This Improbable Quest, by John Wilson: on Welfare & Poverty

1980s: Director of the Developing Communities Project

Obama considers his work on political empowerment, economic development, & grassroots community organizing to be the “best education” he has received. He noted, “Organizing teaches as nothing else does the beauty & strength of everyday people.”

Obama learned that “ordinar citizens are taught that decisions are made based on the public interest or grant principles, when in fact, what really moves things is money and votes and power.” This was his first lesson that fighting cynicism was a first step in political change.