Spike Cohen on 'You Are the Power': Fighting Injustice Outside of Politics

The Role of Politics vs. Extrapolitical Action

• 🎯 Politics plays a role in the fight for liberty, but electoral politics can be a conflict machine that feeds egos and divides people.
• 💡 Spike Cohen advocates for an "all of the above" approach, acknowledging politics but emphasizing extrapolitical means that are less resource-intensive and don't foster the same conflicts.
• 🚀 The "You Are the Power" organization is presented as a way to spread liberty by helping people fight injustices outside the traditional political realm.

The Genesis of 'You Are the Power'

• 🧠 Cohen's entrepreneurial background led him to create solutions rather than just critique problems, a mindset applied to the liberty movement.
• 💡 During his 2020 Libertarian Party campaign, he observed activists wanting to work year-round on efforts with known positive outcomes.
• ⚠️ He also witnessed individuals facing acute government injustices, realizing a need to connect those seeking to help with those needing help.
• ✅ This led to the creation of "You Are the Power" in 2021 as a proof of concept, demonstrating a 70% success rate with minimal resources.

How 'You Are the Power' Achieves Victories

• 📣 The primary method involves publicizing injustices through social media and email lists, directing public pressure towards officials.
• 📧 Pre-formatted emails allow individuals to quickly contact relevant officials, often leading to officials backing down before public confrontation.
• ⚖️ While some cases involve legal representation, the majority are won through court of public opinion tactics, leveraging public outcry and pressure.
• 🤝 The organization thoroughly vets causes (spending 50-300+ hours) to ensure 100% truthfulness and that cases are "above reproach."

Notable Successes and Impact

• 💥 A key victory involved Rebecca Massie in Surprise, Arizona, who was arrested for speaking at a city council meeting; public pressure led to dropped charges, the mayor's resignation, and Massie becoming a regional organizer.
• ♿ In Cortland, New York, a proposed law requiring licenses for wheelchairs was immediately withdrawn after public involvement.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Hernandez family case in Georgia, where children were wrongly accused of abuse due to a health condition, resulted in reunification, a change in CPS policy (Ridg's Law), and a broader movement to reform Title 4E of the Social Security Act.
• 📈 State officials are now proactively reaching out to "You Are the Power" for assistance in opposing certain initiatives.

The 'People, Policy, Principle' Approach

• 🙏 Divine providence is credited as a primary factor in the organization's success.
• ❤️ The approach focuses on genuine desire for reconciliation and empowering individuals to do the right thing, rather than solely on abstract principles.
• 👥 Unlike traditional libertarian approaches (principle first), "You Are the Power" follows a "people, policy, principle" model, starting with individual stories of injustice to build momentum.
• 🌐 This resonates with most people, who are motivated by tangible outcomes and helping others, fostering a culture of winning and building a broader movement.

Getting Involved

• 💻 Interested individuals can join the movement by signing up as members at YouAreThePower.net, gaining early access to causes and training.
• 💰 Donations are also accepted to support the extensive vetting process and operational costs.
• 🆘 Individuals experiencing injustice can fill out a form at YouAreThePower.net/help to seek assistance.