In the late 1960's, a small group of United States Citizens found themselves fighting with the United States Federal Government and the Department of Defense for the lives of their husbands, brothers, and sons who were listed as Missing in Action and Prisioner of War in the Vietnam Conflict. They were told by the DOD not to discuss the topic, except with close family. The families followed directions, until it became crystal clear that these men were going to be deserted by the Country that they had sacrificed so much to serve. I was a teenager by then, old enough to understand exactly what was happening. My father was listed as Missing in Action for many years, until his status was upgraded to Prisioner of War. What happened, when a small group of famlies formed a Citizen Action Committee, was burned deeply into my psyche.
The National League of POW MIA Families grew out of the need of a few American Families to publicize an issue. This is the American System at its best. Using family members to organize a loose confederation of volunteers, this relatively small group managed to educate the American public, and foster strong grass root support for their cause.
Read below the squiggle to learn how this might inspire us today.
Today the Democratic Party is deeply divided between the progressives and the moderates. The moderates, or Republican lites, as I think of them, have an agenda similar to moderate Republicans. Neither party is serving the actual needs of the American People. Our concerns are not being addressed. Independents normally can't win elections. So, we must find a way to work within our screwed up two party system.
Lobbying seems to work well for the powerful and the rich. They buy votes. We all see what happens.
Maybe its time for the progressives to form a few Citizen Action Committies of our own. We could use the National League of Families as a template. The League proved that a few dedicated people, willing to work hard, could make a difference without spending truckloads of money. Each group should concentrate on only a few objectives. Public education and involvement has to be two of the main objectives of any group. Apathy, one of our major barriers, can be solved by helping normal people make a difference. Most individuals who don't vote, don't believe that they can make a difference.
They may own 95% of this country, but they are only 1% of the population. If the progressives will all vote, we can win. We must do this now. In the very near future, the 1% will find a way to prevent the other 99% from voting. That loss has already begun with felons being barred from voting. That limitation of voting rights affects a disproportionate percentage of latino and black men. People who are Citizens of our country should have an absolure right to vote. After all, our Ancestors began the American Revolution over taxation without representation. How would they feel about creating a permanent underclass of Citizens who are not allowed to vote? I believe it is wrong.
Citizen Action Groups could be our version of fighting fire with fire.