Check these out:
LINKS

MOVE ON.ORG. A grassroots citizens' activist organizationn, Move On provides action alerts and petitions to government leaders.

TRUE MAJORITY. True Majority was founded in order to compound the power of all those who believe in social justice, giving children a decent start in life, protecting the environment, and America working in cooperation with the world community.

WORKING FOR CHANGE. This site, sponsored by Working Assets, covers a broad range of commentary, activism, shopping and other progressive concerns.

COMMON CAUSE is a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 by John Gardner as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest.

THE NETWORK OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESSIVES. A project of the Tikkun Community, this site and network propose a different kind of progressive movement—"one founded on and giving central focus to a spiritual vision--to create a real alternative to the political Right, to the fundamentalists (religious and political), and to our society’s ethos of selfishness, materialism, and cynicism."

MORE LINKS . . .

BOOKS

Don't Think of an Elephant, by George Lakoff: A primer for progressive activism. "Know Your Values and Frame the Debate."

The Impossible Will Take A Little While, edited by Paul Rogat Loeb. A compelling, insightful collection of essays that re described as "a citizen's guide to hope in a time of fear."

MORE BOOKS . . .

JOURNALS
Participatory Governance
and Activism

For people who want to make the world a better place, there needs to be a balance between trying to do everything, and completely withdrawing from the often frustrating responsibility of being an active citizen of a democracy.

To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns; to surrender to too many demands; to commit one’s self to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence. (Thomas Merton)

“Instead of trying to be responsible for all the problems in the world, we should take on what we love and care about. Then we honor both our inner world and the outer world at the same time. There’s no separation between the two, and there is no hesitation, no self-doubt. This will help us develop great faith that others are taking care of their piece. People who don’t know the details about climate change may care deeply about the forests, the animals, and the children. It is very important that we share, not only our merit, but also the responsibilities. Somehow we have to relieve ourselves of the enormity, which is so debilitating.” (Paul Hawken, author, activist, businessman)

In the same vein, Jim Hightower encourages us, “Joining with others to achieve the great possibility of America is as much fun you can have with your clothes on.”

We know that being a citizen in a democracy is a job, but many of us feel so marginalized, so ignored, so despairing, that engagement seems useless and ridiculous. But in that way we give up our power to those that want it, and who have an agenda that may be detrimental to the good of society, not to mention the world.
A little history tells us that since 1964, with the defeat of Barry Goldwater, conservative Republicans have set out to build an effective power in American politics. They have achieved supremacy in the three branches of government. It took time and great organization to build up their position, starting with school boards, county commissions, state legislatures. Churches, PTA’s, media consolidation.

People who hold a different vision than the conservative right (dare we say Liberal or Progressive?) can learn from this diligent, methodical, patient organizing that affects local politics every bit as much as the national scene. Democracy starts wherever we are. The important thing is to start.