(Cross-posted at my blog, Planting Liberally)

With the dramatic rise of small political groups in the last few years (particularly Democracy for America) coalition groups, there is an increasing need to serve the needs of these groups, and to help them run more efficiently.

I see these needs being met in three "waves", and I think we are on the cusp of the second right now.  Follow me over the flip to see what's coming down the pike (as I see it)...

(Part of an ongoing series at my blog, Blog for Cambridge)

Over the last few months, I've taken to tracking developments and strategies in organizing labor unions nationwide.  I'm sharing the most important highlights (as I see them) here on a semi-frequent basis.  My rationale is that union organizing is as important, if not much more so, to the success of the liberal coalition than the actual electoral ups and downs of the Democratic Party.  Democratic success is important, of course; but union organizing increases the long-term capacity of the progressive coalition, both by bringing new people into our movement, and by making those people more wealthy and hence, more able to contribute to the movement.  Add to this is the fact that union organizing is one of our best weapons against unequitable distribution of wealth, and I think you'll agree that union organizing is a very important topic for us to focus on.

With all that said, let's roll some of that beautiful organizing footage, shall we?

(From my blog, Planting Liberally)

The Boston Globe reported yesterday on the Newspaper Guild's possible buyout of several Knight-Ridder papers, in the wake of a shareholder move to force the newspaper chain to explore a sale.  The Newspaper Guild is part of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

What does this buyout mean for workers, and for the media audience generally?  More on the flip...

i've beein giving some thought to this issue for a while.  after reading atrios's excellent series on World Journalism Institute, watching outfoxed, and reading Ted Turner's excellent piece in the Washington Monthly, and witnessing the groundswell of support for overturning the FCC ruling that allowed further media conglomeration last summer, I'm beginning to think media reform should be the netroots' signature domestic policy initiative for next year.

why media reform?

if you're in Boston for the convention, and you were a Deaniac back in the day (or a Democracy-for-America-phile these days) then check out the Dean volunteer appreciation event at Hurricane O'Reilly's.  Gov. Dean will give a short talk, and the rest of the event will be an informal reunion with other Deaniacs (or DFA-philes) in town.

It's 150 Canal St. in Boston, 12 noon - 2 pm on July 28.

to RSVP, go to http://organize.democracyforamerica.com/signup.php?eventID=16354