Each day, millions of frustrated Americans engage in discussions about how our country has gone off course and how ultraconservatives have taken over our government. As we put our hearts and souls into figuring out how to change the direction America is headed, these conversations grow in volume. Yet, because we feel so much anxiety about all that's happened to our country since 9/11, we don't yet recognize our strength.

Some of us have been discouraged by the increasingly conservative tone of the corporate media, which tries to marginalize other voices in American life. We feel alarmed at the way our government ratchets up the fear quotient across America. At these moments, we can't forget that the things we believe in -- equality, fairness, justice, dignity, and ultimately kindness and love -- inspired the greatest moral and political achievements of the 20th century: civil rights, women's equality, workers' right to organize, and the growth of the environmental movement. These are values that make our society strong and appealing to the rest of the world.

The millions of us who want to chart a different course for America must reclaim our power as citizens and overcome our doubts and fears -- as well as the bad habits that have lessened our political effectiveness through the years. We need to come across as proud and joyful, not just angry and defensive. While honoring the diversity of our identities and ideas, all of us -- liberals, radicals, moderates and even conscientious conservatives -- must be united to fight for regime change at home. This is not just to prevent more bloodshed, empire building, and cruel policies, but to protect virtually all the progress we've made over the past 80 years in civil rights, civil liberties, environmentalism, women's rights, workers' rights, and much more. By focusing on what we have in common -- the clear-cut goal of defeating the Bush administration and congressional right-wingers in 2004 -- we can all succeed. How important is this? It feels more important than anything we will do for a very long time.

Don't trust anyone who tells you it's a cinch to win back Washington in the next elections. But, more importantly, don't believe anyone who says it's hopeless. It won't be easy. It will take a lot of work, starting right now. But we can do it. Here are my thoughts on how we can make it happen.

#1: Recognize Our Strengths

Social critic Colin Greer reminds us that Martin Luther King Jr.'s work evolved from marching for civil rights to advocating for poor people of all colors and speaking out for peace in Vietnam. Greer adds that millions of Americans are already inspired by the progressive values articulated by environmentalists and social justice activists, health care and public education advocates, volunteers at food banks and women's shelters, people working to improve their neighborhoods and towns. Getting involved with these causes, even in a small way, inevitably connects people with other social and progressive movements .