Friday, February 6, 2009

One Hour Activist or Come to Think of It

One-Hour Activist: The 15 Most Powerful Actions You Can Take to Fight for the Issues and Candidates You Care About

Author: Christopher Kush

No matter what your political persuasion, The One-Hour Activist is your guide to influencing lawmakers, candidates, and reporters.  The One-Hour Activist reveals fifteen powerful, proven grassroots actions that persuade lawmakers and candidates to see things your way.  Each action is designed to grab the attention of your representatives and build relationships that serve your issues over the long run.  And each action takes less than an hour to complete, so you can make a difference without giving up your life! The One-Hour Activist is packed with insider advice from elected officials, professional organizers, lobbyists, and journalists who share state-of-the-art tips for getting your message across. Real-life examples of effective letters, e-mail, phone calls, public testimony, and news story pitches from concerned citizens just like you illustrate the actions.



Table of Contents:
Prefaceix
Acknowledgmentsxv
The Authorxvii
Introduction: Democracy in Actionxix
Part 1Gather Information and Strategize1
Action 1Learn How Grassroots Advocacy Works3
Action 2Pick Your Issues and Your Angle17
Action 3Identify Your Representatives31
Action 4Join an Interest Group45
Action 5Create a Legislative Agenda53
Action 6Analyze a Bill61
Action 7Conduct Opposition Research73
Part 2Contact Your Elected Officials83
Action 8Write an Effective Letter85
Action 9Send a Powerful E-Mail97
Action 10Make a Compelling Phone Call105
Action 11Persuade Others to Act113
Part 3Get Involved with Elections119
Action 12Get Out the Vote121
Action 13Contribute Money to Candidates Who Support Your Cause131
Part 4Work the News Media143
Action 14Start a Press Clippings File145
Action 15Write a Letter to the Editor151
Part 5Super-Powerful Actions That Take a Little More Time159
Action 16Have a Face-to-Face Meeting with Your Representative161
Action 17Testify at a Public Hearing175
Action 18Participate in a Protest185
Action 19Volunteer for a Political Campaign193
Action 20Pitch a News Story or Interview199
It's Time for Action!211

New interesting book: Théorie Éthique et Affaires

Come to Think of It: Notes on the Turn of the Millennium

Author: Daniel Schorr

A journey through twenty years of politics with one of the most revered news analysts of our time

Daniel Schorr, an institution at CBS for decades and a twenty-year mainstay of NPR, is a legend in journalism. Come to Think of It is the first selection of Schorr's observations on politics and American life from the years 1990 to the present—a peerless commentary on the history of our time. Schorr's essays reveal him as a master of pithy, get-to-the-point analysis, whether he is calling the Supreme Court's 2000 decision to seat George W. Bush as president a "junta" by a "Gang of Five" or eviscerating a conservative counterpart for belittling F.D.R.'s legacy. Schorr's experience—he has covered the administrations of twelve presidents—gives him an authority and range that permeate every page of Come to Think of It.

Schorr's analyses include insight on:
• The Iraq war in current and historical perspective
• The first Gulf War, Bosnia, North Korea, and Iran
• Executive privilege and misdeeds throughout history
• Healthcare, welfare, and the state of the social contract
• The proliferation of nuclear weapons
• The U.N. report on climate change

As a record of our perilous times and as a cogent primer on the politics of the last two decades, Come to Think of It is an unparalleled record of political analysis. This will be a must-read for the legions of devoted NPR listeners who tune in to hear Daniel Schorr every week and for anyone who wants insight and a historical perspective on the 2008 election.



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