We're in the final stretch now, folks. Accordingly, Kerry has gone on the offensive and is clearing the way for a final huge push. However, this isn't just about the actions of his own campaign--it's about the actions of all of us. Despite what some of us here hoped earlier on--that this would be a blowout election--it is appearing that it will be down to the wire. Not only do we need Kerry to be at his best these last few weeks--giving great speeches, going on the offensive and nailing the debates--but
we need to be at our best, as well. This doesn't just mean contributing to great discussion here on Kos and elsewhere, it means getting off our asses and winning this election.
It's time for those of us (me included) who have not been volunteering to change that. There are myriad opportunities for us to make a difference and we have to take advantage of them. The direction our country takes in November is up to us and our willingness to fight to save America from an increasingly frightening political and social future.
So act! Want to change the country? Want to change the world? Then take action. At the very least, write some letters to the editor. Better yet, how about you write some letters to voters urging them to take action in November? I know there are plenty of former Deaniacs around here--I'm one myself--so you should know how this goes. Act4Victory has swing state addresses for voters that they have identified through their massive GOTV effort, so sign up and handwrite some letters. This simple action could produce a vote and we all know how crucial every vote is.
Writing letters is great but even better is volunteering for the campaigns and doing some fieldwork. If you have some time in the evenings, there are plenty of great Democratic campaigns that could use your help phone banking. Have a free Saturday or Sunday? Do some doorbelling. You could put up campaign signs, pick up and drop off absentee ballots, or drive voters to the polls on Election Day. Every one of these actions are crucial and can be the difference in a close election.
The Kerry-Edwards campaign would love to have your help. The DNC is also looking for some good volunteers. You know who else wants your help? Your local Democrats. Find a Representative or a Senator running a good race and help us take back Congress. Without majorities in both houses of Congress, Kerry's ability to govern will be significantly reduced so volunteer and help give us a trifecta. There are the state-level races, as well. Find out who the Democrat running for local office is. State Representatives and Senators have a huge impact on your life, as well, as do Governors. The more Democrats in office, the better. And Get Out The Vote efforts for state candidates will get more Democrats to the polls, who will in turn vote the Kerry-Edwards ticket and help us send Bush back to Crawford.
MoveOn is looking for some warm bodies. ACT has put together a huge voter mobilization effort in the battleground states and they need you. Go! Help them!
This election is in our hands. DailyKos gets thousands of visitors a day. Imagine what could be done if even half of us logged off for a few hours a week and helped out our local Democrats, our local Democratic party, ACT or the Kerry-Edwards campaign. We can win in November, but it now has come down to true activism. Money is great and it helps, but now is the real crunch time. Now is the time for ACTION. Without it, we lose. With it, we win. It's simple.
You think America is on the wrong track? CHANGE IT!
I'm going to write some letters now. Next week I'm going to do some phone banking for a local Democrat. Over the next few weeks I'm going to write letters to the editors, deliver absentee ballots, and drive people to the polls.
What are you going to do? How are you going to change America?