What the poor, the weak, and the inarticulate desperately require is power, organization, and a sense of identity and purpose, not rarefied advice of political scientists.

I emphasize self-esteem, self-confidence, and dignity, not as an ideal, but as a real test of community organization. Without leadership development, community organizations do not have staying power.

This is a class issue. These are poor people we're talking about. None of us ever are put in this situation. President Bush, whatever happened to compassionate conservatism?

Politics is not about power.

The people of this country, not special interest big money, should be the source of all political power.

Our aims in political activism are not, and should not be, to create a perfect utopia.