| When Sarah Palin implicated Barack Obama for | | | | enough. If we've been fortunate enough to |
| not having executive experience because he was | | | | participate in any small group conversations, be |
| just a community organizer, she unwittingly | | | | they union meetings, planning groups, project |
| revealed the true weakness of the Republican | | | | groups, small groups sharing lunch in the cafeteria, |
| Party's prevailing philosophy. The dynamic | | | | or even family gatherings, we know that people |
| between hierarchical and democratic organization | | | | together have good ideas about how things should |
| and power structure lies at the very heart of the | | | | be run. The challenge is to take our ideas and |
| greatness of the United States. The Republicans | | | | work to see them manifest. |
| lean towards hierarchy, which has been | | | | It has been said that the groundswell of support |
| traditionally white male, exclusive, paternalistic, | | | | for the Democratic candidates in the November |
| authoritarian, obedience/punishment, duty, left | | | | 2008 election was due to the people being ahead |
| brain, logical, and money-oriented. Individually there | | | | of the candidates in their vision for the direction |
| is nothing wrong with any of these qualities, but | | | | of this country. That is, people already know that |
| taken together, these qualities have resulted in a | | | | we need to develop sustainable technologies. |
| world where some people are valued at the | | | | People already know that the banking, insurance |
| expense of others. Many inequities result that | | | | and auto industries have held us captive as public |
| create widespread suffering. | | | | education languishes. People already know that it is |
| Community organizing, when done well, can be | | | | important to cut our carbon emissions. It has |
| the antidote to what has gone wrong as a result | | | | been estimated that if all the nearly seven billion |
| of Republican dominance. At the local level, we | | | | people on Earth were to consume at the same |
| simply want to be with other folks who share our | | | | rate as Americans do, we would need 15 Earths |
| concerns. Fortunately, the days of isolation are | | | | to provide the resources for each of us. Clearly |
| over. The internet, and organizations that have | | | | our way of life is unsustainable at present and we |
| evolved due to its capabilities, has enabled us to | | | | need a broad base of intelligence and shared |
| speak our minds about issues large and small. It | | | | consciousness to make the many changes |
| has enabled us to develop our abilities of thinking, | | | | needed. |
| evaluating, speaking our minds, knowing that | | | | We can no longer be afraid to consider these |
| someone will be listening. It has made writing to | | | | matters. It is not up the "them"--there is only us. |
| our senators and representatives infinitely easier. | | | | Each one of us is required to face these realities |
| We can easily find the address, we no longer | | | | honestly and begin thinking about solutions. Keep |
| need envelopes and stamps, we can even call and | | | | an eye out for opportunities to speak your |
| speak to a human being in any public office | | | | mind--with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. |
| because we no longer have the obstacle of | | | | Look for slightly more formal forums to air your |
| having to look up their phone number in a heavy | | | | ideas and opinions. I believe we are at a very |
| phone book. | | | | critical crossroads in the United States. I'm |
| So now that we have developed these abilities, | | | | concerned that if we don't seize the opportunity |
| which are critical to a thriving participatory | | | | to make tremendous changes that will restore |
| democracy, we realize that sitting in our home | | | | our moral and ethical leadership in the world, we |
| office tapping away at the computer is no longer | | | | will forfeit our future. |