A Citizen's Guide to Grassroots Campaigns Review

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(More customer reviews)Civics courses teach the virtues of the democratic system, but often leave out the part that most interests the individual: What is the role of individuals in a democratic society? What is the gritty reality beyond our image of Lion's Clubs, YMCA's, volunteerism or demonstrations? Which raises a question that wasn't even asked in my civics class: How important is individual activism in a democracy? I'd suggest A Citizen's Guide to Grass roots Campaigns over most civics classes. This "guide" is of the mentoring variety; while full of tips that inspire plans, the real beauty of the style is in the storytelling. There are no precise how-to rules when people take on local issues with local ingenuity. Even better, here are the tales of successful activists, folks who have found ways to confront forces of great change, even in the Garden State. Activism is at its hottest in New Jersey - highly industrial, highly political and highly expensive turf.But the stories chosen are common American struggles. A few folks in the inner city decide to revive their local park, and get graffiti artists to make a lasting children's mural, using the Tom Sawyer ethic. A woman starts a campaign to protect open space with a stream of volunteers through her kitchen office, and emerges as one of the state's conservation leaders. A group of six articulates concerns of the atomic arms buildup by sending a pamphlet to every home in town and a delegation to Moscow, which starts talks across both borders. And individuals explore the much scoffed at and equally popular self-help groups, by facing isolated personal pain, with others, and creating networks of healing.Barry makes a good case that the effects of being engaged are considerable at all scales. (This is a strong topic, as importance of local engagement has not fully been acknowledged and has been undercut in recent decades by the increasing flow and loss of immediacy of knowledge, i.e. virtual reality.) One chapter is devoted to individual empowerment. Other chapters consider every level of group effort - from one person, to a handful, to an army of handfuls. Mechanics, pitfalls and politics of citizen's campaigns are considered. One feels Margaret Mead can listen and hear her message expanded - small groups are powerful insofar as we choose, and this freedom is the bane and boon of American democracy.A Citizen's Guide's sunny side of American woes is a needed voice. A correlation emerges: campaigns taken on by determined local persons are more potent than agendas launched by distant interests. Another correlation: volunteerism isn't to be scoffed at as the dirty work of an entrepreneurial nation, rather it is the grit of a nation of persons able to work for something above personal gain. Thus, the skills it takes for quality grassroots work mirror the best business skills, each successful only insofar as it is done well. Engaged Americans appreciate the full responsibility of democracy, with its eternal vigilance, and the personal and communal enrichment spurred by the ideas and hard work of individuals. These lessons make A Citizen's Guide to Grassroots Campaigns a strong antidote to apathy.

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