Informative article on the importance of community organizing, in response to recent speeches by GOP leaders at the Republican convention. This analysis by Occidental College professor Peter Dreier and National Housing Institute president John Atlas addresses these 'snide remarks' by providing a helpful factual overview of how grassroots organizing has helped American democracy for over a century.

Good journalism backed by solid research in an article which amply demonstrates just how much disdain the elitist right-wing has for the American people. For what seems forever, Cheney and Bush turned their backs on the very voters who put them in office and handed America over to special interests. Now we have Giuliani—no political whiz kid by any measure—ridiculing grassroots public service. Not to be outdone, VP nominee Palin hypocritically scorns public service by real Americans, while bragging about her own public service. An ominous portend of things to come.

Excellent commentary on the perplexing remarks made by GOP members regarding civic engagement, working to better our communities, and grassroots activism. Although these comments got big laughs at the RNC convention, one has to stop and ponder the actual implications of such derogatory language.

This article includes vast amounts of compelling history and context to make its case. It is well sourced, and although it includes moments of editorializing (the co-authors work in fields closely related to community organizing), this is entirely appropriate in response to GOP attacks on community organizing as a profession. The authors have put the American tradition of community organizing in a fittingly positive spotlight, both in detail and in big picture, and have explained clearly why it deserves such focus. In addition, the piece is clearly and well written; it is easy to discern that the authors know their subject matter. Overall, I enjoyed reading it, in style and substance. Here's one of my favorite lines from the ... More »

The trouble here is that "community organizer" generally refers to the socialist brand. Amazing that they can raise the name of Saul Alinsky without mentioning that he is a socialist. There are community organizers on the right too such as the grassroots movement in California to limit property taxes and various state propositions to abolish affirmative action and bilingual education. The PTA is a community organization and so are the boy scouts. The Republicans are right to mock Obama's brand of socialist activism which has consistently led nowhere. When did Obama challenge the Chicago political machine? Of course he is a product of that machine which features corruption and voter fraud.

Orwell would be proud.

Exposes a strategical flaw in the RNC plan. Grassroot organizations *made* this country. The article is well written and the information is straight forward.

big bunch of bs--furthermore rablerousing among poor folk to further your political socialist agenda is not what I want in my president.