A Potter's Field

[H2O Man]

21. Thank you.

I think that Malcolm X was correct when he said that history provides the best education for a road map on how to deal with current problems. I believe that the Civil Rights movement gives us the best model for how grass roots movements can spark changes at higher levels.

There was foundation money used in important parts of the movement, but the majority of it was organic. I suspect that same dynamic holds true today. The Democratic Party, at the top levels, seems very capable of accessing much the same corporate financing as the republican party. At the grass roots level, there are -- in my opinion -- advantages to remaining organic, and to avoid becoming dependent upon corporate donations.

I was impressed when Howard Dean opted to run in the presidential primaries, and financing most of his campaign on grass roots donations. That same dynamic was even more impressive with Bernie Sanders. One need not be a fan of either Dean or Sanders, to recognize and appreciate the potential power of the grass roots.

What is required for success is that neither the heads of the party, or the grass roots, think of themselves as entirely in control. We need a well-coordinated movement.