McActivism

[Jimmie Higgins]

The liberal free weekly here in the East Bay published a pretty interesting article talking about the for-profit industry behind liberal fund-raising efforts. They describe the work conditions for donation-collectors as "Dickensian" and better yet talk about how these groups are totally undemocratic, train people to read a script rather than develop political skills, pressure their workers to accept increased exploitation through moralizing manipulation, and generally chew-up and demoralize young liberal do-gooders.

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/hello-wanna-give-to-a-good-cause/Content?oid=2172030

At any rate, it might be useful for comrades who probably run across many people considering doing these kinds of jobs. Stories like this can help us explain why independent and democratic political organizing is actually more effective in both fighting for political issues and in training activists to be political leaders.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Anybody done this kind of work? If so, did you last more than a month - none of my friends ever did.

[DaringMehring]

Yes but not for Grassroots Inc. It is hard but can also be rewarding. However, my employer was way better than what was described in that article.

One thing I can say, is that Greenpeace is not much better than Grassroots Inc. I have some friends who worked for them as paid street grinders, and its basically a similar situation.