In my day job, I've worked with thousands of people directly, helping tens of millions of Americans with basics like jobs and housing. People are trustworthy and good, and get a lot done when organized at the grassroots level. Good people helping each other out, that's a great expression of American values and democracy.
This is sometimes called "community organizing" and it's part of the vision of the Founders of the USA.
Community organizing or any sort of genuine grassroots efforts is a real threat to Bush, McCain, and Palin. People start looking at actions instead of words. Even a guy like me, busy doing customer service, can see that Palin has a strong record supporting earmarks, supporting the "bridge to nowhere", and has close relationships to the more predatory lobbyists. (Follow the evidence, it's already available to everyone.)
I'm personally more than a little disappointed by the attacks on grassroots democracy we heard at the Republican convention. As you see, it's basically an attack on American values and democracy, and that's not right.
Palin's attack is consistent with the Bush/McCain team, which is on record saying it wants the least possible input from Americans, and it doesn't care what we think. (I'm citing Perino and Cheney.)
Ironically, as Palin was speaking, I was working with people on real ways to include more people in our democracy, focusing on voter registration and actually voting when it's difficult to do so.
Follow Craig Newmark on Twitter: www.twitter.com/craignewmark
Jesus of Nazareth, and called Christ [the Anointed One] and King of the Jews by Pontius Pilate ["hey, you religious bigots", he said. "What I have written, I have written."], was definitely a community organizer of sorts, even though He didn't state he was setting up an earthly kingdom to supplant the Romans or overthrow the religious Sanhedrin in Palestine of His day.
His family and others wanted to know when He would make the strategic move, and announce His candidacy for king. He said, "My kingdom is not of this earth." If that would have been the case, Jesus said, myriads of angels would have swiftly risen up alongside Him and crushed the despotic human leadership the Jews were under, and instituted a New Social Order. But He knew what was in mens' hearts, and didn't trust Himself to them. His New Order was primarily a spiritual one.
I don't think Palin and McCain are trying to institute a theocracy next January, and don't expect the Pope or any Christian Protestant people of the cloth to throw a bucket of anointing oil upon them on Inauguration Day, in the event they are duly elected. Give these people some respect. Despite what you think happened in Wasilla, they've got more class, and political savvy, than many of you are giving them credit for.
Don't forget Public Service Announcements, online banner ads, people's yards [depending on local ordinances about signs and banners], bumper stickers [tastefully done, please], and novelty advertising gifts with your Candidate's Name and Unique Selling Proposition and contact info inscribed. Get a 501(c) corporation thrown up to let your people pool their funds for big purchases at Sam's or Costco, whatever. For radio/TV/billboard/online ads.
[Disclosure: I am personally connected on LinkedIn—that's first-degree—with both Barack Hussein Obama and to Sarah Palin, the Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate. Now who's going to disconnect first? We heard that Hillary wouldn't even SHARE a stage with Sarah. Who's got the cooties, here?]
I agree with Craig -- the Republicans FEAR the masses of people who make less than $100K a year... and there are a LOT of us. The average income in the USA is roughly $50K... they fear the organization of Obama's campaign in the same way they fear unions. Ethnic groups. Women's rights groups...
The McCain way of pushing back is to denigrate and belittle those they fear.
So when you ask "What does a community organizer do?" I'll tell you:
1) at Habitat for Humanity, they put families into homes, taking children off the street, making it possible to attend schools.
2) in PTAs they ensure communication between parents and teachers to improve education for children.
3) in the south in the '60s, they fought racism , bled and died to defend rights of millions of people denied civil /voting rights
4) In the 1850-60s, they fought slavery and helped many escape it.
5) in the early 1770s, they decided that the king across the water shouldn't control the people and land that became America.
This country was founded on community organizing, Ms. Palin.
And Rudy - it was COMMUNITY that came together after the tragedy of 9/11, people from communities all over this land that came to NY bringing help, money and support to YOUR community... OR HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT now that you can't use it for your own political ambitions?
SHAME ON YOU, REPUBLICANS!!
We can vote with our feet, with our pocketbooks, and no less importantly, with our ballots at each election. Don't think somebody else is more qualified to say what you alone can say, or cop a plea to not get involved, with "why bother, my friend's vote is just going to cancel mine out!" One of my close relatives recently said that to me, and it truly bothered me.
Before my family and I left Tulsa last month to relocate to Texas, there was a run-off election Aug. 28th in our district between two men: Gary Stanislawski and Cason Carter.
My wife, Sharri, trained to serve in any Tulsa County Election Board Precinct position, was not working that particular evening, but she and I did vote prior to the 7 p.m. poll closing, and cast our ballots for Mr. Stanislawski. Mr. Stanislawski and Mr. Carter were in a run-off election because the vote count was legally inconclusive after the first time they faced off.
After the votes were re-tallied that evening, Mr. Stanislawski was declared the winner, by a slim margin of 16 votes out of 5,778 votes cast between them!
YOUR VOTE MAY BE CRITICAL, EVEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, in getting a judge seated or removed, a School Board official elected, or in sending a corrupt State House Representative back to Podunk Holler where he needs to stay. Some good ol' boys are just that, nothing more and nothing less, and don't need care and feeding by taxpayers. Can they balance their own checkbooks, after failing as legislators to balance the State Budget? It's a pork barrel party on Capitol Hill in a lot of states, and we need accountability from these fine lawmakers, these dollar dippers and barrel-rollers.
The proverbial starfish that boy on the beach was busily casting back into the receding surf, truly appreciated his humane behavior. "It matters to this one," the boy said. Splash! After a few hours, another wave carried that beautiful five-armed creature back toward the edge of the continental shelf, where it lived to see another day. Splash. Only 253 more left, but we've got an hour of sunlight, still.
Community and Social Services
Dept of Aging & Disability Svc Department: Rgn 3 - Long-term Svcs & Spts
Community Care Worker I Posting Number: 102224
Salary Range: $2,181.66 - $2,611.00 Salary Group: B03
:
Job Description:
Community Care Worker I(CT) Provides direct delivery and contract services to long term care services clients in assigned geographic area. Duties include managing a caseload, establishing eligibility for social services, completing needs assessment, and making referrals to contract or community agencies. Work includes operating a computer. Case Workers are required to make home visits.
Essential Job Functions:
Determines eligibility for services according to program policy and procedures. Develops and implements service plans for clients. Provides ongoing case management to monitor client condition and assess services provided in resolving client problems. Maintains case records to form a written record for each client. Prepares reports and records to provide management information on program operations. Operates a computer to document, update, and inquire into case records. May review situations and provide temporary protective services to prevent or remedy abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or disabled adults. May recruit and supervise volunteers. Performs related work as assigned.
It was truly hurtful to hear some of the mean spirited comments during the convention. But just as she has fired up the base...so too have Democratics been fired up , evidenced by the donations he received right after. There is now way that Mr. Fight, Fight, Fight, and the Killa from Wasilla can be let anywhere near the White House.
I read nothing where you said Obama's first press released dissed not only Alaska but every mayor of any town small or Large.
Not to mention that Obama and his dysfunctional campaign completely ignored the fact that she was a Governor of Alaska and that is the reason behind Palin's attack in the first place.
Just because Plain made Obama's attacks look foolish and childlike now the Media cries Palin is attacking community Organizers...NO she is attacking and making fun of ONE Community Organizer
For McCain and Palin to make fun of Americans in need and the people who help them, against a backdrop of signage reading "COUNTRY FIRST" says a lot about who they are and what they really stand for.
But, of course, it isn't. It is absolutely essential that the powerless be given the opportunities that the well off have always had. If we can't do that, we will have created a perfect recipe for a violent revolution.
More GOP lies / untruths from the RNC exposed (courtesy of Factcheck.org):
http://www.newsweek.com/id/157206
The Obama/Biden team don't have to do anything to damage or discredit the McCain/Palin team. They do that every time they open their mouths.
I mean, how do they keep the Repugs from getting a good tee time ?
They spit in the face of every American who has ever needed--or offered--a helping hand--and after 8 years of Bush league politics, that's many, many of us.
I'm registered independent, a woman and a minority in a swing-state. I'm everything McCain needs to win and after I wipe the spittle from my face, I'm voting for Obama.