Congress won't change itself

Got an idea for your own campaign? Click below to start a petition on MoveOn's petition website. Start your Petition

Dear MoveOn member,

"The change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington."

That's what Barack Obama said in his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention in 2008. Now, midway through the president's second term, we know just how true that was. Congress has an approval rating of 8.4%—and they've earned it.

Sitting around waiting for this Congress to lead isn't going to work. So we've come up with an alternate strategy—bringing change to them. Our plan is to start campaigns targeted at every level of government—from local to state to national—kick-starting a wave of progressive action that Congress will eventually be forced to react to as well.

But with only 25 staff, we can't know what campaign to launch everywhere. That's why, as a local MoveOn member, you're so key to this effort.

Maybe it's time for your city council to pass a resolution opposing Citizens United. Or maybe it's time for your state to adopt same-day voter registration. We're counting on you to start these campaigns with the tried-and-true first step: starting a petition.

Click here to start your own petition right now.

Starting a petition is easy. We'll provide you with all the tools you need to create your petition and to run your campaign.

We know this strategy can work. This year, the Supreme Court voted to support marriage equality—in no small part because of a wave of activism at the state and local levels.

And MoveOn members have started hundreds of other powerful campaigns in their areas. For instance:

• Russell Edwards led an effort with other MoveOn members to keep Wal-Mart out of downtown Athens, Georgia.

• In North Carolina, 12-year-old Madison Kimrey started a campaign to restore pre-voter registration for 16- and 17-year-olds.
  

• And when the Utah Legislature passed a law essentially banning sex education, retired school bus driver Paul Krueger started a petition on MoveOn's site calling on the governor to veto the law. 40,000 other MoveOn members joined him and, together, they won.

But for this strategy to work, we need MoveOn members to start campaigns across the country.

Can you take the first step by putting a petition up on MoveOn's site?

Click here to start your own petition right now.

Thanks for all you do.

–Milan, Mariana, Eric, David, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you get 20 signatures on your petition, we'll email it to at least 1,000 people in your area to help it grow (assuming, of course, that it's consistent with MoveOn members' progressive values).

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on December 18, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.