“If I could do it, so can you” says Ray Gross, visionary behind the Peoples’ Union. Ray is a self-made activist who had no prior training (e.g., he nearly passed out during his first in-person speaking engagement). His philosophy is that anyone can make a difference ranging from the simple act of voting, to organizing large groups of people, to running for office.
Ray has envisioned the transformative effects more involvement among Generations X, Y, and Z would have on the country. His message is simple. He knows that if he, as one person, could accomplish as much as he has to make a difference, imagine the difference 70 million engaged citizens could make. Whether it’s 70 million votes or 5,000 thousand organizers, engaged citizens have the potential to revolutionize policymaking and politics at the local, state and federal levels. As Ray sees it, “Undoubtedly, achieving the Peoples’ Union vision will be an arduous undertaking, but every endeavor must commence somewhere.”
“I ask you to envision the United States as a colossal beach stretching from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border, entirely covered in trash, one foot deep. Now, imagine that it is our collective responsibility to clean it up. Daunting, isn’t it? That is precisely what the powerbrokers who govern our nation bank on—our apathy, infighting, and complacency. They thrive on our division, while they continue to amass wealth, consolidating it among the privileged few. Consequently, the beach grows longer, deeper, and wider, drowning under an ever-increasing tide of garbage.”
Ray Gross, founder of the Peoples’ Union
Our mission is straightforward but bold: by amassing a large membership, we aim to exert influence over local politics and sway elections. The core of our approach is to engage with elected officials by presenting them with our platform: a set of reasonable measures that prioritize the well-being of the people over the interests of developers, special interest groups, and self-serving politicians. Our mission is to shock the system—regardless of party affiliations.
We are not endorsing their positions on the issues but look at what the Tea Party was able to do in 8 short years (Westermeyer, 2017) in terms of shaping the Republican Party’s policy agenda at every level of government and becoming a coherent political force of locally based activists. One of the biggest strengths of their movement was that they established a clear identity for members. They utilized social media, cultural identity, and local social ties to their advantage, and were ultimately recognized by those at the highest levels of power in politics and government.
We can do the same as they did, but with sensible, people-centered goals and interests in mind. Some of those in power are making it more difficult for people to vote. They especially do not want young people to vote because they are overwhelmingly more progressive than their elders. We need to start by talking about and understanding the issues, then meeting with elected officials at every level to discuss our platform. Of course, we must vote, but we also must forge an identity akin to how the Tea Partyer’s became a respected, grassroots, movement of everyday people.
Please join us on this audacious journey, and together, let us be the catalysts of change that the world so desperately needs. Visit us on our Facebook page @ The Peoples’ Union and explore our website at www.usatpu.org. The time for action is now! The Peoples’ Union will not rest until our vision becomes a reality.