The Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities: JOIN US!
It's up to us to stand up and fight against President Bush's and the Republican leadership's misplaced priorities.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, it became clear that President Bush and the Republican leadership's agenda pose a real danger to our nation's future. At greatest risk are the millions of poor and middle-class people who feel the wrath of our leaders' misplaced priorities every day.
That's why, in October, AFSCME launched the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP) — a coalition of low-income, housing, faith-based, senior and other advocacy groups, to stop the Republican-led slaughter of public services to pay for tax cuts for the super rich.
ECAP IS A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN aimed at moderate members of Congress who are potential swing votes on the package of Draconian cuts to public services proposed by the Repub-lican leadership and backed by President Bush — all to pay for huge tax cuts for the wealthy. Lawmakers in 35 states have already experienced the power of ECAP. Through town hall forums, television and radio ads, direct mail, district meetings and an innovative online protest that has drawn nearly 30,000 participants, we have sent the legislators a strong message: Do the right thing, not the wrong one, and stand up for America's working families!
BIG SOCIAL SECURITY 'WIN.' Can we achieve our goal? You bet. Since the 2004 election, we've led the charge that has forced Bush to shelve — and most likely abandon — his scheme to undermine our retirement peace of mind by privatizing Social Security. We put together a coalition called Americans United to Protect Social Security, which developed state-by-state strategies to target the President and key members of Congress. Through a variety of grassroots, public relations and lobbying activities, the coalition kept opponents of privatization united and turned up the heat on the scheme's supporters, letting them know that there would be real political ramifications if they backed Bush's risky privatization plan.
THE BATTLE NOW. More than five months after Katrina, the unmet human needs are staggering. Only 18 out of 117 schools in New Orleans are open. Nearly 100,000 families — including many of our 800 displaced New Orleans members — are living in hotels or trailers, with no idea whether or when they will be able to return home. That's why it's up to us to stand up and fight against President Bush's and the Republican leadership's misplaced priorities.
What's at stake is the kind of America we want to have. A land of genuine opportunity with a vibrant middle class? Or a place where the gap between rich and poor widens every day? A land where everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream? Or a place where the middle class is becoming a thing of the past?
AFSCME's aggressive advocacy campaigns will serve as a blueprint for progressive mobilization for a long time to come. Please join us now — get involved in ECAP! To find out how, go to Act Now.
