Fellow Progressives,

Ithaca and Tompkins County have been home to the progressive movement for generations. The region was a center of anti–Vietnam War activity and student activism in the sixties, and it was pro–Eugene McCarthy, Robert Kennedy, and George McGovern. Later it made a strong showing for Jesse Jackson, made its mark in opposition to the Bush administration’s wars and occupations, and was the only area in Upstate New York to vote for Jonathan Tasini and Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries.

We host dozens of organizations devoted to peace, ending torture, eliminating poverty and hunger, providing asylum to the politically oppressed, establishing a sustainable world, protecting our civil liberties, seeking economic justice, and the whole range of issues and activities usually associated with the political left.

In nature, we often see how many individuals, apparently acting without centralized direction, interact with their environment and each other to produce beneficial global actions that insure the survival of the larger group. Among other places, we see this in ant colonies and bee hives, where each member performs as a part of the whole to secure the common good. This is known as swarm theory.

At a time in history when our very existence is challenged by forces that appear to be beyond our control such as economic collapse, war and terror, lack of health care, climate change, careless manipulation of our food supply, political oppression, and suppression of human rights, we progressives need to be in closer touch with each other, across the lines of single issues that sometimes divide us and despite differences in approach and tactics, to form a swarm of political force to make a better Ithaca, Tompkins County, nation, and world our common dream and a hopeful reality.

To help us do this, I have revitalized and relaunched the Tompkins County Swarm Web site, www.tcswarm.org, that for several years was so capably operated by Pete Meyers. The new site has the same URL, but is known as “The Daily Swarm, Local News for the Progressive Community.” We  run news stories of the activities of local progressives and progressive organizations in the hope that all of us will learn from those activities, discover and use coalition-building opportunities, and share tactical and logistic resources. Content  changes, if warranted, on a daily basis, and a running calendar of events is maintained. Although not intended to be an opinion journal, short letters from readers in response to articles are published, as well as occasional editorials. The main purpose of The Daily Swarm is to allow all of us of a similar political and social perspective to gather knowledge, energy, and vigor from the activities of each other so that we may better be able to act as a “swarm” to further our goals.

The Daily Swarm is non-commercial. We do not seek advertising or donations. However, we do ask for your contributions of calendar events, news stories and tips, and related photographs. While we reserve the right to edit material, we will try not to be heavy-handed. 

So please become a regular reader of and contributor to The Daily Swarm for a strong, vocal, and more united progressive movement.

 Thanks,

 Marty Luster

Editor

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