My daughter asked me...Could an average person launch a grassroots campaign...

[spin]

that could make a true difference?

I believe she is getting fed up with the situation in our country and discouraged at the progress of healthcare reform. (She favors a single payer system.)

She has no interest in running for office, as politicians often start out with good intentions but the system corrupts them and they end up as lackeys of the special interest groups.

I suggested she make a few videos for Youtube.

My daughter asked me to post here and see if anybody had any ideas.

[anonymous171]

1. Hook up with some local groups. Local State/County level activism can be much more effective

[spin]

4. Good thought, I should have suggested this. (n/t)

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. She might try to get involved with groups of that nature that already exist, at least

in terms of healthcare reform. (I'm just thinking that since the vote could be fairly close she might not have much time to get the ball rolling on her own.)

I like the YouTube idea. :)

[Hannah Bell]

8. many of the "groups that already exist" are part of the problem.

if she saw their effectiveness, she wouldn't have asked the question.

[spin]

16. Exactly. (n/t)

[FSogol]

3. Find some people who have been totaly wrecked by the insurance companies

and video interview them.

Also confront people who are happy with medicare and remind them that Medicare is run by the government.

Put together a chart of how much money Senators and Congress critters receive from medical/insurance companies and how that affects their positions on health care.

Her series of you tube videos should write themselves.

HTH and good luck.

[anonymous171]

5. Good one. We need to attach faces to the statistics.

[spin]

10. I like that idea, I will suggest it to her. Thanks. (n/t)

[kimjamey69]

26. Thanks but question to all is anyone HAPPY with there Health Insurance need some input please.

I plan on making a few youtube videos. Just want to make sure they are something worth watching. I have a few people I can talk to about medicare, and you had a great suggestion a good thank you. I just wonder is anyone really Happy with there Health Insurance???

[H2O Man]

6. Sure.

Of course they can. In fact, every example of a good grass-roots campaign has when an ordinary person invests the energy to do extraordinary things.

"Only the fool who attempts the ridiculous can be the hero who accomplishes the impossible."

[spin]

11. I love the quote. at the end of your post.

I wonder who said it.

[H2O Man]

15. It is a quote

from a letter that I got, many years ago, when I was considering taking on a grass-roots challenge; the letter was from my friend Rubin Carter.

[spin]

17. Well it sure makes sense. (n/t)

[FarCenter]

7. Yes - but the probability of success is about the same as getting on American Idol

[kimjamey69]

13. American Idol

Do you have any suggestions?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. Yes, she can make a difference

She might wish to find a cause she believes in and then work with them. If she doesn't find one, she should start her own. You can still make free websites and youtube is definitely a way to publicize them.

[kimjamey69]

12. Difference

It's Spin's daughter here, I just want America to wake up and no one seems to be doing anything about the lies that our news media is feeding us. So what does a average Florida schooled girl do??? Just looking for some suggestions to get the ball rolling?

[kimjamey69]

14. KNR (nt)

[Are_grits_groceries]

18. Of course!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

I know she has seen some youtube videos that have gone viral and everybody talks about them. With this medium, it is even easier to reach people.

Get a hook. Something that will catch people's eye. I don't know what, but it will feel right. In today's twitter world, short and forceful works.

Go for it!

[kimjamey69]

20. Thank You

I was one of those who got so fed up I quit, but I cant anymore. I have children and am so scared what world I am leaving my children to and to not do anything is a bad message to them. So I have made the decision to do something just looking for people's opinion on what is the best way to get the word out!

[spin]

21. Thanks, she seems determined...

Health care is only one issue she is interested in.

For a long time she avoided watching the news. She said, "It makes me depressed, and there is nothing I can do."

Just yesterday, she came to me and asked if an average person could make a difference in our society. She had an argument with her husband who said when she mentioned starting a grassroots campaign, "It's a total waste of time, don't even bother. Nothing you can do will ever make the slightest difference."

Obviously she was pissed at the bullshit and lies we are constantly being fed by the media. Obviously her husband's comment fired her up.

I'll keep encouraging her. At the minimum she will get involved once more and start listening to what's happening. She has three children to worry about. She doesn't want them to become mere feudal slaves to the corporate masters.

Maybe it will only mean that she will occasionally post her opinions here on DU. That's far from a futile effort.

I'm beginning to notice that a lot of people are beginning to wake up and start ignoring the pablum such a American Idol that's fed to us to keep us passive and content. If enough people get interested and start watching what is happening, we may just be able to take this country back from the control of the big corporations who own the people we elect.

Somehow, I have hope.

[kimjamey69]

22. Thanks

You said it perfect! We need to let our government know it is us little people who have a say, and we need to find someway to say it!!!!

[BlooInBloo]

19. It's a bit of a semantics issue... Anyone who DOES launch a successful grassroots campaign...

would ipso facto be considered "not average".

:P

[spin]

25. True, but consider...

Cindy Sheehan and Code Pink and Micheal Moore.

They may have started out as average, but ......

[dysfunctional press]

23. i was having the exact same thoughts while running errands today...

i started by contacting my congressional rep and asking to be able to participate in any upcoming townhalls or roundtables as a concerned constituent...as a way for me to start getting a feel for the actual playing field.

[spin]

24. Great. Maybe we are starting to wake up in this country...

The corporations really don't want to wake up a sleeping giant.

[kimjamey69]

27. Sleeping Giant

Maybe its time!!!

[kimjamey69]

28. Make a youtube site

Would all you wonderful intelligent people be wiling to give me your ideas on what needs to be talked about on youtube? I am only one little lady and I know one thing, our country has a lot of issues that I feel need to be addressed. I am willing to put myself on the line, for my country, and what all you all as Americans say is what we need to be talking about.

[cali]

29. no, all politicians don't end up corrupt and lackeys of the special interests

and yes, individual citizens can start grass roots movements. And why doesn't your daughter post herself if she's really dedicated to making a difference?

[kimjamey69]

30. I am posting again now

I had had a discussion with my father last night (a wonderful man) and am now just so tired of everything I know that with all your help I can try to make a difference one way or another!

[cali]

31. Glad you're posting! Here's an example of a regular person who ended up winning a Nobel peace prize

for her grassroots efforts. Hope it inspires you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jody_Williams

[kimjamey69]

33. TY

Great link thanks so much

[BuyingThyme]

32. She could become a loudmouth and pose as a plumber.

No, that's no good.

Why isn't she on DU? Lots of ideas to be had here.

[kimjamey69]

34. I am on Du now

I just took a 2 year break and got riled back up again lol
i appreciated all the responses and replies i am a young woman with lots to learn but a spitfire just ask my Dad.

[BuyingThyme]

35. Oh, hey! Welcome to DU, KimJamey69!

:hi:

If you REALLY want to get riled up, listen to the Mike Malloy show in about an hour.

[kimjamey69]

36. mike malloy

Ok will do thanks for the info

[BuyingThyme]

37. If it appeals to you, there is also a Mike Malloy thread started here

every weekday at about 9:05PM eastern, 6:05PM pacific.

[kimjamey69]

38. ???

trying to find it on direct tv any suggestions?

[BuyingThyme]

39. It's a radio show.

(Yeah, some of us still use those things.)

But you can stream it:

http://www.mikemalloy.com/

[AngryAmish]

40. It is shockingly cheap to change laws in Illinois

Depending on the subject, $50k to the right lobbying law firm usually does the trick. Of course if you spend more the results are more likely - you have to buy a republican firm as well as a democratic firm.

[Initech]

41. A senate seat only costs you $500k.

[kimjamey69]

42. so i am getting off cheap?? i just want suggestions

on what normal everyday people want to actually have talked about so I can vent about it on youtube. I also want opinions thanks so much ladies and gentlemen for reading this.