One of the simplest and easiest things to do at this point in time, to garner grassroots and community attention to the critical issues facing this nation, is to encourage your local city and county (town and parish, village and unincorporated associations) to pass a resolution that re-ratifies the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment. Certainly such a resolution has no binding effect on law to speak of, and it will not provide actual protections against the incursions and erosions of our Constitutional rights, but such action will spark discussion and discourse throughout the community. We began this process in late 2001--yes in California-- at the local city level and then county level. The effort spread some around the state and along the west coast. But with the 2002 and 2004 elections most of these resolutions got lost and forgotten, and the impetus to spread the message was lost.
We need to reinvigorate it now. Demand your local elected officials stand up for the Constitution. Demand that the law enforcement and judicial system employees recognize that these are the basic fundamental rights we as citizens in this country retain and that must be honored and respected. Demand that your state also make such an effort. If nothing else, you can get a clearer picture of just who is willing to come forth and suggest that your rights might not be as important as others. Engage the system and ask for support. Imagine getting a councilman or supervisor to state in public that s/he will not support this resolution, even if the only statement is a "no" vote. That is powerful constitutional awareness.