If you have been following the national polls lately, you can see that there has been a shift in American’s opinion of party loyalty. More and more people are moving away from Democrat or Republican and toward being an Independent. Why? Because people today don’t see either party working in their interest. Both parties have proven to be strong supporters of special interests and powerful lobbying groups. If you don’t believe me, look into the weak Ethics Bill and the even weaker Earmarks Bill in which both parties had their chance for true reform. But they don’t really want reform. Everything is working out just fine with them. It’s just us damn voters that keeping screaming for change. So, the time is ripe for another populist movement. But where are the campaigners for true reform? Where is the people’s voice?

According to an article in the Aug. 13, ‘07, The Nation, the true meaning of populism that so many yearn for today “has been corrupted and trivialized as a sentimental oddity”. Even the press seems to be surprised when politicians actually begin to act like they are going to do something for the people. In a high-stakes political environment where serving powerful interests comes first, the people get lost in the shuffle.

If you look back in history, the origin of the populist movement had its roots in the agrarian revolt of the late nineteenth century when populism was outright robust in its defiance of entrenched power. Oppressed farmers and humble people of meager means, forged their own politics and took on Washington and Wall Street. This was a true bottom-up rebellion that despite the fact that it failed to acquire governing power, its populist agenda changed the nation. The ideas that proliferated from the movement promoted ways in which the government could be used to protect society from the depredations of concentrated wealth and corporate power (sound familiar?). The populist movement at that time planted the intellectual seed that influenced the next fifty years of progressive reform culminating in the New Deal.

So, what’s missing today? We see the same pattern of concentrated wealth and corporate power sticking its ugly head up again. Why are ordinary folks not fighting back? Perhaps its because the big ideas for fundamental change and bold stances on governmental reform are being drowned out by the loud voices of preoccupation and obsession with the Iraq War and homeland security. When the basic fear of survival overcomes the meek voice of reform, guess who wins out?

So, in pushing for reform of the corrupt politicians, an even more corrupt federal tax code, an ineffective and outright criminally negligent regulatory bureaucracy, and the stagnation of the middle class economic plight, the populist movement seems to be going nowhere. So, with the reality of our firmly entrenched two-party system, the only hope for a populist movement lies with the Democratic party. As the party that seeks to win the governing majority, it cannot duck any of these issues. We must demand that they be addressed and be addressed quickly. But that requires action on all our parts. We must be the ones who insist on change and ensure through the ballot box that change is brought about not only form our next president, but from a majority in Congress who we insist will override the established, deep-rooted and dug-in conservative agenda.

Does a populist potential still exist in this country? Do you have the fighting spirit to reclaim what is yours? If you do, then let your voice be heard, not only at the ballot box but in everyday events. Keep the momentum going and don’t get distracted by issues that detract from the governing policies that affect your everyday life. The Iraq War is important but so is your pocket book and your future. Keep the pressure on and let’s change the status quo of entrenched power. It’s your country, now act like it!