People already agree that it's up to us to defend and keep our democracy. At every meeting, at every turn, we need one person to stand up for democracy, and then a second person, and others will follow. We, ordinary citizens, are going to have to be at the forefront of this essential fight, whether it's school board meetings or Canvassing Board meetings or whatever kinds of meetings there are where we can show up for democracy.
Betsy….i get your point…about attending those meetings and speaking up….but I’m wondering if ‘meetings’ are the right place to speak up? I’m wondering if just explaining what is happening in Hungary with the total loss of rights isint a better tactic and if using billboards isint more effective..using fear ….in a meeting you have ‘resistance’ ‘defensiveness’ and opposition….not fear…think the Trumpies have used fear very effectively..think quite possibly we should….
And a further thought…we’ve all seen school board meetings and similar type other meetings end up in a public food fight…one side insults the other..there’s media coverage…it’s a mess. My background is in human development and I know enough about human interaction to infinitely prefer to avoid direct confrontation which basically firms up everybody’s biases. But I really like introducing the fear piece….something the reps do very well…and there’s serious and very legitimate reason for fear right now….Hungary being a screaming example…
There isn't necessarily one right way to go about strengthening our democracy. Each person needs to do whatever seems to be the most productive to them at any given time.
But I think that you miss the point about the effectiveness of the folks who went to the Canvassing Board meeting. They didn't go to fight or to call names or to instill fear. They went to stand up for democracy. As a retired union activist, I know the power of collective action, of many people speaking in one voice. I prefer solidarity over fear as a tactic.
I think what's going to be "hard" is fighting the voter suppression and vote nullification laws enacted by all the states controlled by the Republicans.
I think what’s going to be “hard’ is finding folks to agree!
People already agree that it's up to us to defend and keep our democracy. At every meeting, at every turn, we need one person to stand up for democracy, and then a second person, and others will follow. We, ordinary citizens, are going to have to be at the forefront of this essential fight, whether it's school board meetings or Canvassing Board meetings or whatever kinds of meetings there are where we can show up for democracy.
Betsy….i get your point…about attending those meetings and speaking up….but I’m wondering if ‘meetings’ are the right place to speak up? I’m wondering if just explaining what is happening in Hungary with the total loss of rights isint a better tactic and if using billboards isint more effective..using fear ….in a meeting you have ‘resistance’ ‘defensiveness’ and opposition….not fear…think the Trumpies have used fear very effectively..think quite possibly we should….
And a further thought…we’ve all seen school board meetings and similar type other meetings end up in a public food fight…one side insults the other..there’s media coverage…it’s a mess. My background is in human development and I know enough about human interaction to infinitely prefer to avoid direct confrontation which basically firms up everybody’s biases. But I really like introducing the fear piece….something the reps do very well…and there’s serious and very legitimate reason for fear right now….Hungary being a screaming example…
There isn't necessarily one right way to go about strengthening our democracy. Each person needs to do whatever seems to be the most productive to them at any given time.
But I think that you miss the point about the effectiveness of the folks who went to the Canvassing Board meeting. They didn't go to fight or to call names or to instill fear. They went to stand up for democracy. As a retired union activist, I know the power of collective action, of many people speaking in one voice. I prefer solidarity over fear as a tactic.
And sign up as election workers.
I think what's going to be "hard" is fighting the voter suppression and vote nullification laws enacted by all the states controlled by the Republicans.