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Obstruction tactic No. 1?Endless Debate The word ?debate? does not mean much in the United States Senate. Rather than being a free exchange of ideas intended to convince other senators of one position or another, most Senate debate time is occupied by senators giving closely vetted speeches to an almost-entirely empty chamber. Nevertheless, the Senate rules make it very difficult to stop the serial speeches and actually hold a vote. Unless at least 60 senators agree to hold a vote, the speeches go on forever.

Just how bad are things today in the Senate? If the climate of obstructionism in the Senate that exists today represented how that body has always operated, landmark legislation that brought social and economic justice to millions of Americans would never have been enacted. Organizing and bargaining rights through the National Labor Relations Act. Secure retirement and health care for older Americans that resulted from the Social Security and Medicare programs. An end to years of discrimination endured by people of color through the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.

At the Lincoln Memorial, more than 10,000 CWAers were a sea of red. We are One Nation with civil rights and community activists, teachers, environmentalists, members of faith groups and many more. We know our voices can?t be ignored and on Nov. 2, we?ll be One Nation Working Together again, and will elect leaders who will support the fight for jobs, justice and an economy that works for all.

A lead inside organizer who continues to face a tough fight for a voice at work will be among the speakers, musicians, poets and comedians who will inspire and entertain hundreds of thousands of progressive Americans under sunny skies Saturday at Washington's One Nation rally.