The most effective answer to this leadership vacuum would be a new era of political activism by ORDINARY citizens. The biggest, most far-reaching changes of the past century: the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s movement-- were not primarily the result of elective politics, but rather the hard work of committed citizen-activists fed up with the status quo.
It’s time for thoughtful citizens to turn off their TVs and step into the public arena. Protest. Attend meetings. Circulate petitions. Run for office.
I suspect the public right now is way ahead of the politicians when it comes to ideas about creating a more peaceful, more equitable, more intelligent society.
The above quote is from Bob Herbert, superb New York Times columnist.
"Long on Rhetoric, Short on Sorrow" The NYTimes, January 25, 2007
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