Hi, I’m Tom Dwyer,
It’s a little unusual for a company to have a “politics” section on its website, but then we’re not the usual company. When I started advertising on KPOJ, one of the leading progressive talk stations in the country, it quickly became an outlet for some of my personal grumblings about the state of affairs. Over time my grumblings have become louder, but instead of driving clients away, the response has been positive. We have clients from across the political spectrum and whether they agree with me or not, they respect the fact that I speak my mind.
I don’t think I stand for anything controversial; I’m not a Republican OR a Democrat. I believe in government that works for the poor, middle class and the wealthy. I want a society that cares for the commons and its members, and in the basic principles of accountability, freedom, and rule of law that people have died for for over two centuries. I believe that corporations should not have the rights of people and that they have far too much control over our society. We do better as a country when everyone plays by the same rules.
We’re frequently asked if everyone at the shop agrees with the stands I take. The answer is no, but there is broad agreement with most of the basics. Our shop is not a political indoctrination facility for employees or clients; we do not hire people based on their beliefs or decide which cars to service based on what bumper stickers they have. If Rush Limbaugh lived in Portland, we’d give his vehicle the same care and attention we gave Thom Hartmann. Well, maybe not Rush, but you get the idea.
I hope you thumb through some of the resources and the political features below, and whether you agree with my views or not, I hope they give you some food for thought. Left, right or center; there is nothing more important to the continuation of our democracy than the participation of informed, responsible citizens. Even if you disagree, come on in anyway. I think you’ll like the experience of having your vehicle cared for by a shop with liberal values!
Contact Your Representatives- One of the most important tools for being an active participant in a representative government is knowing how it works and who to talk to. This link will start you on the road to the sausage factory. You’ll learn how laws are actually made, find tools to contact your representatives, track the status and support of bills, and much more.
Get Connected- No matter what your particular interest, there is nothing more important to a free and democratic society than the involvement of its citizens. GET INVOLVED with ANY issue you care about! We’ve put together some suggestions for groups that would be glad to put you to work Did we miss one that matters to you? Just drop us a line and we’ll add it!
Active Petitions- Politicians and corporations may not bend to our every whim, but for now they still have to pretend to care about our opinions. Petitions signed by thousands of people get noticed. We’ll post links to many of the currently circulating petitions. Just click, and voila! You’ll be joining in a chorus of outraged voices before you know it.
Political and News Sites- The Web can be a wealth of information if you take the time to verify what you’ve learned. We mostly picked Progressive/Liberal news sites, but there’s a couple we mixed in to make the best case possible for the other end of the spectrum (which, oddly, makes the best case for the Progressive end as well).
Tom’s RSS Desktop- As valuable as the Web is, trying to sort through all the layers of information can be a little like trying to take a drink from a firehose. RSS feeds allow you to get just the web you want, but on a continually updated basis delivered straight to your desktop. Click this section for a RSS bootcamp, and a look at Tom’s own RSS feed. (under construction 3/18)
Political Issues- Not everything political has its own website. There are some great videos, articles, and just plain weirdness in the political world that is well seeing. Some of these links are to videos or single bits of information, others are links to issue pages we’ve built with background information and ways you can get involved. Surf on over and find out what interests you!
Great Political Speeches- It seems we’ve been trained not to expect anything more, but a political speech doesn’t have to be a poorly stitched together mash of platitudes and half truths. Some people have expressed great ideas with such simplicity and power that everything after has become a footnote. This link will take you to some of the most powerful words ever spoken.
