If you showed up to work 15 minutes late today and are getting some grief from your bosses, just tell them that Ralph Nader told you it was OK to be tardy.

Today is the first day of what consumer advocate Nader has called a “limited strike” for D.C. statehood—staffers at 10 organizations that are part of his coalition have pledged to show up to work 15 minutes late today, 30 minutes late on August 1, 45 minutes late on September 10 and a full hour late on October 1.

But what exactly is the point of this limited strike? Other tactics have yet to work, Nader wrote yesterday in the Post, and normal work-a-day folks aren’t really involved in the daily fight for D.C. voting rights, self-determination and statehood. Also, he said, it could expand, provoking a strike that’s less limited:

Enter the limited general strike. If this idea spreads to other employers and employees, more people will ask what this tactic is all about, conversing about the civic self-respect inherent in statehood. Brought into wider focus will be the deprivations for people in the District that stem from this degrading colonial status. Some people may even join the statehood hard core. More veterans returning from sacrifices overseas may take umbrage at being told to shut up and remain colonized.

Perhaps this limited general strike will stimulate a second, more intense round of protest by many other, larger employers and their employees in both business and nonprofit organizations. Finally, people may start trying new ideas to engage ever more people, including the resources of a few super-rich Washingtonians who might want to be remembered in the exaltations about the creation of the 51st state.

Low barriers to entry for political movements are as important as weighty strategies, pursued by activists. It is time for a rising tide of thousands of D.C. residents streaming in many creative directions toward a New Columbia.

Fair criticism to be sure, but it remains to be seen if 10 organizations starting their days a little later than usual—in the height of D.C.’s summer, no less—while have as big an impact as Nader expects.