The Art of the Possible

It was Woody Allen who said that "70% of success was just showing up." I think that's true with politics as well. Last week about a dozen hearty souls braved the somewhat chilled, foggy morning air of Caledonia to protest on behalf of Unicameral Michigan's Fire the Senate petition drive. The demonstration was in front of the coffee shop where Caledonia Township Supervisor Bryan Harrison was holding a candidate coffee with State Rep. Glenn Steil Jr. Steil is the backer of a bill that seeks to cut off the budding Unicameral movement at the knees. Steil, who was nice enough to meet with the demonstrators (something many of his colleagues wouldn't have dared to do and for that I give him credit), understands that the best way to stop a revolution is to give the people a small portion of what they want and hope to diffuse their anger just enough that they don't care enough to keep fighting the system. It's hard work to get up early, march up and down the street feeling like an idiot as cars drive by ignoring you, and most people don't want to do it if they don't have to- especially when they don't think their cause has a chance.

Margaret Mead said "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." The American political system is set up so that citizens have the ability to lobby their representatives, run for office and become part of the political system. The problem now is too many have opted out of the system. Too many people don't think they can win the war so they never join the battle. I think that's a guaranteed way to lose. As Emiliano Zapata said, "It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." That may be a bit rough for some, but the point I take from it is you're sure to lose if you never bother fighting in the first place.

The Unicameral Michigan movement basically began with one person with an idea and it blossomed. But unfortunately, it's sexy to think about revolution and a lot of brutal, hard, demanding work to actually do it. Too many people have let the cause down by quitting. Too many people have said it can't be done. Too many people just want to sit back and criticize and talk about how things could have and should have been done differently. Too many people found it easier to talk about revolution than to do it. Too many people want to sign a petition but they don't want to hustle other people to sign them. Too many people sit back and wait for a leader to lead them instead of doing it themselves. While there is still plenty of time, the Unicameral Michigan movement is in trouble if the pattern continues. The citizens of this country need to realize what's at stake and what is needed. If you opt out of the system you can't question why the system doesn't represent you. If you don't fight you can't expect to win.

Unicameral doesn't have the deep pockets of L. Brooks Patterson and Dick DeVos. It doesn't have a rich Californian who can pay signature collectors a $1 a piece. A grassroots movements needs people and a little bit of money. But now days most people would rather talk about what needs to be done than do it. It doesn't take a lot of work, but it does take more than talk.

Last Friday a dozen people said "enough" and took to the streets and forced a politician to notice and to listen. Too many people think it only matters when millions are in the streets and that's simply not true. Last week I saw how a tiny group of people can affect the news cycle. Wood Radio and Channel 13 showed up to listen and report on what they had to say and spread the word to their listeners and viewers. The Sun & News and the Hastings Banner paid attention and a few thousand people got to hear what those protestors had to say. We are programmed by our corporate media to think it's only useful when there is a tidal wave with millions in the streets in massive demonstrations (though they still ignore and belittle those as witnessed in the run up to the Iraq War), but I've seen how a tiny pebble can cause enough ripples to make a difference. We can't all expect to part of some giant movement. But we do have the chance to make a ripple and sometimes in politics that's enough.

It's understandable that people are busy and pressed in their lives. I think it's a planned side effect from the current economic culture that if we force people to work more hours then they have less time to concern themselves with changing the way things are and marching through the streets looking to tar and feather politicians and fat cat businessmen. Last week a dozen people took time out of their lives to make a difference. If only more people would bother...

Dave Young, editor of the Hastings Banner and history major, has often talked to me about his hero Bob LaFollette. LaFollette never became president and is largely unknown by most people. But by fighting for what he believed in he forced people to notice and to listen, and eventually his ideas were stolen and became Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Sure, LaFollette and his people probably hated that they never got 100% of what they wanted and maybe Fighting Bob doesn't get his just rewards in the history books, but he still won the war by fighting the battle. You see, sometime it's enough to stand up and fight. You can't always expect to win each skirmish. Sometimes it's enough to show up and make noise and bother people and make sure the other side doesn't win. And eventually they realize they can't beat you and they steal your ideas and sometimes I think that's not such a bad thing... even if it means waking up at 4 in the morning to march along a highway feeling ignored and working for what sometimes seems like a losing cause. I'd like to thank the folks at Unicameral Michigan for at least showing up which is something most people don't bother to do. I'd like to thank them for fighting in a world where most people don't bother to.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mohandas Gandhi

The deadline for becoming a candidate or precinct delegate is fast approaching. Your democracy needs you...