Economic Crisis Town Hall Big Success

More than 800 people crowded into Portland, Oregon’s First Unitarian Church on Saturday for a “Town Hall on the Economic Crisis.”  In large-group plenary and a variety of action-oriented breakout sessions, participants discussed the causes of the financial meltdown, the government’s response and what people in the room can do to make a difference.

Throughout the rapid-fire, five-hour program, speakers urged their audiences to view the current economic crisis as an opportunity.  Many argued that economic stimulus proposals aimed at “getting the country back to some pre-meltdown state” are inadequate for a number of reasons—not the least of which is that inequality left large numbers of American families struggling to survive even before the financial collapse.

Rather, people should be looking forward for ways build a new economy that helps working people, protects the environment and avoids unsustainable market “bubbles.”   Most felt that the stimulus proposed by President Obama does not think big enough nor go far enough.   

The afternoon’s more than one dozen workshops included titles like “Stopping the Global Race to the Bottom,” "Health Care", "Building a Green Economy", “Uniting Across Racial and Ethnic Divides,” “Rebuilding the Safety Net,” “Why Unions?” and “‘Push Me’ Said Obama to Progressives: But How?”  Each featured presentations by local organizations that have been working to improve the economy for many years. 

This event was organized by Jobs with Justice and more than fifty other community partners from labor, environmental, faith and social justice communities.   After the closing plenary, hundreds of people gathered in the church basement for free food and mingled among information tables set up by groups focused on health care, trade, peace, immigrant rights, the environment, the Employee Free Choice Act and more.  Many took home information, signed petitions, and, most importantly, volunteered to get involved.