I was only 27 years old (in my wayward youth) when I was elected to public office.   Now, as a community organizer for over thirty years, I have some perspective on the relative “actual responsibilities” of community organizers and elected officials.

From 1975 to 1979, I was an elected Assistant Judge and County Administrator of Rutland County, Vermont.   I managed the County property and budget and served on a 3 judge panel on civil and criminal cases.  Although hardly a major office, I gained perspective on the responsibilities of elected officials.  Since I left public office I have worked as professional community organizer.

When I hear VP candidate Palin and others disparage Barack Obama’s work as a community organizer, I realize how narrow is their understanding is of public life.  Community organizers develop grass roots leaders and build organizations – often in under-represented, low-income communities.  They bring people together to solve community problems by getting the real experts– those closest and most affected by those problems -- involved in creating solutions to their problems.

This is as American as the PTA and the Girl Scouts..   We have long solved problems by building community organizations.   We don’t rely on government to solve all our problems —  because it can’t.  Government is too distant and the problems are too complex.

Community organizers cover the political spectrum.  Civil rights workers were community organizers.  So are the parents in small towns and neighborhoods who stopped toxic dumping,  built community gardens,  PTA’s and civic associations.  Community organizers laid the foundations for Social Security, unemployment Insurance, and The Community Reinvestment Act.  . Community organizers have also organized against abortion and gay rights, and gun control.  From whatever perspective, they understand that people organized can make a difference.

Many community organizers are volunteers.  Some are professionals, like Barack Obama was -- and I still am.  We understand that full time organizers help build effective community organizations.  The Chamber of Commerce, the oil companies and other special interest know this too.   They also hire professional organizers to build their associations.  They may give them other titles, (although rarely “outside agitator”) but their “actual responsibilities” are similar.  They write press releases, develop meeting agendas, and prepare their members to speak in public, just like us community organizers.

I get angry when I hear candidates for high office insult those who take responsibility to improve the lives of ordinary people.  Maybe Palin et. al. think community organizers should relinquish our “actual responsibilities” and wait for the mayors, Governors, Congress and Senate to solve all our problems.  But, if experience is any teacher, we will all be waiting a very long time.  So, until government alone can solve all our problems, I think I will continue my work as a community organizer, train others to do this work, and do whatever I can to elect people to public office who think government should improve the lives of ordinary people.