Posted October 24, 2006

Every two years political activists say that this election cycle is the most important in recent memory.  It's easy to treat such statements as hyperbole, but all you have to do is look at what working families are saying about their economic health to know that this year these assertions are true.

In August, Change to Win surveyed working men and women to see how they thought they were doing, and we heard loud and clear that working families are worried about their future and the future of their kids.

More than eight in ten surveyed said that no matter what you hear about the economy, working families are falling behind.  And, even more distressingly, almost 80% of workers believe that their kids will be no better off than they are, and half think the next generation will be worse off. 

These working men and women also told us that the issues they were most concerned about were jobs and the economy, health care, and gas prices.  And they believe that the biggest worries - like health care - have to be solved by government, because the marketplace just can't do it on its own.

But anyone who follows politics knows that these aren't the issues being discussed by the White House, by the majority in Congress, or by most state governments. 

That's why Change to Win and its affiliate unions have undertaken an extensive campaign program to help elect leaders who will work for us - not for Wal-Mart, not for China, and not for the CEOs of the Fortune 500.

We need an agenda for change; one that starts with changing who's leading our country, and then changes what those leaders focus on.  Our national priority needs to be solving the real issues facing real people, including healthcare, retirement security, stagnant wages, trade, and workers' rights.

We need your help.  We urge you to get active in the electoral process, vote on November 7, and mobilize your friends, families and co-workers to elect pro-worker candidates. 

And just to be clear -- our job won't be done on November 8.  Job one is electing leaders committed to working for working people.  Job two is holding them accountable once they get into office. Together, we can change America for the better.