TRUEMAJORITY.COM

        Sometimes it's really hard not to feel discouraged, especially when one hears prospective voters declare that a change of the D.C. administration is hopeless and they aren't even going to bother to vote.

        They base their feelings on the polls that show no Democratic candidate would even come close to beating Bush if the elections were held today. But we know that the polls are manipulated and we know the elections are not held today.

        Yes it can be discouraging when one sees the way power is used. Right now we have a situation where the FBI is investigating the Congressional Committee that is investigating the FBI and administration about 9/11. How could this happen?

        We, the public, demanded that our representatives in D.C. investigate 9/11 and committees were formed to do just that. To counter that, the administration accused the committees of leaking information and the FBI was called in to track down the leak. Cheney did not want 9/11 investigated. Cheney rules?

        Environmentally, it is just one horror after another as the Bushies keep hacking away at the conservation initiatives of the Clinton presidency. Everyday, it seems like there is just more to lament but we need lament no more. We can ACT!

        Ben Cohen has made it possible for all of us to sound off in large numbers and we need to make such a noise as "the shot heard round the world." You probably know Ben better as the Ben in Ben & Jerry's.

        B&J has always been an environmentally conscious company, proudly liberal in thought, word and deed. Now quasi-retired, Ben brings his marketing skills that were used to sell ice cream, to grassroots political action.

        He's out to recruit cyber activists and urges us to "Spend two minutes for a better world" by joining him in the TRUE MAJORITY. It presents 10 principles:

        • 1. Attack poverty and world hunger as if our life depends on it. It does.
        • 2. Champion the rights of every child, woman & man.
        • 3. End our obstructionism to the world's treaties.
        • 4. Reduce our dependence on oil and lead the world to an age of renewable energy.
        • 5. Close the book on the Cold War and end the nuclear nightmare forever.
        • 6. Renounce Star Wars and the militarization of space.
        • 7. Make globalization work for, not against, working people.
        • 8. Ensure equal treatment under law for all.
        • 9.Get money out of politics.
        • 10. Close the gap between rich and poor kids at home.

        Ben asks, "Have you told the powers in Washington what kind of world you want?"

        He offers: "Now, we have a powerful new 'loudspeaker' to make your voice heard in Congress, voices that reflect our values of justice, equality, and sustainability... To build the kind of world we know we can have."

        "TRUEMAJORITY is a brand new channel for bringing individual citizens' influence to bear on Congress. You're busy. You don't have time to be a professional 'Congress watcher.' So we'll be your eyes and ears. We'll track the debates and compromises and bills that will shape the world. When your voice can make a difference, we'll send you a brief e-mail alert. And with just one click, we'll generate a fax to your Congressperson on your behalf. It's a fast, easy and remarkably effective way to counter and beat the enormous power of the wealthy corporate special interests. And what's more -- IT'S FREE."

        "Give us 2 minutes a month, we'll give you a better world."

        Well you can't miss the absence of sexist language here. You have total control of what is faxed to your Congressperson. It can be what is generated by truemajority or something you write yourself.

        "With one click of a button you can either send our suggested faxes or edit them yourself (and we'll still send them for you.) You are always free not to participate in any specific issue or remove your name from our list."

        There's much more and you can find all the details at http://www.truemajority.com

        "We've already got tens of thousands of people signed up with more joining every day at the touring Festival, the Parade, and online."

        There is strength in numbers. If enough of us raise our voices we will be heard and WE WILL BE A FORCE FOR CHANGE instead of wallowing in fear and despair.

        twanda@twanda.org       

        2002-027

        Copyright 2002 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@twanda.org.

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