Blue Grit
Making Impossible, Improbable, and Inspirational Political Change in America
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- € 4,99
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- € 4,99
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As the right-wing has known for decades: in tight elections, motivated grassroots groups with grit make the difference. Don’t sell them out, Democrats, for the centrist voter on the fence, says Flanders. There’s a tide of progressive activism rising that’s changing what’s possible in American politics. She’s traveled the country and gathered more than enough entertaining evidence to make her case.
Laura Flanders, the New York Times best-selling author of Bushwomen, believes there are no such things as “red” and “blue” states. Even in the most surprising places, she’s finding progressive change. From Vermont to Salt Lake City to Las Vegas’s famous Strip, Flanders journeys through the heartland USA and discovers a simple truth: people don’t vote for the GOP because Republicans represent their interests; they vote Republican because Democrats barely field a team.
Adamant, opinionated, funny, and always engaging, Flanders chronicles what she’s learned from scores of voters and activists—about how change is happening in Main St. USA, even if it rarely catches the attention of the mainstream media. Mormons defending women’s rights, casino owners teaming up with waitresses to raise the minimum wage; blue collar construction workers and lesbian mothers working together to make their workplaces safer and more secure for all. Flanders finds young, supposedly “alienated” Americans, who are driving scores of new voters to the polls. Fiery polemic, assured narrative, and acute political commentary, Blue Grit will be crucial reading for everyone interested in the future of the Democrats, and this country.
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Who are the members of today's Democratic Party, and how does the party serve them? What are the differences in funding between Democratic- and Republican-led efforts? How do the parties react to movements within their base "and how does this affect the outcome of elections? Disgruntled Democrat Flanders "author, journalist and Air America radio host "explores the answers to these and other questions on a cross-country tour of the Democratic Party and its (nominal) members. Highlighting progressive victories taking place outside the party establishment, Flanders presents the lessons Democrats in power could learn from their constituents if they were inclined to learn. In-depth analysis of movements from Utah's liberals to South Dakota's recent, successful anti-abortion campaign provides insight not only into campaign leaders, but into the role of funding, media and old-fashioned grassroots-style activism. Flanders (Bushwomen) brings to this work enough data, recent history and progressive ideas "as well as wit, style and acerbic charm "to make this required reading for anyone looking to make sure the Democratic Party is finally serious about a victory for progressives in 2008.