Group building "progressive values" organization in Q.C.'s

For the past few months, a corps of people has been gathering twice each Tuesday at the Unitarian Church in Davenport.

They are building a local political movement.

Progressive Action for the Common Good, a group numbering about 140, is hoping to engage people in promoting “progressive values” in the community, its leaders say. And they intend to sponsor a forum and organizing summit Saturday at Augustana College in Rock Island.

Many of the founders are well-known veterans of Democratic politics. Some of the members said in interviews that the impetus for the group comes from a series of concerns, including President Bush’s plan to remake Social Security, the prospect of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and what some believe is a too-limited definition of morality in the country’s political campaigns.

But while many of the members have ties to the Democratic Party, organizers stressed that the group is not tied to a political party. “We hope to be a larger tent and a bigger umbrella group,” said Cathy Bolkcom of LeClaire, Iowa, one of the organizers

This sounds like a worthwhile effort, so by all means, check out the article in the Times, and if it sounds of interest to you, plan on attending their forum Saturday which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and last until noon. They plan for the event to be a chance to develop strategies for local action as well as an opportunity for people to network with other progressives.