AlterNet Take Action: Throw Out Bernanke!

We find ourselves in a rather curious political moment. In the 2008 election cycle, Americans kicked the neo-cons out of office and landed Barack Obama in the White House -- with a filibuster-proof Democratic majority in Congress, to boot.

As President Obama prepares for his first State of the Union tomorrow, his address will likely contain many of the hope-and-change flourishes that won him the presidency, but it will also underscore how many of Democratic and independent voters' goals -- particularly those of liberals and progressives -- were not met in this first year. The speech also comes soon after Ted Kennedy's four-decade Senate seat was turned over to a TeaParty-boosted Republican, highlighting the fact that the sweeping reforms we need may be even harder to come by here on out.

Health care reform has not been passed -- and what may one day pass will bear the heavy imprint of lawmakers bought by a health care industry that profits off the status quo. The government bailed out Wall Street while regular Americans on Main Street have seen their savings dwindle and job prospects fade. Corporate interests were further empowered by the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the ban on corporate contributions to political campaigns. Those who voted to end the war in the Middle East have been met with escalation of the war in Afghanistan, and further failures in Iraq. And the year started off with the catastrophic loss of life in Haiti -- how the United States acts there throughout the rebuilding process could be a harbinger for our nation's standing in the world under Obama.

With these examples -- and many more -- in mind, AlterNet's new site includes a Take Action page which will regularly connect our readers to actionable steps they can take around the issues they care about most.

And today we're pleased to present to you the five progressive actions we find most exciting and pressing right now. Click through to learn more, participate, and make a difference.

1. Time to Throw Out Ben Bernanke!

Not since the Great Depression has the financial system been as unsafe, unsound, and unstable as it has been during Ben Bernanke's tenure. The failed Fed chair is up for re-appointment this week. Sign Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) petition to oust him!

2. Stop the Anti-Choice Super Bowl Ad