Can't Somebody Else Do It?

That was Homer Simpson’s campaign slogan when he ran for garbage commissioner.

It really sums up the average American. Everybody seems to feel that SOMETHING has to be done, yet no one wants to do it themselves. They hope that someone else will do it.

But just who is this someone supposed to be? I’ll tell you who. It’s the person in the mirror, that’s who.

Our movement is in a pretty sorry state these days because of this attitude. No one wants to be bothered. You see, it takes something that many people are unwilling to give: EFFORT.

What really disgusts me are the typical excuses people use to explain why they can’t do anything. The most common one is, “I don’t have time. I have to work.” I call that the “W” excuse.

It is true that work is extremely important. If you’re lucky enough to have a job these days, you want to make sure you keep it. Okay, so you’re busy on work days.

If I ask, “What about your days off?” The next most common excuse is, “No, I have a lot of errands and yardwork/housework to do.”

Then I’ll say, “You need both your days off for all of that?” Some say they do, and others say, “Aw, don’t I get one day when I don’t have to do anything?”

My response to that is, “Would you like a little cheese with that whine?”

Comrades, it only takes an hour or two every month to give out 100 pieces of literature.

Whenever you go to the store, put a few cards in your pocket and leave them on the shelves. Same with the library. If you use a public restroom, leave a card on the sink.

Put just a few cards on people’s windshields. It only takes a few minutes. If you do that just ten times a month, then you’ve given out 100. Twenty times and it’s 200. It all adds up.

Sure, we have a website. Comrade Bowles and I have blogs, plus two or three other Official Supporters also blog. The problem with that is, there are so many sites and blogs out there, we can be hard to find on the web – especially if you don’t know how to go about looking. Google us? Sure. But the problem there is that there are literally thousands of sites and blogs listed. Most people will search one to five pages on Google, then stop. It can be so overwhelming to some, they just don’t want to be bothered. And let’s not forget that many people do not have computers.

The internet is a valuable tool, but as they say, we shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket. Sometimes, the tried and true methods are the best.

What about cost? One hundred cards or stickers only cost $5.00. That’s cheap. You can download fliers off the site for free. Sure, making copies does cost a little, but not that much.

Here’s something to consider. The ANP has been doing this for some time now. We have supporters who have more money than others, but don’t want to get out there and pass out literature. We have supporters who are willing to get out there and do it, but they are out-of-work, or low-income with large families. Those with money who don’t want to be out there handing out cards and stickers can send in a donation to HQ and ask it to be earmarked for other supporters who are financially strapped, but are willing to get out there and give literature out.

If those who have a little extra would make an extra donation, we could send cards and stickers free to those who will use them, but are on a very tight budget and really can’t afford to send any money.

If everyone is willing to make SOME kind of effort, we can get this movement back on track. It’s all up to you. Someone else CAN’T do it because there is no one else – except YOU!

Here is something I found a while back that sums up the entire situation:

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.

Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

That just about says it all.

Dan 88!