In keeping with the Old Media's penchant to lionize The One, the Indianapolis Star is pouring on the saccharine to celebrate the Obammessiah once again in a piece that praises the fact the Obama has made community organizers "cool" at long last. But, a closer reading shows that this new craze for community organizing isn't all the IndyStar tries to make it out to be.
The Star starts out with the hearwarming tale of law student Zac Elliot who has assured the paper that he has changed his mind about what he wants to do with his life. Gone are his selfish, capitalist dreams of becoming a high paid lawyer and in is his newfound desire to be a "cool" community organizer like his idol Obama. He now wants to help the regular folks because "coincidentally, it's also become cool" to emulate The One.
Three weeks ago, Elliot accepted a full-time position with the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana for an annual salary of less than half the median starting income for a first-year lawyer. The Indianapolis resident said mobilizing people around issues such as progressive energy policies has brought a sense of satisfaction that's more important than money.
Coincidentally, it's also become cool.
In an era when Obama touts community organizing as an important part of his early career, a gig that was once little-known, or seen as a draw for burnout-prone bleeding hearts, has gained more mainstream prominence, experts say. That, along with factors such as the sour economy, has helped the field attract a growing number of this year's college graduates in Indiana, as well as middle-aged adults making a job switch.
What could be better than this wonderful young man deciding on a life of service instead of one of personal greed, eh? But the IndyStar only hints at what seems the more likely reason behind this assumed bout of altruism: it's a resume padder, not really any kind of life commitment.
"Now that our president has a background in community organizing, it lends more credibility to the public perception of what community organizers do," said Elliot, who plans to apply for law school eventually and thinks having community organizing on his resume will be an asset.
Well, that doesn't sound as if community organizing is so much a wonderful career choice as a better resume padder. It seems more like a plan wherein when Elliot later goes to get that high law degree and enters his real career, he can point to his brief stint as a community organizer and say he did something meaningful with his early days.
But that aside, even after all this ballyhooing, the IndyStar has to admit that the pool of these folks is still small.
The newfound publicity, some say, has helped expand the still-small pool of applicants to jobs and fellowship programs.
And that isn't all...
The increased interest is reflected nationally. DART received 750 applications for its 23 fellowship positions in 20 cities, including Evansville, this year; 560 were received last year. The Public Interest Research Group, which has offices in 26 states, has seen its applications this year spike to 2,300, up from 1,600 for 100 positions last year.
Seriously? Out of a nation of 300 million people they got that "spike" to 2,300 over last year's 1,600? That is pitiful!
Still, the IndyStar tries to bloat this up as a more important and popular phenomenon than it is. But, if you pay attention there is another explanation that the Star doesn't much dwell on.
Of course, it's impossible to separate the influence of the economy, which some experts say could be the driving force behind the growth.
At a time when other jobs have dried up, community organizer positions at places like Indiana Public Interest Research Group have remained funded.
In other words, it isn't that this new community organizer gig is suddenly so popular but that Obama is continuing to artificially pump in government money into unnecessary programs that can continue to offer the make-work jobs that these people are applying for.
The truth is somewhat different than the rosy picture the IndyStar tries to paint, isn't it?
(H/T NewsBuster reader PurdueMatt)
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Law Student?
May 1, 2009 - 06:19 ET by DustBunny01I am confused.
Zac Elliot is supposed to be a law student yet, it also indicates that Zac -
Isn't exactly on the path but is just thinking about it, sort of.
Further, it doesn't specifically state that ol' Zac even graduated but simply states,
We can pretty much rule out the ol' Zac is not a middle aged adult but is a student, though whether he is a graduate or not is up for debate yet, he is interested in the law. So, his earning
Seems rather appropriate since he is not a first year lawyer and he may not even be a college graduate. But, at least ol' Zac has a job and we can all be thankful that he is out there organizing. To what end, who knows, but at least the mob will be organized and in this new age, we just can not have disorganized mobs running about; they might begin look like Tea Parties...
To what end, who
May 1, 2009 - 06:42 ET by motherbeltTo what end, who knows,.....
To what end?
They probably have a poster in the office that says "The First Step to the Presidency!"
Why try for a real job when you can do community organizing and get a foot in the door of local corruption...er...politics and get paid for it?
And DB01, you make an excellent point. A guy who hasn't even gone to
law school yet takes a job making less than half of what a first-year
lawyer would make, and we are supposed to consider that a noble
sacrifice? Good grief!
What a bunch of B as in B, S as in S!
where I come from, it's called taking a job to pay the bills!
But there is going to be a lot more of this, because even as private-sector job opportunities decrease, the government (even local) just keeps hiring.
Then add in The Obama's mandatory, paid, "volunteer" program, and you can see where this is going....
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
What's Happened to My State?
May 1, 2009 - 07:05 ET by HoosierEmAs a Hoosier, I am constantly embarrassed by the idiocy that is my fellow Hoosier David Shuster and now The Indy Star?
Maybe....
May 1, 2009 - 07:32 ET by motherbeltBleedthrough from Illinois?????
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
I am not sure Warren.
May 1, 2009 - 07:33 ET by Rod PatrickBut instead of offering criticism to this kind of thing, we can copy this strategy of the Dems.
These kids have been anxious to be part of something "big", even though we already where they are leading into.
But we must see the bigger picture here. The Democrats are "RECRUITING", everyday: NON-STOP campaigning.
We can't do anything about it. But we can make our own kind of thrilling civic activities where our children and youth can participate on.
We need to make the Republicanism and Conservatism challenging and exciting to the youth.
Instead of too much polishing of the Party, we need to formulate and implement our own brands of activism that involve the youth.
This is the only way to save the YOUTH and encourage them to take the path of conservatism.
Same thing for the women. This is why Planned Parenthood has been so successful. They really provide grassroot support to the people (although that includes free abortion)... making their movement a sort of a religion to their supporters and beneficiaries.
NRLC and pro-life advocacy in the Congress is not enough. Pro-life and all kind of support assistance to the women and pregnant young girls that offer them support as single mother is also necessary. I don't mean these require legislation but it could come from various donations from conservatives.
This is the kind of change we need within the Republican Party, not the motherhood-statements being advocated by current Republican Leaders in the congress, such as the recently formulated NCNA by Jindal and McCain.
Cheers!
Infiltrate
May 1, 2009 - 07:47 ET by rightwingidiotInfiltrate their oganizations. Learn the tactics. Leave and join a Conservative group. Fight them, not using their tactics, but using counter tactics.
Seems like a good idea to me.
We can recruit all we want,
May 1, 2009 - 13:22 ET by JerryWe can recruit all we want, but without anything to offset the federally mandated liberal indoctrination centers, ie. public education (D), it would be like fighting a forest fire with a squirt gun.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Re We can recruit
May 1, 2009 - 15:02 ET by slickwillie2001Can you imagine trying to get a few billion dollars in funding for a conservative group through Congress?
I don't think they could
May 1, 2009 - 15:30 ET by JerryI don't think they could legally fund an organization that was on the DHS "watch list" :-)
Gee, with all the violent gangs, mafia thugs, terrorist cells, eco-terrorists, union thugs, drug cartels, inner city sesspools, radical muslim sects, anarchists, and elite liberal domestic terrorists, we can thank our lucky stars that Janet is smart enough to focus on the really dangerous groups like conservatives, christians, and military veterans.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Why don't they just be honest
May 1, 2009 - 07:42 ET by Paul AtreidesThey should just title their coverage "Obama: The First Four Years." We all know that the reality show coverage of every aspect of the Obama Presidency will be more than just the first 100 days.
recruiting slogans
May 1, 2009 - 07:52 ET by JeffC...How about this?
Feel like skating by in life without any real achievements? Become a community organizer! Why do the work yourself? Join us and get others to whine and complain to force actual workers to do the work for you?
Isn't that the DNC slogan
May 1, 2009 - 07:58 ET by Paul Atreidesand/or the communist party's?
Same difference.
Congrats
May 1, 2009 - 08:01 ET by pcantidoteWhy go out and contribute to our capitalistic society when you can join the ranks of the race baiting victim peddlars? Here's to Zac keeping minorities down for another hundred years. Kudos. You must be so proud.
-Reject ALL incumbents in 2010-
I guess
May 1, 2009 - 08:12 ET by Paul Atreidesthey have to do something with those Victims'-Studies degrees.
He's just cultivating the
May 1, 2009 - 13:25 ET by JerryHe's just cultivating the clientele for his next line of work. Get even, sue the man.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Re Book
May 1, 2009 - 08:08 ET by slickwillie2001So how many of you folks would be impressed by a few years of 'community organizer' on a resume? Would it be better than 'self-employed consultant', the usual gap-filler?
In one of the Bamster's books, didn't he say that he left the community organizing job because he decided he didn't want to be a zero like his layabout father, and the job appeared to lead to just that?
Sadly
May 1, 2009 - 08:20 ET by Warner Todd HustonSadly, half the electorate was!
Be sure and visit my home blog PubliusForum.com.
Everything old is new again
May 1, 2009 - 09:12 ET by QueenMumI feel like I'm in a time warp. Not only have the fashions of the 60's returned, so have the hippies. And they call this progressive?
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Your choice
May 1, 2009 - 10:11 ET by iveseenitallBe a joiner and be part of the crowd. Or strike out on your own and be a person who supports the whole, but doesn't give up his individualism. It's your choice. America was once a nation of self-reliant individuals. This was what separated it from every other nation in the world (and made it the greatest nation on earth). Read, for example, Emerson's essay, Self-Reliance, in which he outlines what is to be an American. Unfortunately, these founding principles are gone in the "progressive" world of "liberalism" today. "Community Organizers" promote the mediocrity (or less than mediocrity) we find in so many "communities" in America, particulary in the ghetto. Take (please) the failure that is American public education. Community organized to the hilt.
The question now is whether America can survive; no longer is it a question of how great it can be. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
community organizing cool
May 1, 2009 - 10:09 ET by candanceSince we were told during the campaign that Jesus was a community organizer, perhaps the Indy Star would like to include in this all of the inner city missionaries, counselors, and shelter directors who serve the poor without any funding from ACORN and never expect a gushing review in a newspaper.
Thanks for this story, Indy Star. Elliot now has his reward.
What could be better than
May 1, 2009 - 10:45 ET by allamericangirlWhat could be better than this wonderful young man deciding on a life of service instead of one of personal greed, eh?
Yes it is so nice to see the community agitators in action fulfilling their dreams. I heard on the local news yesterday (Northern California) that a public auction selling foreclosure homes was bombarded by ACORN members the Obama style of community service. Most of the people showing up to bid on homes left scared and at the end only one auctioneer was left. They decided to shut down the auction and take the one house that ACORN was protesting about off the auction block. All they are is a gang of unlawful, disruptive bullies that get paid for their thugery. I guess these ACORN gang members have given up their selfish, capitalist dreams to be "cool" gang members in matching ACORN t-shirts. Obama is so inspiring for our youth.
"Liberalism is a mental disorder" -Michael Savage
OK, if community organizing is cool,
May 1, 2009 - 10:50 ET by Karinwell, why don't we do that ourselves? Community-by-community, using grassroots communication, make up some homemade signs, gather peacably,.........
Indy Star Is anti WTO hippie garbage.
May 1, 2009 - 11:38 ET by someloudthunderThe subject title pretty much sums up my feelings towards them.
From what I understand, if
May 1, 2009 - 13:21 ET by IndyAdamFrom what I understand, if this guy wants to be a lawyer, "community organizer" may be the only job he lands as one, as the legal industry is laying off a lot of folks. Anyone else hear the same?