Thank you Common Dreams for carrying this excellent additional essay on another aspect of Randall Forsberg and her genius. As one of the founders and co-directors of the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign in Connecticut, and former staff of the American Friends Service Committee in New England, I speak for hundreds of organizers and supporters statewide who mourn the loss of Randy Forsberg, a true genius of the 20th century. She had a rare gift that combined clear vision with the eloquence needed to share it. On the single most important issue of our species—ending war as a human institution—she was bold and unwavering. She taught us that taking dramatic first steps could lead us to achieve this vision. Her formidable command of the facts and her unflappable composure in public debate carried a confidence that was absolutely infectious. All over New England and across the country, we became the movement she had imagined into being. She showed us we could make a difference; she changed us forever.

Like so many New England States, in Connecticut, we brought the Freeze to town meetings. Out of 165 towns in our state, over 130 successfully debated and then voted resolutions supporting Randy's vision of a nuclear halt. and then reversal of the arms race. Her expertise in helping organizers master facts, and share them with others, enabled us to engage doubters confidently during any debate. Housewives took on defense plant officials and politicians alike. People who had never organized a pantry took on whole neighborhoods. Shirkers with a conscience came out of the woodwork and joined the do-ers to get it done. This singular experience, shared by thousands and thousands of people in our state, forever inspired us with the knowledge that ordinary people working together with a clear, simple, moral vision, backed with facts, hard work and good organizing, can tackle big issues and make a difference.

Randy had a moral compass that we sensed immediately as True North. Her lasting contributions will best be known by those ordinary individuals who followed her compass and discovered for themselves that they could transform the world, one person, one meeting, one vote at a time. That is an awesome legacy. Her loss is indeed, very great. But her work is unfinished, and her spirit lives on as we renew our commitment to abolish nuclear weapons and to build a just peace.

The time of fact based arguments and reality is not welcome here for another year at least. Sorry to hear someone who tried to help is dead.

The US used to possess a politically active student and working population. However, the conservatives have promoted a long-term program of pacifying the US population...and in many ways they have succeded.

If one reads the mission statement of the Trilateral Commission, it specifically focused on problems of too much democracy: media broadcasts of large public demonstrations against elite decisions, transparent and open forms of government decision-making, and uncontrolled media, etc.

Part of the long-strategy contributing to public disengagement from political discourse and action was to promote a general sense of economic insecurity, erode the social safety net, promote the imperial presidency, increase indebtedness rather than wages and increasingly cut off access to higher education by the lower-classes.

The plutocrats have reached their political goals so well that the present average standard of living the UK is surpassing that of the US.

Great Job!

Unfortunately in his argument for corporations "to make as much money as possible" Friedman forgot to say "unless it leads to nuclear war".

Democracy requires honesty in order to function properly. It's quite clear that honesty is missing from our democracy. All the ideas, homework, and messages are sold out by our corrupt political system in D.C. The grassroots needed to support a democracy can grow on a local level because honesty plays it part in the process. But, on the national level, grassroot ideas can't grow in the political climate of today. Individual access to our government today is severely restricted by corporate America's very harmful access. Our elected officials have disregarded their own oaths to defend the Constitution. Our political environment today is a sick joke, with shameful examples of government and business collaboration that sells-out the American worker, and weakens the country as it destroys the Constitution. These open slaps in the face to America didn't start with Bush, and it won't end when he's gone, but the last seven years George has slapped his heart out. His arms deal with Saudi Arabia was just one more punch from the ignorant little coward. For honesty to make its way back into national politics will require more than just a new president. We need national politicians with the honesty of their convictions, and the courage of Thomas Paine. Not a Hollywood version, or a Wall Street version, but a real American middle-class version. To get honesty back into our government we need to take on CODEPINK as the "mom" of America. Give these honest, compassionate, and generous middle-class moms a few years at the White House. They've got a track record of taking care of houses in America so I'm certain they can fix up what's gone so wrong with our White House today. These gals are the backbone of America. It's time we let them do their job.
Hoa binh

If democracy meant what it purported to mean and citizens were fully apprised of the amount of their nation's treasury that went into the design, construction and often deployment of arms--against what those lost monies might have otherwise resulted in creating and building, I think we'd see Randy's visionary plan moving a lot faster towards full manifestation.

So sorry a life commited to ridding the world of radiation ended up being taken too soon by cancer. That's a loss to all.