The political period of Neoliberalism is collapsing. The promise of globalization, deregulation, and the financialization of everything has failed to make life better for most people. Populism is emerging as the dominant paradigm, because the economy of the past fifty years and the loss of connection to communities, places, and meaning has left a void that even competent governance cannot fill. Though often tangled up with many other shameful tendencies, there is a grievance that is legitimate. But that grievance co-exists with the inalienable human desire to belong, connect, and build.
Populism has two manifestations. One appeals to the worst in us. The other appeals to the best in us. Playing offense in this battle of paradigms requires us to evoke, engage, and enroll the best in people. 
Here’s the essence of grand strategy, the framework that has shaped Backbone’s 21 years of work and the Solutionary Rail project: Deliver a victory that does not sow the seeds of future conflict on the battlefield of moral struggle by expanding alliances around a shared vision that resonates with people’s deepest aspirations. And that’s precisely what we are doing, together.
While Backbone’s artful activism can bring people together in unique ways and undermine the divisive messaging of those who profit from polarization and fear, it does not provide a vision for the future. Solutionary Rail does.
Solutionary Rail’s time has come.
For years, we have asserted that a new approach to US rail could help solve some of the most vexing problems of our time. From reaching our carbon reduction goals to revitalizing rural economies to giving urban communities the clean air we all deserve to breathe, railroads are a solution hiding in plain sight.
Over the past year it has become apparent that our bottom-up alliance building has shifted the national conversation on rail service, electrification, and the use of rail corridors for transmission.
Thanks to your support, we successfully:
- Formed a strong alliance with unlikely allies.
- Contributed to and shaped federal rail policy in both the executive and legislative branches.
- Launched our Reconnect America podcast (SolutionaryRail.org/
reconnectamerica ) that is reaching thousands of new people who are excited by this common sense yet visionary solution.
Solutionary Rail is the perfect antidote to toxic polarization. It offers a positive populist vision for the future, and we’ve already accelerated our outreach to labor, rural communities, and even populists across the political spectrum in order to draw people together, sow relationships, and build solidarity.
Backbone’s network of artful activists is ready for action!
In 2025, we will be working with communities to celebrate and animate their connection to each other and the places they live and to protect the people and creatures they love.
Amy and I are so proud and grateful to have your support. Your generosity has allowed us to add podcast producer Sasha Elenko. Now, in order to sustain our momentum at this critical moment, lifelong change agent Stacy Carkonen will be joining Team Backbone in January! We are so excited!
As we expand, I ask you to consider expanding your investment in our ambitious and disproportionately impactful work.
We are ushering in a new political period, so what we say and do, and how we treat each other, could not matter more than it does right now. Together, we absolutely can transform even this moment into a future we can be proud to hand our children.
With love, gratitude & solidarity!
Bill Moyer
Executive Director
Backbone Campaign & Solutionary Rail
To support this work mail your check to Backbone Campaign, PO Box 278, Vashon WA 98070, or donate online at: SolutionaryRail.org/2025.
