Common Dreams

Dear Friend of CommonDreams.org,

Writer and activist Naomi Klein said recently, "This is a progressive moment. It's ours to lose."

I couldn't agree more.

I've been an activist for more than 30 years. I've fought for human rights, for peace, for the environment. I spent years working to elect progressive leaders.

I've worked on progressive issues during some exciting times.

Yet this moment is like no other - in terms of opportunity, urgency, and responsibility.

Through the Reagan years, the George HW Bush era, and even the disappointing eight years of Bill Clinton, we progressives worked hard only to lose ground.

Then came eight years of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney - a period in our history that turned out to be darker than any of us could have imagined.

But, as they say, it's always darkest before the dawn.

Next month, the Bush-Cheney nightmare will come to an end.

I don't have false expectations for our new President. But his election made clear that Americans reject the trickle-down economics and the warmongering foreign policy that Bush and Cheney took beyond the tipping point.

We want big change.

No more crony capitalism, no more empire building, no more denial of science.

No more bullshit - it's time to solve our problems.

We have before us now an unprecedented opportunity to build a just, sustainable society.

More important, we have a responsibility to do this.

In 2009, CommonDreams.org will take this sense of responsibility to new heights. Will you help? Please donate online now to help us reach our Year-End goal. (Or you can use our print and mail form if you prefer to donate by check).

I firmly believe we progressives can have a real impact now. But only if we act. And act quickly and courageously, while momentum is still on our side.

It's time to take greater responsibility for our Democracy, time to sweep aside the old, divisive politics, time to stand up to special interests, time to demand a government that serves the public good.

There's not a minute to waste - or this opportunity may slip away.

When I founded CommonDreams.org 11 years ago, it was with the hope that we would create a thriving online community of progressives who shared these basic ideals: that every individual is entitled to the same opportunity to be safe, to prosper, to live a meaningful life.

I believed then - and still do - that the best way to achieve the 'common dreams' of every individual, is to work together for the common good.

I'm proud to say that throughout some of the most treacherous and disheartening years of our Democracy, CommonDreams.org has stayed true to its vision and our mission: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.

Thanks to the support of you and thousands like you, we created a Progressive Newswire, the only place where you can check daily for the latest news about the progressive issues and organizations you follow.

And every single day, we've brought you the best progressive news, the best progressive opinions.

We persisted in exposing injustice and corruption when, sometimes, it felt as if our voices would never be heard.

But knowledge is power, and I believe that our voices have finally been heard.

So, what's next?

As we look beyond the darkness of the last eight years, to a brighter future, I ask you to join in restoring America's Democracy to what it was intended to be: a government that respects the rights and common dreams of all of its citizens, regardless of race, class or gender.

Citizen engagement has always been the key to a healthy society. If ever there was a time to re-engage in the democratic process, that time is now.

Please contribute to our Year-End Appeal and work with us to seize this 'progressive moment' to take back our country and reshape our future.

This is our moment. Our best hope. We can't do it without you.

Sincerely,

Craig Brown
Executive Director
for the whole CommonDreams.org team.