The following appeared in the LA Times and is a great example of how ordinary people can get involved in effecting policy.

Natalie Sugira usually reserves Friday nights for family. But recently, she abandoned her husband and three children for the evening and drove 120 miles to spend less than two minutes with presidential hopeful John Edwards. She wanted to discuss world hunger and Africa and its miseries, subjects that Sugira -- a political refugee from Rwanda -- knows well. "It's simple," Sugira said, her eyes steady on Route 150. "I speak out because I can."

In August, she quit her job at the University of Northern Iowa and took a pay cut to join the One campaign, a group co-founded by U2 rock star Bono to press lawmakers to fight poverty, and promote education and healthcare around the world. In doing so, Sugira joined a small army of activists swarming Iowa and New Hampshire this election season, representing causes as varied as the White House contenders they court: taxation, education, Darfur, gay rights, global warming, defense spending, chronic illness.

Holding placards and wearing T-shirts promoting their cause, issue advocates are easy to spot as they trail the White House hopefuls from one event to the next. They scour the crowds for recruits, and compete to quiz the candidates or encourage their supporters to do so: "How would your administration work to reduce the number of people without adequate food and water?" "How would your administration make children's health a priority?" The aim is to get attention, build a public following and have candidates promise action, so that whoever wins the race feels obliged to follow through once in the White House. "When candidates go to events and people everywhere are asking about global poverty, they understand it's not just the same five people who care," said Libby Crimmings, Iowa director of the One campaign.