What will happen to all the people that got energized by the Obama campaign last year? Will they fade back into the woodwork, or will they continue to believe, and act upon that belief, in their own ability to bring about change? As we watch the finagling around stimulus packages, deficit mitigation packages, and proposed budgets, it is easy to imagine that politics as usual has won. However, if the meeting at the Yale Afro-American Cultural Center this morning is any indication, it may be premature to write-off the influence of the newly invigorated.

Of the couple dozen people that showed up to hear a little bit about the shape Organizing for Connecticut is beginning to take, there was a good mix of newly involved and more experienced activists. Heidi Green of 1000 Friends of Connecticut was there. Laurie Santos of the Shoreline League of Democratic Women was there. There were people from Democracy for America there as well as people from various unions.

People there had differing opinions. Some were more concerned about healthcare. Others were more concerned about building a green economy. Some felt that Gov. Rell’s budget proposals reflected a small government philosophy following the example of Grover Norquist. Others felt that she was actively trying to widen the state’s income gap, one of the few areas where Connecticut is outperforming other states. Although it does seem like the small government philosophy of Grover Norquist et al is focused on widening the economic disparity.

Many of the participants will take place in an activist training in early March and everyone seemed energized about acting on their own ability to bring about change, and learning new ways to be more effective at it. How effective will all these new activists be? Some people may have to wait and see. Others may want to get involved now and be part of the solution.