US Political Climate Ripe for Grassroots Groups

[babylonsister]

US Political Climate Ripe for Grassroots Groups
by Carey Gillam

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kansas — Jennifer Roe considers herself a typical American mom — juggling a part-time writing job with the needs of two young daughters, volunteer work at a children’s museum and her church.

Indeed, the “Proud to be a Liberal” button on the visor of her minivan is one of the few outward signs that 42-year-old Roe also squeezes in several hours a week organizing True Blue Women, a political group of like-minded moms.0809 03

“A lot of it for me was feeling the country was going down the wrong path,” said Roe. “I felt everybody, including myself, had gotten a little complacent. Just going to vote is not enough.”

Formed after President George W. Bush won a second term in 2004, True Blue Women is part of what political analysts say is a groundswell among Americans of every political stripe who are calling for change in government.

“There has been a proliferation of activist groups … especially after the 2004 elections. I would speculate that these groups will get more active as the 2008 elections come up,” said Anthony Michel, a communications professor at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri.

The movement is fueled both by suspicion of mainstream media and burgeoning access to information via the Internet, Michel said.

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http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/09/3076/