WE THE PEOPLE: Join the movement for change

Columns

February 17, 2009

By Joe Parko / Chronicle contributor The Crossville Chronicle Tue Feb 17, 2009, 04:44 PM CST

The election of Barack Obama was historic in many ways. It was a crucial and powerful blow against right-wing Republicans and their corporate bosses that signaled a major realignment of the nation's politics.

It was an historic affirmation of centuries of struggle against racism and discrimination — a struggle that continues with new inspiration

Obama's election has opened a new path to progressive change, a path that can lead to deeper, more transforming change. The Obama victory confirms an emerging progressive majority — a majority that must become more organized and able to connect the various issues confronting the country into a coherent political force for change.

That is decisive for moving our nation in a more progressive  direction. That is the profound challenge before all working Americans. President Obama can’t change America by himself. We have to be involved. The massive crowds that gave the inaugural historic resonance reflected a deeply hopeful unburdening of eight years of the most regressive and reactionary government in memory.

It was a continuation of the impulse that drove the Obama candidacy in the first place — a pervasive longing for a change in the content and direction of the nation's politics. That hope for change was exemplified by the building of the most sophisticated and effective grass roots organization in history — a campaign marked by brilliant use of new technology, but more important, the empowering of hundreds of thousands of new volunteers in a powerful organization guided by the Obama campaign’s slogan for recruiting volunteers: Respect, Empower,  Include. The grass roots movement that drove the Obama campaign is more vital than ever to fight Republican determination to wage war against working people by resisting Obama's efforts to combat the worst economic crisis since the 1930s.

Obama's willingness to reach across the aisle to Republicans has been greeted with blatant resistance. The Republicans are determined to continue their assault on working people by protecting corporate interests. These are serious times. Hard working families are worried about their jobs, health care, their children’s education and their homes – they want action, not Republicans blocking needed legislation.

We cannot allow big corporations and their Republican operatives in Congress to stop the change the American people voted for in this election.

Critical to a positive outcome in the battle for change is the forging of a national grass roots movement. Of great significance is the unprecedented founding of 'Organizing for America' that builds on a list of over 13 million names and the experiences of tens of thousands of local organizers who worked for Obama’s election.

President Obama clearly intends to mobilize this huge constituency to press for adoption of his program. This grass roots action is critically important if real change is going to occur.

The election of Barack Obama is indeed an historic watershed. It holds out the promise of a major realignment of the nation's politics. For the first time in memory, this presidency actually is calling upon a gathering citizen’s movement to actively 'make change from the bottom up.'

The dangers of this time of economic crisis are great. But the opportunities are enormous — and compelling. Let us seize this moment to set our country solidly on the road to a progressive and prosperous future for working Americans. Join the movement for change here in Cumberland County by calling Citizens for Community Recovery at 742-0030.

We especially want to hear from people who are struggling because of this economic crisis. Help us to tell your story. Our new President needs our help. He can’t do it alone.

We, the people, have to work together in our local communities to create the change that we so desperately want and need.

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Columns

GARY'S WORLD: Thank our veterans this weekend A tremendous opportunity presents itself in our community this weekend — an opportunity to honor those who served in the Vietnam War. Personally, after attending last year's first Welcome Home celebration, I wouldn't want to miss this. It was an emotional event for both Vietnam veterans and ordinary citizens. It was a great way to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day in Tennessee, March 29.
March 27, 2009 1 Photo
RANDOM THOUGHTS: "Antiques Roadshow" comes to Tennessee If you are one of the 10 million who watch each episode of the “Antiques Roadshow” mark your calendar. The three upcoming Mondays, March 30, April 6 and April 13, were all taped in Chattanooga last July.
March 24, 2009 1 Photo
LION AND THE LAMB: An open letter to Sharon Baier I was happy to read your well-written article, printed in last week's Chronicle. It makes a strong case, in the story of Al and Jennifer, that "To make money, you have to spend money." That misguided couple thought that they ought to cut down on their purchase of supplies, to save money. They did so, week after week, until they lost their business.
March 24, 2009
WE THE PEOPLE: Veterans storm the Hill When young men and women risk their lives and sacrifice both physical and mental health for their country, a grateful country should at least provide them with shelter, food, and health care. But there is a lot of hypocrisy between what some windbag says on Veterans Day and what the country actually does for veterans.
March 24, 2009
THEREFORE I AM: Kids stress out parents? Well, duh! This just in: According to an expert, children can add stress and strain to a marriage. In other news, further expert studies have indicated that the sky is in fact blue, Paris Hilton is a tad spoiled, peanut butter and chocolate taste great together, and the Middle East has issues. Thank goodness we have experts to tell us these things.
March 23, 2009 1 Photo
INSIDE THE FIRST AMENDMENT: With shekels come shackles When President Obama launched his faith-based initiative at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, he promised not only to sustain the Bush administration’s signature domestic program — but to expand it.
March 19, 2009 1 Photo
THEREFORE I AM: Jim Croce and I will keep you safe and sound My philosophy of life is simple: When in doubt, follow the advice of a dead folk-rock star. I always found Jim Croce to be particularly handy in this capacity. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape. Don’t spit into the wind. Don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger, and regardless of how badly you may want to, do not, under any circumstances, mess around with Jim.
March 16, 2009 1 Photo
STUMPTALK: Stimulating a war on prosperity and freedom Near Bush’s sunset, Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed chairman Bernanke terrified the nation with “the sky’s falling and America is doomed” unless the government steps in with new regulations, institutional takeovers and massive lending.
March 16, 2009
WE THE PEOPLE: Thoughts on bringing a recession to heel Responding to the recent full-throated baying of conservative “economic watchdogs,” I slogged into the swamp of their icon Adam Smith’s murky tome, “The Wealth of Nations,” to see if they had finally treed anything of value.
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LION AND THE LAMB: Reality Dim blue of early morning shines into the living room

while you flip through television channels.
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