Would you like to know how many people have visited this page? Or how reputable the author is? Simply
sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.
Become a Fan. You'll get emails whenever I post articles on OpEd News
John Atlas is President of the Montclair, NJ based National Housing Institute and contributing editor of Shelterforce magazine. He is the author of the forthcoming book SEEDS OF CHANGE.The Story of Acorn, America's Most Controversial Anti-Poverty Community Group.
advanced sales at: http://www.vanderbiltuniversitypress.com/books/387/seeds-of-change
"There is more value on a single page of Seeds of Change than in a year's worth of Rush Limbaugh screeds combined with a lifetime of Sarah Palin sneers at community organizers."--Todd Gitlin
"Seeds of Change is the definitive book on one of the most effective grass roots organizations of low income Americans. In an era when our President is a one-time community organizer, ACORN needs to be better understood and appreciated as a source of civic and political mobilization. John Atlas combines scholarship, political insight, and powerful narrative writing in this essential book." --Robert Kuttner
SHARE Wednesday, February 3, 2010 ACORN Is Back in the News, but Right Wing and MSP Still Gets it Wrong
Now ACORN is back in the news, but as part of the "back story" linked to O'Keefe's arrest. In reporting on O'Keefe's arrest, however, the mainstream press continues to botch the ACORN story. Two good examples a National Public Radio by Eileen Fleming, the AP coverage and a report in The Times-Picayune. What is the truth regarding ACORN?
(4 comments) SHARE Monday, September 28, 2009 Should Progressives and all people concerned about poverty support Acorn?
The right goes after the left's most effective groups. Because ACORN does not rely on government funds, but like a union and the NRA, has members' dues, the organization will survive the orchestrated attacks by the right. But if it's to restore its strength as the most effective national poor people's organization it will need the support of the progressive community.
(1 comments) SHARE Tuesday, March 17, 2009 John Stewart VS. CNBC AND CRAMER: who is to blame for the foreclosure crisis?
If you still have not watched The Daily show stop what you are doing and go on the Internet and watch the last weeks clips of Jon Stewart's show. He engaged in a weeklong battle with CNBC and Jim Cramer. What Stewart did was amazing. He helped change the national debate about the Obama's foreclosure bailout.
(2 comments) SHARE Saturday, January 24, 2009 The Best of the Inaugural: Obama, Seeger and Springsteen
Watching the Sunday Inaugural ceremonies reminded me of a political and singing event I attended 2 years ago and the thoughts I had about the possibility of change.I attended a Springsteen concert that paid homage to Seeger. Bruce was bridging the gap between the suburban-liberal-activist kids such as my son, who was raised on Seeger, and the more conservative white working-class kids who spent their summers at the Shore...
(4 comments) SHARE Tuesday, January 13, 2009 Obama: Encouraging Social Movements and Other Lessons from FDR's Era
Obama is bent on passing a sweeping economic agenda to create and save jobs through tax cuts and public spending on roads, bridges, schools, health care as well as clean energy technology
that would make the United States less dependent on foreign oil. But he will need a social movement to succeed. It doesn't look likely.
SHARE Friday, October 31, 2008 Acorn and the GOP Blame Game
The Republican attack on ACORN, the community organizing group, has accelerated dramatically in the last few weeks, with John McCain, Sarah Palin, conservative columnists and bloggers, and right-wing TV and radio talk show hosts all joining in the anti-ACORN chorus. Among other assaults, they have been scapegoating ACORN for Wall Street's disastrous lending spree
(1 comments) SHARE Thursday, September 25, 2008 Financial Implosion: 2nd Chance for Progressive Banking Reform?
I served on the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) advisory committee, the S&L bail-out agency created by the first President Bush. I was appointed later by President Clinton. To understand the present bailout you need to know what we should have learned from that boondoggle.
SHARE Thursday, June 21, 2007 US ATTORNEYGATE, ACORN, VOTER SUPPRESSION AND THE MAINSTREAM PRESS
Apart from the McClatchy News outlet, the mainstream media coverage of the U.S. attorney scandal has missed the important backstory: the protracted struggle over voting rights. At the center of the storm is a David versus Goliath battle. On the one side is the Bush Administration and the Republican Party apparatus. On the other side is ACORN, a little-known, national, grassroots, anti-poverty organization.
(1 comments) SHARE Monday, October 30, 2006 Senator Menendez: Just another crook? Another Swift-boat victim? Or Perfect for New Jersey?
Incumbent Democratic Senator, Robert Menendez, in a close race for Senate, is being attacked by the same "Swift Boat" gang that helped sink John Kerry in 2004. And the ads claim to highlight Menendez's "shady record as a politician." The ads are working. Menendez is losing the support of liberals,progressives and independents. Are the accusations true? Or is Menendez perfect for New Jersey?