There's a very interesting interview with Tom Frank, author of Pity the Billionaire, Tom Frank: Obama's made left "futile and irrelevant"
Frank observes,
"The only honest way for progressives to assess the experience of these past four years is by coming unflinchingly to terms with our own futility and irrelevance."
And,
"... this, by the way, is very typical of Washington, D.C. The left is something that everybody in the circles of power in the city " everybody knows that they don't have to deal with. And when they are asked by people like you and me to answer to left-wing criticisms, they instantly react with contempt. They don't have to answer. That's something that they do not have to pay attention to.
Progressives must organize outside any existing parties to develop ways to get traction with Obama and Congress. We must also return to grassroots, local activism. Re-localization is the key to combating the system, combating globalization, combating big anything-- government, pharma, farming, duopoly political parties...
As an individual it can feel daunting and frustrating, that you can't do anything on your own. But be certain, be absolutely certain that everything single change for the better, every single step of progress towards a better future, a better world, a more just kind humanity was taken starting with one person. Small acts are always at the root of the biggest movements.
Big people, big actions are always created, inspired or catalyzed by small acts by one person or a small group.
You can make a difference. But to do so, you must ACT.
You never know what it is you do, what act of kindness, what step out of the way to take a stand, to speak out, to refuse to tolerate the status quo or refusal to go along with a wrong will start a movement.
So, practice small acts... every day. One of them may become the butterfly wings that cause the wind that is felt around the world.
If enough people do this, and it doesn't take millions, it absolutely WILL change the world. it's a bottom up thing.
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