What have you done?

[Ender]

We see a lot of people bemoaning the state of politics in their city/county/state/province/territory/country. It ranges from reasoned complaints to people cut-pasting or citing fringe blogs to people foaming at the mouth at anyone who disagrees with them.

So I'm just curious as to who here has put their money where their mouth is and actually done something. More then just vote, that is your civic duty. More then jsut gave cash because that's still basically not doing shit, you are just helping someone else do something. Who here has actually done something. Who has started petitions? Who has passed out booklets? Who has worked at a call center? Who has written their government and how many times? Who has marched in parades, who has done sit-ins, etc?

How many people here are just full of hot air, and how many have actually tried to do something?

[Feil]

While it may not be what you're looking for, a lot of political action takes the form of just talking to other people, convincing them to vote and to vote in the way you want. Even if you never go outside your group of family and friends you're still probably influencing more people than you ever would marching in a parade. Similar sort of thing goes with wearing pins / bumper stickers / yard signs - they're easy and they don't involve risk, but they're doing something. A very large number of people feel like they should keep their political views to themselves, and all they do is vote; there's a big difference between taking no action and taking easy, low-profile, but still effective action.

[Coyote]

I actually ran for office. It was a minor office, a County Clerk position, which is an elected office in my state. Funny thing is, I ran as a Democrat-- and without much of an idea about what serious campaigning meant, I still walked away with 40% of the vote in a solid Republican state like Idaho.

I consider my service to be "doing something" as well, actually going to Iraq and seeing the situation first hand, and talking with other guys there about what was going on, and what we were doing about it, and getting my guys home safe.

[K. A. Pital]

Who here has actually done something.

I've been working with a left-wing group that has close ties with workers and veteran commitees, sparing finer details of my work, it involved contacting people and developing new media-reaching techniques. But I do not join political parties, even if I do help/cooperate with them from time to time.

The state of corruption among politicians however leaves fewer and fewer incentives to vote for anybody at all, much less help anybody.

[Diomedes]

I've participated in a few protest marches. The last one was a march calling on the NZ government to condemn the invasion and bombardment of Lebanon.

Other than that sort of thing, while perhaps you wouldnt consider it action, I consider every political debate I engage in to be a small contribution. I think it's important to stimulate discussion about the big issues, even if it's just with a coworker, friend or aquaintance, or even here on the internet.

[18-Till-I-Die]

I've been in a few protest marches, unfortunately i dont have a car of my own yet so they had to be local ones. I've also worked and carried around patitions for left wing groups i support, sometimes with my mom or uncle too for the above stated reason i lack a personal vehicle, and though it doesnt count under the OP rules my whole family frequently gives money to organizations that try to help the poor or homeless. Every Christmas.

[Durandal]

Back in 2002, I wrote the Ohio State Board of Education regarding their insane decision to teach intelligent design in biology classes. I began an exchange with a few members of the board. The one leading the charge sent me some form-filler response, to which I responded. Other board members e-mailed me saying they were relieved that someone had finally told the bitch off.

The entirety of the e-mails, I believe, are public record.

[Diomedes]

Oh, I've also on a number of occasions made submissions to the Wellington City Council on various issues concerning the region, particularly concerning public transport.

[CmdrWilkens]

As matters of naitonal import go not that much but on the local scene I've become embroiled in the rollicking central Maryland zoning and "smart growth" fights. Its kinda sad that I've been to more zoning and planning board meetings within the last year/ year and a half than I have college finals total. Anyway I'm at least connecting with some of the local players here and trying to actually see if I can worm my way into getting into the state party and/or voter mobiliztion organizaitons in a roll other than peon. that and I'm also working towards getting in as an election judge for '08 right astride the whole electronic voting debate. So naitonally not much but locally I'm getting my foot in the door while trying to be quiet since I do self censor myself while I'm still serving if admittedly as a reservist but serving nonetheless.

[Glocksman]

Back during the summer of 1984, I put in about 45 hours a week doing volunteer work at the local Republican HQ to help re-elect Reagan.
I wasn't old enough to vote until 1985, so I didn't get to actually vote for him myself.

I've always called and written my Congresscritters and local elected officials on issues I consider important, and that's about the extent of it these days though.

[Durandal]

Back during the summer of 1984, I put in about 45 hours a week doing volunteer work at the local Republican HQ to help re-elect Reagan.

Gee. Thanks.

[Glocksman]

Back during the summer of 1984, I put in about 45 hours a week doing volunteer work at the local Republican HQ to help re-elect Reagan.

Gee. Thanks.

Hindsight is 20/20.
At the time though, enough people agreed with me to ensure that Mondale won only DC and his home state of Minnesota.

[His Divine Shadow]

So I'm just curious as to who here has put their money where their mouth is and actually done something. More then just vote, that is your civic duty. More then jsut gave cash because that's still basically not doing shit, you are just helping someone else do something. Who here has actually done something. Who has started petitions? Who has passed out booklets? Who has worked at a call center? Who has written their government and how many times? Who has marched in parades, who has done sit-ins, etc?

I did write all the government parties once. Only one responded and it just showed how much shit they all talk and how little they know about the issues.

[His Divine Shadow]

Also does it count to engage in debate in a newspaper? It was about nuclear power.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I realised a long time ago that humans must reap what they sow.

At least in my country, where it seems that there's nothing that can be done, except to let things run its course. I will just make sure I am not there when the crash comes.

[Cairber]

I'm a very active activist . I rally and protest, I lead up letter writing campaigns, I volunteer and wear crazy Tshirts dedicated to the the causes I work for and carry around info sheets for people who ask questions, I slip info cards into books. I bitch and whine a lot, too, but I work constantly to help further these causes that I bitch about so much

Although I am thinking of just taking mr kendall's advice and just moving to Canada!

[Lonestar]

I actively became part of the problem by getting out of the navy and making more money working for a defense contractor.


What?


I also went around my neighborhood in the '06 election pulling down every single "gay marriage=pedophillia" doorknob things some jackhole had put up.

[Lord Pounder]

I'm a paid up member of the Alliance Party and part time activist for the party. Since I joined I've helped them build a web site for the youth wing and attended several conferences for young liberals. I have also been helping out my local branch of the party carry out surveys of the populace of the area.

[Surlethe]

In the past, I've written letters to the editor to engender debate. This summer, I'm researching peak oil and putting together a presentation. I'll be going around my community in late July and early August hopefully getting it unhooked from oil dependence.

[Surlethe]

EDIT: Shit, double post. Sorry about that.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Activly voted, talked loudly, sent links to online pettitions, and I'm a union represenitive....

[Ritterin Sophia]

I live in a town of 651 people as of 2000... the closest 'large' town is a mere 7,109 as of 2005, and I just turned 18 at the end of March. If there were some kind of group I could join, I'd be right there....

[Big Phil]

I'm Chair of the Planning Commission in the town where I live; we're currently dealing with a bunch of NIMBY's who think it would be horrible to have a technical college (2 year school with a chance to become a 4 year school in about five years) in town, mostly because it would be near their homes.

[Darth Wong]

Apart from talking, I have done nothing to affect American politics, but then again, I'm not an American so it's not as if I could do anything anyway. Much of the world is deeply affected by American politics, yet we have no real influence over it.

As for Canadian politics, I guess I'm not that riled up about it. I'm somewhat annoyed that the Conservatives won a minority government, but I can understand why, since the Liberal party had been in power for a very long time, had grown entirely too complacent, and the time was ripe for a (moderate) change.

[Coyote]

Sanchez reminded me-- we, too, had a community college vote here just a few days ago and made sure to go and support it. I always make it a point to vote, even though I admit at times I've done "protest votes" by doing a random selection like the 2004 Presidentials.

18 said along the lines like working petitions "wasn't much" but it actually is. That's a serious investment of time that could be spent on self-indulgences like most folks, and no one would really blame you for it. But if a person has no immediate recourse or access to things like politicians, political offices, or other outlets, the best thing to do is pay attention to things, question things, and don't be afraid to change your ideas if it finds you've hitched your horse to a wagon that's flawed.

Just being aware these days is bucking the system-- it banks on ignorance. But while the true spirit of the OP is to quantify actual physical action, I'd say don't take it too hard if just calling bullshit for what it is is all you can do. It's a start, if nothing else.