On January 2, 2011, the Burlington Free Press published an op-ed by James Haslam, director of the Vermont Workers’ Center: "What happens when ordinary people aren’t organized? When you have a system designed to benefit the rich and powerful few above all else — no matter what the cost? That’s what we are seeing now across the country and the globe.

As Vermont heads into a new era under Gov. Peter Shumlin, we must learn a critical lesson from what is currently unfolding around the nation: It is not enough for working and low-income people to cast their ballots on election day. We need to get organized so after politicians are sworn into office, we can make the politically expedient thing to do the right thing to do. In 2011, we must expand the grassroots organizing for universal health care and build a people’s movement to make sure government serves the real interests of our communities."

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