(Cross-posted/originally featured on Living for Change)

A few weeks ago, at a dinner meeting of  League of Young Voters organizers in Ann Arbor,  I talked to life long social justice activist Grace Lee Boggs (it was truly an honor to meet her!) about the "Power Vote".

         What I said reminded her of her "Don't leave it all to Obama" column (May 18-24, 2008).  So she asked me to write a piece for her. This is my story:

       I love it when elected officials stand up in front of their constituents and boast that we can and should hold them accountable to their campaign promises.  Like it's as easy as 1-2-3.  Well, in my short 26 years I just have to say that I have had a hell of a time trying to hold my elected officials accountable to representing me.

       Take Hillary Clinton for example.  In 2003, I called her office repeatedly to challenge her stance on the war. That didn't work.  So I got myself hired in her office as an intern, had a few face-to-face conversations with her and senior staff about our foreign policy.  Still nothing. 

       Two years later, as her former intern, I called a press conference, to demand she stop funding the war.  Long story short, I spent the afternoon in jail and she voted to authorize funds for the war the next week.

       All this to say, that making our elected officials actually represent us is no easy feat.

       That is why I am coming together with 999,999 young people to sign onto the Power Vote.  Power Vote is a project of the Energy Action Coalition that is building a base of young people who are committed to developing a new green economy that will create millions of jobs, improve our health and avoid future wars.  Seriously. 

       We want to make sure that the new President knows that he has the support to take immediate and decisive action to address climate change.  But we know that just signatures probably won't do it.  That is why we have reserved 15,000 beds in DC during the first 100 days of the new presidency to lobby the President and Congress to take immediate action.

       Our demands are not just about more recycling centers and bike to work days:

•       We want Green Jobs. We want our President to invest in millions of new green jobs, strengthen the American middle class and create new pathways out of poverty for millions more.

•       We want to Invest in a Clean Economy .  We want our President to unleash American ingenuity and launch a new wave of affordable clean energy technology.

•       We want to cut global warming pollution immediately . We want to ensure our health, prosperity, and security, and scientists tell us we must rapidly drive U.S. global warming pollution towards zero.

•       We want to end our dependence on Dirty Energy . We want to enact an immediate moratorium on new coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear plant construction and infrastructure, while phasing out existing plants and fossil fuel extraction and ensuring a just transition for the workforce and communities.

•       We want to re-engage as a leader in the international community. Global warming requires a global solution. We must shift the focus of American foreign policy from military intervention to international cooperation.

    * We want to take dirty money out of politics. We think it's time to make government accountable to "We the People." Put voters first and refuse campaign contributions from dirty energy interests.

       "Those are our demands and both candidates have a long way to come to please us.  But we think that if we build this voting block, a million strong, they will have the undeniable support and mandate to join us." 

www.theleague.com/sf/PowerVote/08
www.powervote.org