Rob and His Job with the Mob

Have you seen this man? Of course you have.

You all know Rob. No, seriously. You probably do – he has approximately 50,000 friends on Facebook, of whom he has likely met at least half in his brief lifetime. And 99% of which likely owe him a favor. Still not ringing a bell? How about this: Ominous black trench-coat. Ever-present Kentuckians for the Commonwealth pin. Frequently photographed with voter registration clipboard in hand. Knows EVERYONE. ALWAYS. Excels at making you “an offer you can't refuse” so that it seems like it was your idea. After each encounter with him, you wonder: “How is this possible? How does he do it? How can anyone be so constantly aware and acting in support of social, economic, and environmental justice issues?” You assume the obvious answer is the Mafia. (Well, I did anyway.) But is it?

I first met Rob my freshman year of college. He was roommate to the hulking guy who wrongly assumed I was drunk due to my sudden downward glance and declaration “These aren't my pants!” on Halloween. He was, and remains to this day, a loyal friend to my across-the-hall dorm-mates and future roomies Theresa-the Wonder-Llama and Maria-Chief of the Walking Giggling Coconuts. Member of Green Thumb, KFTC, student government, a thousand other campus organizations, and occasionally the D&D crew in the dorm lobby. Organizer of university-wide, suction-dartgun TAG (The Assassin Game) his freshman year, tragically before my time at UK. The guy who forgot his sleeping bag on my first college camping trip. And who elicited the best quote of our entire novices-go-backpacking adventure: “Duuude! You've got socks on your hands!” The friend who organized the popping of a tent inside Te and Maria's dormroom, to Maria's great rage and The's great entertainment. Fan of all things Evil Dead and cold apple cinnamon bagels topped with a slice of American cheese product. Boyfriend to Maggie-LGBTQ activist and social psychologist extraordinaire of the quoteworthy flashlight reference “Blind and bludgeon, blind and bludgeon!” Most importantly, a true, kind, and loyal friend and the person most responsible for my becoming an activist after 11 years of knowing him and a lifetime of longing to save the world.

 This is not Rob.
(c) Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

I'm pretty sure he slept a total of 19 minutes, if at all, during his six years of academia and activism at the University of Kentucky. Only after weakened to the point of near-starvation after aforementioned hilarious backpacking trip (of both the LMAO-hilarity and OMFG-we're-gonna-die-hysteria variety) did he concede – and only that once - to lunch at McDevil's, which was evil, and I'm sure still is, and he told me why but damn if I didn't forget to my great current dismay. And he knew lots about the World Bank and global economics and mountain-top removal. And he always made sure I was registered to vote and was probably the reason I voted for Nader back when Bush won the first time (which I blame on Al Gore's claim that he invented the internet and not my vote – Gore wasn't gonna win Kentucky anyway and dear god, man, all you had to do was seem smarter than Dubya, how did you screw that up??? – it wasn't just a vote for Nader – it was a message – but I digress into a tan(jen)t...) He once, driven by the poverty that often accompanies true dedication to a better world, took a job with the community-business-killer Wal-Mart, but only to get insider info on their anti-union and poor worker treatment policies and to buy discounted Ramen noodles in the process.

Thank god a fabulous non-profit grassroots organization eventually snatched him up and pays him well enough that he's since been able to take a beach vacation with us at a house with a cow flag he dubbed “Moo-ha-ha!”  He's decorated my and Tristan's get-away car at the wedding with five thousands balloons in the backseat and a rubber chicken. He's registered voters at my 30^th birthday campout, and has registered tens of thousands more across Kentucky, and fights day in and day out to restore voting rights to former felons who have repaid their debt to society so that they can have a voice and be active, empowered members of their communities. He knows 90% of Kentucky's state legislators by name instead of district – and they know him too. And he's saving the world one day at a time. He's a real-life superhero.

He can't actually walk on water. He's just a regular guy like you and me.

But he's too humble to tell you this. Because as the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu noted, “A leader is best when people barely know that he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worst when they despise him. Fail to honor people, they fail to honor you. But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aims fulfilled, they will all say, 'We did this ourselves.'" Rob is one of the best leaders of this day and age because he teaches us to lead ourselves.

So why am I telling you all this about him? If he works behind the scenes, empowering everyday people like you and me to tell our stories and speak truth to power, why am I outing him? Because, in addition to his deserving public accolades, you need to know that people like him exist. And that he, and all those like him, aren't elitist. That they are glad to talk to you, regardless of your views or lack of activism in the past. That as I said in posts past, you don't have to chain yourself to a building, or sit down in front of the White House and get arrested, or even carry a picket sign to make a difference. That you don't have to get overwhelmed or burnt-out. That the big guys in politics and corporations aren't as omnipotent as they seem. That you can make your voice heard. That any action you are willing to take in the name of justice, democracy, and truth, no matter how small it may seem, can and will change the world. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Rob is living proof.

(c) Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

If you want help and support, Rob's got your back. If you want to lobby, he'll teach you how. If you want to vote, he'll give you a ride. If you want more information on voting rights or fair taxes or mountain-top removal or a clean-energy future, he'll show you where to find it. And when you're too tired and need to rest, he'll take up your cause until you have the strength to continue.


He knows the truth of Kennedy's words that “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." He believes in the power of ripples. He's seen them succeed a hundred times over in his lifetime. He knows what's possible. He believes in the power of you, of me, of us. Because of him, I once again believe that I can save the world. Are you ready to believe that you can too?

(c) Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

Still skeptical? Check out this video: I Was There – the First  30 Years of KFTC 


And this post from a good friend of mine with more proof that one person can make a world of difference.

And if you can, join me at KFTC's Economic Justice Lobby Day tomorrow at the Capitol. (Click here for more details.) You don't have to say a word. Just being there, tagging along with seasoned citizen lobbyists, learning, better than a picture, is worth a million words, is silence with strength that roars.

I'll be there; will you?