The 4
th of July is coming up! Along with the cook-outs and
fireworks, it’s a time to reflect upon and celebrate our
country. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest qualities of the USA that
Americans celebrate is our democracy.
But considering the strain Americans are under, keeping up on current
issues and participating in the political process can be a challenge.
We’re juggling multiple jobs. We’re caring for children, and sometimes
parents. We’re rearranging our lives to try to make ends meet as
everything gets more expensive. We’re helping out family members who are
looking for work. Or we’re scrambling to find work ourselves. And some
politicians make participation in our democracy even more challenging
with misleading rhetoric and voter suppression laws.
If we’re squeezed out of our democracy, how much will the American government be “of the people, by the people, for the people”?
This is where Working America comes in. We help folks have a say in
our democracy. Our teams of neighborhood organizers talk with people at
their doors, update them on issues and policies that impact their
lives, and engage them in quick and meaningful actions to improve
things. Becoming a member of Working America is an opportunity to make a
difference.
Through our member program, folks can choose from an incredible array of opportunities to participate in our democracy:
-
Get updated on policies our politicians are considering that will impact our economy, schools, jobs, health care, etc.
Our Pittsburgh Community Action Team members have learned about
concrete solutions we can promote that will ease the widely-felt pain
caused by Gov. Corbett’s recent state budgets.
-
Learn how to write letters to the editor that can educate the community. One of our Pittsburgh members – a former Head Start teacher – had his
letter
published in our local major paper today. Another Pittsburgh member – a
local restaurant employee – got word this week that his letter will be
published soon. It’s estimated that letters to the editor in our major
local paper can reach hundreds of thousands of people (yes, hundreds of
thousands). They’re an excellent way to educate community members
about issues that our elected officials will be making decisions about.
-
Sit down and talk with your elected officials
about what they should do to best represent you, your family, or your
community. Really. Here in Pennsylvania, Working America has
about half a million members, and when we tell an elected official how
many members we have in his or her district, he or she is often willing
to sit down with us and hear what our members have to say. Recently,
Working America members in the Pittsburgh area met with 4 state
legislators (and the staffers of another) to highlight how their
families and communities would benefit from better public schools, more
affordable higher education, stronger social services, and greater
corporate accountability.
This 4
th of July, along with enjoying the fireworks,
celebrate our country by taking a step to strengthen our democracy.
Connect with your
local Working America office , and bolster our country’s ability to be “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
