Is it possible to have political resolutions? Some people's lives revolve around politics all the time --talking to politicians, talking about politics -- who are running, where, who has more chances of winning, how peoples' funds are being manipulated to beef up their campaign funds, etcetera. In other words, they describe what is happening in reality.
But a resolution should make us think of how to improve our political involvement. First and foremost here I think is to make our families understand the value of our involvement. Many relatives view politics as a VERY DIRTY, STINKING FIELD, where thousands of crocs live. This should not be our viewpoint. I think what is lacking is simple education for the people to understand that getting involved politically is healthy. HEALTHY. What does that mean? It means that politics is so valuable in the way we live in this world. Let me quote Al Gore in his message for the New Yea (minus his request for donation):
FROM AL GORE:
"At times, the slow pace of change can be disheartening. The vast resources of the opposition, the absurdity that unquestionable science is still ignored by an obstinate few, and the dismay that some people -- even some leaders -- just don't seem to care -- all of this can be downright infuriating.
But it's impossible to overstate the overwhelming importance of the work we are doing. And I can tell you that there is hope for the future, and that we are closer than we have ever been to implementing real solutions on a global scale. The proof is apparent in all that we achieved together this past year.
Our shared accomplishments have renewed my resolve and my optimism for the year ahead. And that's a very good thing, because our work is more important now than ever. To put it bluntly, we are running out of time to act. We must succeed next year, because the alternative is unacceptable and the consequences are unthinkable.
I know you understand what is at stake. I need to know that I can count on you to help us overcome the tall odds we face. "
FROM MITCH STEWART, A VOLUNTEER OF THE B. OBAMA CAMPAIGN GROUP FOR HEALTH REFORM:
Early this year, millions of you chose to keep working together and create Organizing for America, to build on the momentum of the Obama campaign, take on the defenders of the status quo, and make change happen.
Special interests thought they could steamroll you with hundreds of millions of dollars in lobbying and attack ads. Meanwhile, you built a massive organization, driven by local leadership, that reached out to millions of fellow Americans and made your voices heard to Congress in record numbers.
In the coming year, our opponents will make a final stand to block health reform and seek to defeat many of the President's other crucial initiatives. And they're already targeting those in Congress who are championing change.
So I wanted to take a moment at year's end to reflect on everything you've built, and to ask for your help one last time this year to hit the ground running in 2010. Please donate $5 to keep our organizing strong in all 50 states.
This has been a remarkable year for the movement you've built from the ground up.
Beth Kimbriel, a mother of four from Richmond, Virginia, has no formal political experience. But every week, as an OFA "Community Organizer," she trains and manages other volunteer leaders to organize effectively around the President's agenda. Hundreds of her fellow OFA Community Organizers around the country have already volunteered more than 200,000 hours doing similar work. Thousands more have taken on other leadership positions in every single state. And we're still growing -- nearly a million people who had never volunteered for the presidential campaign have signed up with OFA this year.
Supporters spread the word throughout our communities, with more than a million conversations with neighbors on the phone and at the doorstep, and 250,000 letters to the editor about how President Obama's policies would help ordinary Americans.
And when Congress was making crucial decisions, you spoke out more powerfully than the special interests ever could. In the last few months, you've made more than 1 million calls to Congress -- including more than 300,000 on one amazing day in October that created huge momentum for health reform. Thousands of supporters attended town halls to counter the shouting mobs and speak out in person. And you even held 37,107 events in every congressional district -- bus tour rallies, phonebanks and forums to inform your neighbors.
These incredible efforts have powered victories on a wide range of issues. OFA volunteers provided a huge boost to help pass the Recovery Act, President Obama's historic budget, an expansion of children's health care, credit card and student loan reform. Your voices helped pass a historic green jobs and energy bill in the House, and the confirmation of the nation's first Latina Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, in the Senate. And of course, you were instrumental in passing comprehensive health reform through both houses of Congress for the first time in American history.
With every phone call to a member of Congress, every door knocked on a rainy day, every event held in a town center, you've helped to push this country forward.
But with the special interests and their allies in Congress fighting us for every inch, we need your help again to keep our organizing strong in 2010."
In these twin letters,we can glean the optimism, of not shirking away from the responsibilities which is a highly admirable act. The same kind of perseverance should be in our psyche for us to weather all kinds of crises and disasters that may come our way. We need to be pragmatic while maintaining our idealism. And we can start this new year.
I think that number one resolution is to reserve one hour or more a day to mull over politics and to act on whatever needs to be acted upon.
Secondly, we must strengthen our links with people who think the same way as we do. We need rap groups, people who can take our steaming off when things get rough or rotten. They can keep us on course.
Thirdly, let us keep a diary that will help us assess our status on a monthly basis, whether we are meeting our targets or not.
Fourthly, read the newspapers, listen to the radio, the AM especially where we can listen to news every hour and even every 15 minutes. Between now and May 2010 we need to be updated on what is occurring. Our situation is very volatile and changes are bound to be instituted without our knowing or without giving us a chance to react.
Fifthly, let us pray, pray hard that we shall be guarded and guided by the Almighty throughout our endeavors. A five-minute prayer before sleeping and upon waking up could do wonders in strengthening our resolve to be fully active in the months ahead.
So be it. HAPPY NEW YEAR, FOLKS!
