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Common Dreams

pro.gres.sive adj. Moving forward; advancing. Proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments: progressive change. Promoting or favoring progress toward better conditions or new policies, ideas, or methods: a progressive politician; progressive business leadership. n. A person who actively favors or strives for progress toward better conditions, as in society or government. www.dictionary.com

It's been said that dreams are our roadmaps to the future. If so, where are we headed? Common Dreams is a national non-profit citizens' organization working to bring progressive Americans together to promote progressive visions for America's future. Founded in 1997, we are committed to being on the cutting-edge of using the internet as a political organizing tool - and creating new models for internet activism.

We are funded exclusively by our members and supporters - no corporate money, no advertising, no hidden agendas. With a small staff and a network of volunteers, we are proud of what we've accomplished on a shoestring budget. But we can't keep moving forward without your help. Please join us by clicking here.

NewsCenter
Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community.

An eclectic mix of politics, issues and breaking news with an emphasis on progressive perspectives that are increasingly hard to find with our corporate-dominated media.

NewsCenter's roots go back to the early 90's when Common Dreams Editor Craig Brown (bio) was the chief-of-staff to former Congressman Tom Andrews. With access to an incredible supply of daily newspapers, magazines, journals and briefing papers, members of Congress are deluged with information but have very little time to scan through it - much less read it. Brown created a daily 'newsclips' operation for the congressman and the staff. Early every morning interns and staff would scan dozens of designated publications looking for new articles or opeds from a list of issues that were of greatest interest to the congressman and staff. By 9 am, all staff had a photocopied/collated copy of the 'Daily Clips' to carry with them all day and read in between the chaos.

The magic of the internet has made it possible to create a 'Daily Clips' for you - but even better, our NewsCenter is updated constantly -- 365-days a year. And provides you with easy access to the 'rest of the media'.

Progressive NewsWire
Every day activists are making news and speaking out on the issues of our time. But far too often the filter of the corporate-media ignores those voices. Progressive NewsWire brings you the press releases and the statements from America's progressive community directly to you - no filters, no editing. And we do it in 'real time'.

Progressive NewsWire started in June of 1998 and has archived news releases since then.

"Politicians like to say that government should be run more like a business. Americans, perhaps thinking of thrifty hometown mom-and-pop small businesses, nod in a collective "Amen."

Unfortunately, the Washington of today took its cue not from a 1950’s community-based small business but rather a 1990’s-style corporate raider.

Like the absentee corporate managers who care only about the bottom line in the next earnings report, our political system looks no further than yesterday’s poll and the next election cycle. Cut back on investments in the future in order to make the short-term ledger/next election look a little better. Put off the big problems for someone down the road to clean up. Slash benefits to the workers while the CEO’s get massive bonuses. Corporations pollute our air with toxic emissions; politicians pollute our airwaves with toxic "wedge issues."

Washington is awash in money. There are 90,000 lobbyists and 60,000 lawyers working the system for the benefit of their clients.

It’s pretty clear why short-term politics beats out the long-term common good.

What shall we do?

America is at a crossroads. Will we continue down the path of cynical and shortsighted policies? A path that plays to our fears and divides our communities? Or, will we begin organizing Americans to think big and use our national imagination to create a roadmap for a better future?"

-- from Common Dreams mailing, 1998