Jim Hightower spoke in Boulder last week. He mentioned successes: that more communities (177) are rejecting Walmarts; that more states have passed campaign finance laws (ME, VT, MA, AZ) and that, consequently, there are more newcomers and less influence by lobbyists; people’s widespread outcry forced Congress to overturn he FCC’s plan to allow more media concentration; more cities and counties are opposing the Patriot Act (go to bordc.org to see how many); and that more groups are opposing the computerized voting machines. He said that “the hope is us” and that we need good jobs, access to education, and health care for everybody. He said we should run for local office. Bush is giving corporations the control over our air, water, and food. Bush is destroying the middle class, and the institutions that sustain it: public education, health care, wage and hour laws on overtime, and social security (he wants to privatize it). He said that a coalition of environmental groups, labor groups, churches, and social justice groups are pushing for energy independence- so the lives of our young people and our savings won’t be used to wage war for oil. He said that Americans could build wind farms and solar farms, insulate homes, make more energy efficient cars and appliances, and make high speed trains. For more info go to apolloalliance.org. He has a newsletter and website: www.hightowerlowdown.org