The Punk Patriot

Name: The Punk Patriot Location: gorham, ME I'm a pundit, an activist, a vlogger, a videographer, an indie news reporter, an analyst, an organizer.

A little about me

I worked for Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign, as a delegate in 2004, and as an intern in campaign HQ in 2008. I currently work full time in a boot factory, and vlog and organize when I have the time. I am director of GreenChange.org's "Revoke BP's corporate Charter" campaign. I volunteer in various capacities with the League of Young Voters.

I would describe myself as a

blogger

Why I deserve a Netroots Nation Scholarship

I am not a professional activist. I would like to get the skills that I need to get a job doing what I love doing anyways. Plus, if you send me to NN, I will generate lots of great video coverage!

I manage these blogs

The Punk Patriot (Blog)
The Punk Patriot (YouTube)

The blogs I use most are

Citizen Vox (Public Citizen)
The Blog of Rights

What first inspired me to get involved

I have always been politically active, thanks to my mother being involved in our community, for as long as I can remember. After 9-11, I started a successful all-purpose activism group on my campus called "USA (university student activists)" and we almost were banned by the Student Senate, because our catch phrase was "USA is against the War!" In light of the work we did organizing on campus, I got a scholarship to train with the League of Young Voters at their first annual conference in Columbus, OH, and I trained in campus organizing.

I first got into YouTube punditry when I was working on Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign, via Davis Fleetwood, who was a fellow employee of the campaign. I was inspired to spearhead a "money bomb" that raised $50,000 for the campaign. Peanuts, really.

How I've gotten others involved

Well, as a pundit (via my youtube channel) I feel my job is to fight against the apathy and sense of powerlessness that is so prevalent, especially amongst the left. I want people to realize their own power, especially those who feel that they are the most powerless.

The blog post I am most proud of

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m_fNl1aZ0E

Why I think participation in the blogosphere is important

The Mainstream media is all owned by a handful of conglomerates who also own companies in the energy sector, the weapons sector, and the banking sector. Do you really think that they're going to report on their own crimes in a meaningful way? Do you really think their reports are going to be undistorted presentations of fact?

Hell no. The reason why the blogosphere is so important, is because we now have the ability to cut out the corporate talking heads who serve as middlemen between what's going on in the world, and us.

More about my involvement with DFA and local work

I sadly am not a local DFA affiliate. I work 54 hours a week in a factory, and between what volunteer commitments I already have, I just have zero free time.

More about my volunteer work

I am the campaign director of GreenChange.org's "Revoke BP's corporate charter" campaign.
I am currently working with the League of Young Voters on getting IRV legislation submitted in the state capital of Maine.

My Twitter manifesto on online activism

Many online activists are, in fact, slacktivists. Just putting your name on a petition isn't really activism.
However, the ability to meet up with people you never would have otherwise, and organize events without having to meet face to face is huge.

My suggested bumper sticker slogan

My Issue: Zoning regulations to keep big box stores out of downtown areas. My slogan: "Community is Prosperity"

My idea for a cool new online action

I'm currently asking my viewers to meet with an economics professor, ask them what would happen if every student in the USA refused to pay back their student loans, and film their answer. The idea is to tie it into a campaign for Universal College Education, with the threat of a real student loan strike.