and much has been done on this site. We were the catalyst for the effort to expose the Left Behind video game; we were the catalyst for the expose of John Hagee and his repudiation by John McCain. We played a pivotal role in keeping Jeff Sharlet's important book on The Family in focus at a time when few wanted to pay much attention. These and much more.

Currently, Talk to Action has played a central role in exposing the volatile and theocratic religious community of which Sarah Palin is a part.

Talk to Action has no budget to do anymore than what people volunteer or otherwise find the means to do.

There is always someone wishing for us to do something other or different, but few offering to find us the funds it would take (or otherwise help)  to be anything more or different than exactly what we are. On the other hand, there are plenty of actions that people can take on their own.

by Frederick Clarkson on Sat Oct 18, 2008 at 12:49:49 PM EST

Jay, I've spent too much time already trying to educate people as to what the real issues are in this election.  I talk with people, write letters, and do things like that.  I can't afford to give money (it would be a choice between eating or having gas to get to work and supporting a cause I believe in), so I do what I can.  Indeed, my trying to expose dominionism has set "things" back that could cause me some harm or difficulty.

I would ask you what YOU are doing to help, besides posting on this blog.  If you're doing more, good- keep it up.  If you aren't, well, you don't have any right to complain.

There are more ways to help than giving money- and I've mentioned a few of them.  I'd advise EVERYONE to consider doing something like that- you never know what doors would be opened by a simple letter or talking to someone.


by ArchaeoBob on Sat Oct 18, 2008 at 01:27:49 PM EST

Thanks for clarifying the role of this forum. It is a valuable contribution, and I hope the discussions motivate others to act based on them. Perhaps my question would be better asked of the religious left as a whole, or Americans in general.

by Jay Taber on Sat Oct 18, 2008 at 01:16:24 PM EST

Good point, Bob. When I was a community organizer, I monitored the letters to the editor as well as news stories to locate people who were either concerned about the democratic process or already doing something about it. I would then phone them to meet and talk. These conversations led to larger associations of people who in time organized themselves to act based on research and analysis previously unavailable to them. Research that put issues and conflict in a new perspective from what they'd learned in school or watched on TV. Some of these people later chose to become public officials, some neighborhood representatives, others educators. And as a network based on trust and mutual experience, the connections established at the community level endured and expanded to regional and larger venues. I wrote about the lessons I learned from this experience and posted them on my blog Skookum, where collegial correspondence is always welcome.

by Jay Taber on Sat Oct 18, 2008 at 02:05:45 PM EST