Kitchen Table Activism Background: Kitchen Table Activism (KTA) is a monthly project of the Rural Organizing Project. Often building on quarterly themes, short actions are described in each KTA. The theory is that basic steps and tasks can lead to powerful collective results as small groups of people gather to complete the same action throughout the state of Oregon. ROP works to keep the basic tasks easily achievable so that groups with other projects or groups with limited immediate energy can still manage to complete the KTA each month. Previous KTAs Other ROP activities ROP Home

February 2002 Activity Chicken or the Egg? Cut services or raise revenue? On February 8, the Oregon State Legislature is meeting in special session to decide on a plan to balance the budget in light of the $830 million deficit predicted for 2002. Significant cuts in education, Human Services and Public Safety programs are likely, as these make up over 90% of the state budget. Much of the public discussion around the budget crisis has had to do with which programs and services will be cut, while less attention has been given to how to raise revenue or prevent future crises. WHAT IS THE ACTIVITY? Write a letter to the editor of your local paper and challenge the legislature to look at the revenue side of the budget question and for the public to support them. STEPS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY Decide whether your group would like to do this activity. Review the talking points and handouts included in this activity. Chose one or two points to make in a letter to the editor of your local paper. Point out that the budget crisis is the part of a bigger, structural problem that will come up again in the 2003-2004 legislative session. Delegate one person to draft a short letter emphasizing those three points on behalf of the group. Submit it to the paper. Previous Kitchen Table Activities September 2001 World Conference on Racism: Thinking Globally and Acting Locally August 2001 The Stranger Next Door Questions? Please contact us!