- Did some minor work on Democratic party websites.

- Helped introduce new campaign staff to the local county party officers, to start getting them up to speed faster.

- Have personally persuaded dozens of wavering Republicans that their party isn't what it used to be, and have gotten many of them to at least become independent, if not Democratic.

- Know most local Democratic office holders personally; have a personal letter of thanks from my Democratic Congressman, a small part he hand wrote.

- Occasionally read the Democratic Underground, where I learn to my dismay that because I don't follow the Green-party line, I'm really just a "DINO". This from Internet flamers who think that 10,000 posts on an echo-chamber site counts as "activism".


- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

I talk to people....one on one

I make VCR tapes of David Ray Griffin's Madison Wisconsin PBS presentation.....15 so far...gave 4 away at church today

I e-mailed the Conyers letter to EVERYBODY IN MY E-MAIL ADDRESS

I have inadvertently pissed many Republicans off with information

I have given away books on 911

I have given away <29> subscriptions to the Meria Heller Show


:patriot:

I made that as my New Years resolution this year and I think I've pretty well met it so far.

We maxed out on him.

I donated $500 to Howard Dean before we decided to support Wes Clark.

I donated to Charlie Rangel & Russ Feingold.

I donated to Morrison who ran against Delay in Texas.

I donated to Tony Knowles in Alaska who ran against Murkowski and ALMOST beat her.

I donated to Obama's campaign and attended a local rally where he spoke.

I attended monthly Meetups for Dean and then Clark.

Went to the Wisconsin Democratic Convention/rally to meet Howard Dean when I supported him.

We attended a Wes Clark fundraiser in Chicago and paid to attend another one in Chicago right before he dropped out of the race. :(

My son and I traveled to Nashville, TN to work on Clark's campaign. We drove people to the Nashville polls to vote and then stood outside a polling place with Clark signs. We stood on street corners with signs for 5 hours one day in Nashville. We attended a rally in Nashville and then attended the TN Democratic Convention (saw Wes, had a cigarette with Wes Jr. and saw Al Gore speak).

I wrote hundreds of campaign letters and mailed them out to NH.

I made hundreds of phone calls to get out the vote.

Then, I joined the Teri Renner campaign for Congressman in my District. We donated $$$$ to his campaign, walked in the Labor Day parade with Mr. Renner and attended a fundraiser in Joliet and canvassed the area for him.

I also volunteered to help my local Dem party on election day.


I am a member of NARAL & Working Assets.

I am a donating, card carrying member of the ACLU.

I have, in the past, donated to Not In Our Name.

I am most importantly a paying member of DU...the best site on the internets!

on edit: I also sign every petition that comes my way & I call and email my Senators CONSTANTLY.

I probably don't have a prayer. As a political neophyte, I probably don't even realize what's in store for me. I am dangerously naive, and I believe I can make a difference. I'm in nobody's pocket, and that makes me doubly dangerous. An idealist with nothing to gain. (Plenty to lose, but that's another story.)

I see my town as a microcosm of what's going on nationally. The town's run by 5 ossified pocket-pickers, veteran old boy GOP. They bully the residents and work only to serve their own interests (they are all involved in some type of building work, and our town is a rapidly growing suburb of NYC, on the verge of being out of control).

I've been warned by my own party that it'll get ugly. So I will stand and suffer their slings and arrows. The first salvo's already been fired. More will come.

My fondest hope is that government at every level can one day actually represent the people who pay its salary.

So that's what I'm doing. I'm going to picnics and parades and town meetings and standing up to these bullies. 'Cause someone's gotta.

organized a sit-in, to protest a proposed plan of closing a program designed to help poor students, working adults, and kids from failed intercity high schools.

i'm also active in the anti-war movement, and will take part in counter-recruitment next year.

negative.

All I know is that we're all beyond recriminations now.

source for "Handbills" http://www.justicefornone.com/handbills/index.htm

Many models use such fine droplets that they will write the serial number in print you can't even begin to see.

Of course, that might be a load of cack as well, but given how "society" is increasingly paranoid over controlling people (while abusing their own power and control), the comment isn't as stupid as it sounds. If it's not being done now enmasse, it will be soon.

1) Put stickers on my car
2) Engage in political conversations with people
3) Join in rallies such as the Freedom and Faith rally protesting the "Justice Sunday" farce
4) Started a blog.

mucho bucks most of which turned out to be a waste of my money.

Donated money to Kucinich, then to Kerry. Doem voter registration, tabling doorbelling, phonebanking. Belong to NARAL, ACLU, PDA, DFA, Progressive Majority, Health Care for All.

Currently I am on the state board of the Progressive Caucus for WA state Dems. We are doing issue outreach focussed on Social Security and health care. We are trying to get our governor to set up a commission like the one in California that resulted in the state single payer bill that Senator Kuehl is shepherding through the state legislative process.

Donated money to Kucinich, then to Kerry. Doem voter registration, tabling doorbelling, phonebanking. Belong to NARAL, ACLU, PDA, DFA, Progressive Majority, Health Care for All.

Currently I am on the state board of the Progressive Caucus for WA state Dems. We are doing issue outreach focussed on Social Security and health care. We are trying to get our governor to set up a commission like the one in California that resulted in the state single payer bill that Senator Kuehl is shepherding through the state legislative process.

I'm still tight on funds so my charitable donations have been leaner than I want them to be. Once my money situation loosens up I plan to donate much more. I have a pile of charities that I've received requests from in the mail and I've put them aside with plans to send checks when I get the funds. Planned Parenthood, Doctors Without Borders, The Smile Train (they repair cleft lips and palates for children who can't afford the surgery) and The Nature Conservancy are just a few of the ones I plan to contribute to. I also would like to see if there are any organizations that work to prevent/reduce bullying in schools--something that hits home for me.

Donating has a double benefit for me. I know that I'm doing good for others, plus every dollar I donate to a worthy cause is one less dollar going to feed the * administration.

If I ever get to a point that I can work fewer hours and still survive I'd like to volunteer somewhere. That will be years in the future for me though.

And getting more so!