Last night in Manhattan, Move On and a number of other organizations came together to hold a vigil at Columbus Circle just outside of the entrance to Central Park.
Over 1,000 people took an hour or more out of their lives to show up in support of health care reform and the "Public Option."
Unfortunately, as hard as we work, the people that are supposedly in charge aren't getting the message.
People all over the country have gotten themselves together and worked their tails off for reform, change and a new way of doing business, but the right keeps winning the messaging battle and we some how keep getting duped.
So maybe it is time to take a bigger step.....
I know that I hear talk over liberals, progressives, whatever you want to call yourself that means committed to changing the health care system, reforming the banking system, creating better and more opportunities in our economy and so on and so forth, taking to the streets of Washington on September 13th to have your voices heard. Yet, this call to action hasn't really gone anywhere.
My proposal is simple, let us mobilize our best efforts to create a rally in DC on October 3rd that will leave no doubt that all of us that worked for change last year, elected progressives and liberals up and down the ticket in places far and wide, and now we want our just reward.
It is easy to sit back and say that the media won't cover this or won't cover that. It is easy to sit back and say that this won't change or that won't change.
And, I admit, sometimes this is very disheartening.
But the thing is that if we keep showing up, keep making noise, keep fighting for what we care about, the politicians are going to have to support us or they know that they are not going to stand a chance when they really need us.
I had a real turning point last night at the rally we put on in Manhattan. I've been involved in politics in some way, shape or form since 4th grade. I was burned by any number of candidates that I wanted to believe in, needed to believe in, or that I knew would at least get the causes I believe in advanced a little further than the other guy would. But last night something clicked. Having people come up to me and thank me for the hard work, or sharing their heart felt stories or their concerns or their problems, it's heartbreaking and reaffirming at the same time.
But the thing is, I have been lucky and not everyone has been lucky in the same way. Hearing these stories makes it even tougher for me to stop fighting now. We hear the way people want to rally around Ted Kennedy's death, because he was a champion of people that didn't have as many opportunities, or that come from backgrounds that didn't afford them the same chances. I personally thank Ted Kennedy and all of the other champions of liberal causes for all of the hard work they have done.
But, just waiting for them to take the reigns is never enough.
So again, I'm calling upon the people in this community to reach out to the people in your circles to see if you have the stomach for a fight and the stomach to march to Washington to continue the fight for change.
If I start hearing enough call from the grassroots and people all over, I'll put the power of Move On and the other groups I am affiliated with behind this rally and we will definitely show President Obama and the rest of our elected officials in Washington that we wanted change, we worked for it, and now that we have lived up to our end of the bargain, it is time for them to do the same thing.
If you are interested in helping out, taking part, etc...my information is below.
October 3rd, 2009
United March in Washington
We Worked For Change
Now We Want To Be Paid
Dave Wakeman
Manhattan Council Coordinator
Move On PAC
drwpolitical@gmail.com
(646) 783-9108