Wampum

Like many blogs back in the earlier days of the blogosphere, I was fortunate to have what I consider "blog-parents". Dwight, then hosting PLA, was my defacto blogfather, and Lisa English, founder of Ruminate This, my blogmother.

Lisa handed over the reigns of Ruminate This a couple of years back to the very eloquent Jack K., when her youngest was diagnosed with a serious illness. We here mourn the loss of her strong and knowledgable voice on a host of issues, from media consolidation to corporate corruption, to this day. But Lisa's forte was political grassroots action: Inciting readers to not just read, but to act. To call their Congressional representives, write their local newspapers, attend hearings on the burning issues of Progressives, many of which may or may not have been covered even by the AP. She provided background on an issue, and then a way for the netroots to engage constructively. And though witty and sharp, Lisa avoided the hyperbole and ridicule which more often divides than unites us.

What seems like a long time ago, probably back before I ran for the Maine Lege in '04, I used to try my best to emulate Lisa's successful framework, particularly on action items related to education, environmental policy and autism. I can't say why I stopped, other than perhaps a bit of burn-out post-campaign. But I've noticed recently, particularly with all the surfing I've had to do compiling the Koufax nominations, that there are a whole host of issues where direct action is not only beneficial, but essentially required, such as in "public comment" periods for federal agency rule changes.

So today begins a renewed goal on my part to promote timely actionable issues, and the bloggers who devote themselves to such, hopefully every day if possible. Once the Koufaxes are over, I'll use that upper left corner to archive open items and updates.

Later today, I'll have our first action item of the day, one which can actually be easily accomplished from your home computer, even on a weekend.