This morning, as expected, the House Republicans elected Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Trump’s choice for conference chair, to replace Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY).
Around 1978, when I had started my career in engineering, I remember hearing men talking that the solution to not having enough workers was to get women into the labor force. Today, we see that two salaries are required to survive and be able to feed one's children. We still hear men talking about poor people being lazy and not going back to work because of the $300 per week unemployment, that there are plenty of jobs. But these aren't jobs that pay well and certainly do not cover the costs of child care. Without affordable child care a low paying job brings home next to nothing. I'm feeling very scared that if the For the People Act isn't passed we're on our way to having a rebellion. I will join the resistance if that happens. Hearing that in 1986 they were using the words "ballot integrity" for voter suppression sounds so much like today's "voter integrity" it is truly frightening. Hearing that Republicans are actually saying the United States is "not a democracy" .. and that they don't want democracy anyway is doubly frightening. The Heritage Foundation and ALEC writing all these horrible bills. I think we no longer have a democracy -- it's an oligarchic kleptocracy -- but I differ from the Republicans in that I want democracy back! The majority of the People do too and will show it if they are allowed to vote. This time I what We the People to mean All of Us This Time!
The attacks on democracy are multi-facted: PAC lobbying, court packing, disinformation, state legislatures’ voter suppression bills, The Big Lie, outright organized insurrection. Each of these forces does require an equal and opposite force just to maintain status quo democracy. But reality is not static, and the status quo involves unacceptable institutional racism, sexism, and classism. Therefore, each of these regressive forces requires a greater opposite force to effect progressive change.
HR1/S1 For The People Act is a core force for protection of the vote, gerrymandering reform, and getting big billionaire money out of politics. It would make space for a host of other laws to make our lives more fair and our environment more sustainable. Maybe it’s a misconception to call a law a force. It’s a tool to be applied with force. The force comes from the people who first speak up to get this law passed, to put this tool in the toolbox. Then force comes from people who speak up to enforce this law.
We The People, All of Us This Time = a greater force for progressive and necessary change to preserve and advance our democratic process.
I can’t get the image out of my head of a dense pack of insurrectionists using the totality of their mass weight plus energy to break through a set of doors in the Capitol. Dozens of them packed together, chanted in unison and surged forward en masse with every “Heave HO!” repeatedly, until they broke through.
Our mission is to put our weight together, our individual voices, to form a collective force on behalf of democracy. Our individual voices take many forms of communication to our elected officials and to corporations who make campaign donations: written (letters to the editor, letters or postcards, texting), phone calls, and money (donations pro and boycotts against).
We The People must pass HR1/S1 For The People Act. Get Out The Vote is a critical action. Asking HCR Substack readers:
Which GOTV organizations are you finding to be most effective?
What is your communication of choice to make your voice heard, adding to the collective force?
I thought a lot about responsive and collective force this week. Your descriptor of a law being a tool is spot on. Perhaps this is how it is to be presented to Senator Manchin for example. I want our legislators in Congress to understand WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE FORCE. And I’ll use Luke Skywalker’s light saber, thank you very much.
But one more point. When I was thinking about the fight of this stream for democracy and the we-for-by the people, I thought about you Ellie.
You are something. Have you ever held public office or run a campaign.
There’s something about your light and energy that is very translucent.
Thank you, Christine, for your kind words. It's not about me, but about us as a whole. I am not a politician, and my real political education has been this past year from HCR. I'm just a connector of dots who values the wonderful contributions on this forum of LFAA comments, and I'm working to help move our great discussions to effective action in service of our common goal to support democratic process.
I’m really not sure how to act on behalf of democracy other than sharing these letters to my family and friends. MA is such a blue state. I joined the League of Women Voters and gave them a generous donation but then I really didn’t want to do their ZOOM meetings. And from some of their communications it appeared they were more interested in our town elections whereas, though I do vote in them, we have a lot of good people who love running our town. I’ve never enjoyed meetings let alone ZOOM meetings. I gave a lot more money than I should to Biden’s campaign and the Georgia races so much that my husband got angry. I’m looking for suggestions.
You sound like me Liz; I’m an introvert and have a hard time with meetings and protests. I sign a lot of petitions and make a few phone calls, and I’m on a small pension and tend to get myself in debt making too many donations. Letters, phone calls, and petitions seem a paltry effort but it’s a contribution towards the effort that I can manage. Don’t beat yourself up; any effort is a contribution.
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism, and meetings are available for community and info sharing, but not required. You can email for more info: heathersherd@gmail.com
Americans of Conscience has a weekly checklist you might find helpful. It’s a list of actions to take and the reason behind the request. Mostly letter writing and phone calls to make and she provides a script to help you. Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny has good ideas too. Now that things are opening up look for voter registration drives to help with, there is always back office work to do if you don’t like talking to people you don’t know.
I felt much like you last summer, Liz, so joined Postcards to Voters and wrote 100 to people in Michigan urging them to vote in the Nov election. It took away the helpless feeling and maybe did some good. If everybody did what you did—donating and sharing—we’d be better off. Keep it up, friend.
Agree about Postcards to Voters, it’s a great way to contribute without knocking on doors or making phone calls....I like to think I helped the GA Senate race, and indeed, Jon Ossoff mentioned us in his thank you you to all who helped in his race.
MaryB, I was with you, writing 400 to Michigan (with help from the friends and family I recruited). I wondered if it helped, but at the very least it helped me feel like I was doing something positive, and made a contribution to the USPS.
I hear you, Liz.I'm from MA, too, and do what little I can afford to do financially. I'm not a joiner, so I hesitate to join groups requiring meetings. I do the postcard/letter writing things, but have no idea that it really makes a difference. I'm waiting to hear the higher ups say that our work helps.
Be proud of what you did. It made a difference, two Senators' worth in Georgia! And in the face of Republican State voter suppression legislation, an even greater effort will be needed in 2022 and 2024. Those who did 100 post cards should plan on doing 200! (Purchase the pre-stamped ones from the USPS now before they become hard to get.) Targeted mailing lists will again be available. The evil ones, like Utah Senator Mike Lee, are already saying that their target is democracy. We are its defenders.
I do write for Postcards to Voters, but they have been pretty silent these days. I know it will pick up, and that's where I feel most like I do make a difference. But, here in MA writing to the locals etc. feels like I'm preaching to the converted. And, I'm not sure how people in other states respond to a MA writer. I'll keep on keeping on for sure.
I just did 10 postcards (feels paltry, after hearing of your 100?) to make waves for what is happening at Point Reyes in Cal. I agree that sending hand written cards could influence our reps? better in Congress etc. Not sure I could do 100 - had to portion out the measly 10 I did. Hand issues - old hands, that is! I truly send kudos to all of you who did so many. I'm sure it did make a difference.
Writing to locals is another ballgame. Such efforts must be attuned to local issues like zoning and schools. Nationally, it doesn't matter that your postal cards carry a MA postmark. Being handwritten says something to the recipient. I used "Flip the West," now known as "Activate America." With them, you buy the postal cards and stamps yourself (try for pre-stamped ones) from the USPS. They provide a targeted list of addresses with suggested messages in crucial States. I wrote their message on the blank side and added my own on the blank half of the front of the card.
Thanks Pam—I’m sure all the things we do make a difference. This is an attitude I think that comes from being born into the female caste. It’s like we never feel we give enough though we’re the ones doing all the giving—not the higher ups.
There are letter and postcard writing campaigns with VoteFwd and others. There’s phone banking too (with Fair Fight has others) if you are comfortable with that. There’s such a feeling of gratification being a part of something like that, as a community. It feels empowering and you know you have made a difference.
I decided to get involved with my legislative district and next Sunday is their endorsement meeting, where they pick which candidates to endorse. It's slated to go for 7 hours on Zoom, though they say it may take "only" 5 or 6. May god have mercy.
I'm right there with you. I live in Los Angeles. My representatives are Democrats. I have done a few post cards. Mostly I have to rely on giving donations. I felt frustrated during the pandemic because had we been in normal times I would have been out marching with BLM. I'm thinking that in 2022 I may provide rides to the polls. I feel that we all have to become Stacy Abrams in our own little way.
I have regret in taking my democracy for granted for most of my life. We have a fantastic activist group in our state that has helped more of us to grow our activism by monitoring issues that need our attention and helping us direct our time and energy. Getting our voices out there by giving feedback on proposed bills seems important. Here’s one of their newsletters in case anyone is interested. https://mailchi.mp/1d976640a87c/legislative-updates-the-domestic-gag-rule-and-supporting-trans-rights?e=d79cae2224
Don’t feel so bad about not taking an active part in the democratic process until recently. We aren’t born with good decision-making skills; they are rarely taught, and sometimes we learn only from experience. Toastmasters International gave me some practical appreciation for parliamentary procedure and overcoming stage fright. There must be lots of ways to prepare for active participation in our democracy: joining clubs, volunteering in charities, etc. I started a Green Committee of Correspondence just before I left California and whst I learned from that is that hardly anyone I knew understood the value of Roberts Rules of Order or how to follow them. How the legislators get through all that to pass bills, I do not know.
Have you heard of Indivisible? Started by former Congressional staffers, they issued a guide book and within weeks there were thousands of local groups that did some amazing work based on the admonition that the only people politicians will listen to are their own constituents.
Another way one can keep engaged is to track legislature bills in your state. Here in N H, due to COVID, it has been doing zoom meetings and has created a remote testimony platform so that members of the public can put in their support/opposition to a bill. I do the latter by using the guidance that 2-3 progressive groups put out about the bills. I've been doing that for about 2-3 months. Some of the more atrocious bills put for by the Republican majority legislature have been walked back as a result. I also do occasional letters to the editor to my local newspaper about them.
You write really well. Letters to the Editors, possibly? Boston Globe has a radical following. I think it’s important to keep pushing back against the lies but I don’t know. It was felt Postcards to Voters, encouraging getting out the vote was successful. There are organizations like Spread the Vote trying to help people get registered to vote (getting the needed ID cards etc).
"We The People, All of Us This Time = a greater force for progressive and necessary change to preserve and advance our democratic process." Yes! I think this title (and logo!), developed here by readers like Ellie on HCR's site, is more than a rallying cry. I think it completely embodies the movement, the spirit, the goals and urgency, of our true American democracy quest. Ellie, you may want to copyright it for us. Unlike very noble but misleading terms such as "Black Lives Matter" and "Defund Police", no one can deny what this means. ALL OF US THIS TIME.
so true . with permission, I would like to add it to my email signature. And wish I could make bumper stickers. and t shirts for the grandkids...and, and and.
Letter writing is good. We can also try to counter the disinformation/misinformation out there! If you know people who are critical of HR1/S1 ("For the People Act"), you could send them this -
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/people-act-separating-fact-fiction - or post the article on social media. Common Cause has a volunteer team which reports disinformation on social media & has had successes in getting disinformation removed. Volunteers can also post positive messages (f.e. about HR1/S1) created by Common Cause. Common Cause calls it 'inoculation' against against the disinformation. I post the positive messages and feel that I'm helping in some small way. There are other opportunities like this.
Join local grass roots organizations that sprang up immediately after the 2016 election. As HCR suggested, write carefully crafted, fact based opinions in local papers that will be read by right/left/center. Reply on the Twitter posts of McConnell et al calling them out on their lies with links to fact based news. Call, email, and write to their offices constantly. There is a true decay in our country. My mother experienced it teaching government in the public school system in San Antonio. She loved it for many years. She quit because the students changed. There were fewer and fewer who cared, and more and more who were lazy or belligerent. Sports, entertainment, and political figures have gotten away with abuse, drug use, bribery, etc.. Ethics and morality are non existent. The English language in the U.S. has disintegrated. I remember reading a quote once that was something like, "As your language goes, so goes your nation."
Thank you Galilee— I so appreciate your post because you remind me of how much I value language. It is the skill as you suggest I can use in a concerted way to fight this war.
Liz, I don't actually use Twitter for me, but when I discovered that McConnell et al do, I try to reply on their posts - you can on Mcconnell's and #their Twitter handles in a post responding to their disimformation with link to facts.
I have an appointment with my computer person today— I have Twitter but haven’t been using it — do you have a suggestion about who or what I can chat with.
Manchin is our biggest hurdle but I am kinda seeing him soften just a twd. He and Lisa Murkowski are trying to work together on a plan to bring back the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
The Right has been arguing that we have a "republic" not a "democracy" forfuckingever. I remember arguing the point with a Bircher back in college in the mid-60s. And I recall hearing the argument the first time in the late 50s somewhere.
We are supposed to democratically elect our representatives, hence democratic republic rather than a pure democracy.
But, it appears that some of our representatives now want to remove the democratic part. They want the Republic and all the power it conveys without the messy part, the people.
It’s happening in Florida with the State legislature making voter initiatives much harder to achieve. And of course voter suppression laws.
My cousin, the evangelical trumper, said this to me in 2016 and I couldn’t find why that distinction was so important to those people. I didn’t want to argue with her on FB so simply responded that we are actually a democratic republic, but I still don’t understand what they are trying to say. What is their message here?
It's a misunderstanding of the term Republic, Cary: a convenient buzzword to contest "democracy" (also poorly understood in terms of its history). In essence, "Democracy" refers to rule by the "demos"--the body of citizens (origin: 6th-century BCE Athens). "Republic" (in Latin "res publica": public stuff) refers to rule through a representative limited body (origin: 6th-century BCE Rome). However, the much vaunted "democracy" in Athens was not very democratic (about 20% of the adult residents of Athens were eligible citizens, mostly because they had so many enslaved workers, "foreign" residents, and women), and the Roman "Republic" was essentially an oligarchic system dominated by the patrician class, which represented about 20% of the population (the Romans at that time were not engaged in human enslavement--that would come later after the Punic Wars).
Sorry, a long answer to your question. There is no essential difference between the two systems if one looks at them historically, as both were dominated by a minority of landowning men. And the Romans deliberately claim the date of 509 BCE as the year of the origin of the Republic because that is the year the Athenians claim to have established their democracy.
Long but great! Buzz word Democrat (currently synonymous with socialist as HCR describes) is today used by Putin/GOP/Koch propaganda to draw hate from the right to the left. Democrat (democracy) vs. Republican (republic). Authoritarian brainwashing tools, black and white thinking, us versus them.
Right you are! So some folks want to split hairs to support superior persons (usually older white males) making our laws to benefit their way of life and "benignly" assigning crumbs to the rest, simply because we elect representatives to speak for us.
Their message is that the more people who vote, the more democratic our democratic republic becomes, and as a result, the less likely it will allow the private sector to have the freedom to do whatever it wants, supposedly but incorrectly, for everyone's benefit. See the position of the Heritage Foundation and Senator Mike Lee's anti-democratic remarks in HCR's comments today.
That they have no interest in the social net created in what they disparage as a “democracy”. In fact, they have always created holes in the net that allow SOME to fall through to their peril.
Their interest in a “republic” is money and power. And that the word is in the name of their party. They are obsessed with the word.
Whenever you find some little irksome detail, some extra hoop you have to jump through with whatever social program you are dealing with (taxes on Social Security, copays on Medicare, etc., etc.) you can thank the goddamned Republicans for throwing the monkey wrench in the gears.
Trump Republicans are trying to downplay one-person-one-vote democracy, because they know the demographic tide is running against them due to higher birthrates and immigration favoring people of color. To adhere to democracy will eventually reduce their political power, jeopardizing their longstanding economic, social and political privilege.
They know that and that is why the Fascist Senator from Utah, as quoted by HCR, is against democracy. He calls it "rank" democracy. Historically, it was called "pure" democracy, a system which our demographics make impossible, so we settle for a democratic republic, which is what we have. Mike Lee and his ilk want a democracy which gives them the freedom to have the economic, social and political privilege to which you refer and provides little else. To them, the fewer voters, the better off they are.
They really want a monarchy. They just SAY they are a republic. The European royalty is alive and well and selling titles. They sold some into Mexico and the practice has seeped into the Southern States. Thus “Baron” Trump. It’s illegal according to our constitution. https://sealandgov.org/buy-noble-titles
See how this goes, TC? Republic = RepubliCANS and Democracy = Democrats so, of course, the right wants all of the power, the credit. A good definition of each: “ The major difference between a democracy and a republic is that a republic is a form of government whereas a democracy is an ideology that helps shape how a government is run. Put another way: a republic is the system of government that allows a country to be democratic!”
I am involved in supporting a fabulous daycare for underserved children in Winter Park FL that came into existence when women went to work in WWII. You are so right about affordable daycare being a key cog in restarting the economy....which is why this administration included it in the infrastructure package which it frames in terms of jobs. Arguing that the "social" programs ought to be funded somewhere else misses this key reality for women in the workplace. Thank you.
Cathy, your comment about the women is so important. Recently I attended a Zoom meeting with several voting rights groups including LWV and "All on the Line". They opened with this excellent music video by Keb' Mo: "Put a Woman in Charge".
This has been my belief since I was a little girl - it's time to hand over the reins to women. Especially, put some Black, Brown, and Indigenous women in charge (as President Biden has been doing in his administration!)
There is a daily newsletter (or weekly digest if you prefer not to get daily email) curated by Nicole Cardoza that offers take-aways (suggestions for action) with each essay posted. Although not directly related to influencing legislators, there is plenty to think about and act upon in daily interactions with others that might help with feeling useful.
Protestors to the bill are being brought in from out of state to protest in front of Manchin's office - West Virginia. I think letters need to be sent to him since he's become so pivotal to getting Democratic led bills passed.
A recent essay was about photo ID requirements (for voting and much more) and the effects upon marginalized groups. There was a link to find out what the laws on identification are in every state and info about efforts by various organizations working to overcome the barriers to obtaining identification.
Around 1978, when I had started my career in engineering, I remember hearing men talking that the solution to not having enough workers was to get women into the labor force. Today, we see that two salaries are required to survive and be able to feed one's children. We still hear men talking about poor people being lazy and not going back to work because of the $300 per week unemployment, that there are plenty of jobs. But these aren't jobs that pay well and certainly do not cover the costs of child care. Without affordable child care a low paying job brings home next to nothing. I'm feeling very scared that if the For the People Act isn't passed we're on our way to having a rebellion. I will join the resistance if that happens. Hearing that in 1986 they were using the words "ballot integrity" for voter suppression sounds so much like today's "voter integrity" it is truly frightening. Hearing that Republicans are actually saying the United States is "not a democracy" .. and that they don't want democracy anyway is doubly frightening. The Heritage Foundation and ALEC writing all these horrible bills. I think we no longer have a democracy -- it's an oligarchic kleptocracy -- but I differ from the Republicans in that I want democracy back! The majority of the People do too and will show it if they are allowed to vote. This time I what We the People to mean All of Us This Time!
The attacks on democracy are multi-facted: PAC lobbying, court packing, disinformation, state legislatures’ voter suppression bills, The Big Lie, outright organized insurrection. Each of these forces does require an equal and opposite force just to maintain status quo democracy. But reality is not static, and the status quo involves unacceptable institutional racism, sexism, and classism. Therefore, each of these regressive forces requires a greater opposite force to effect progressive change.
HR1/S1 For The People Act is a core force for protection of the vote, gerrymandering reform, and getting big billionaire money out of politics. It would make space for a host of other laws to make our lives more fair and our environment more sustainable. Maybe it’s a misconception to call a law a force. It’s a tool to be applied with force. The force comes from the people who first speak up to get this law passed, to put this tool in the toolbox. Then force comes from people who speak up to enforce this law.
We The People, All of Us This Time = a greater force for progressive and necessary change to preserve and advance our democratic process.
I can’t get the image out of my head of a dense pack of insurrectionists using the totality of their mass weight plus energy to break through a set of doors in the Capitol. Dozens of them packed together, chanted in unison and surged forward en masse with every “Heave HO!” repeatedly, until they broke through.
Our mission is to put our weight together, our individual voices, to form a collective force on behalf of democracy. Our individual voices take many forms of communication to our elected officials and to corporations who make campaign donations: written (letters to the editor, letters or postcards, texting), phone calls, and money (donations pro and boycotts against).
We The People must pass HR1/S1 For The People Act. Get Out The Vote is a critical action. Asking HCR Substack readers:
Which GOTV organizations are you finding to be most effective?
What is your communication of choice to make your voice heard, adding to the collective force?
I thought a lot about responsive and collective force this week. Your descriptor of a law being a tool is spot on. Perhaps this is how it is to be presented to Senator Manchin for example. I want our legislators in Congress to understand WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE FORCE. And I’ll use Luke Skywalker’s light saber, thank you very much.
But one more point. When I was thinking about the fight of this stream for democracy and the we-for-by the people, I thought about you Ellie.
You are something. Have you ever held public office or run a campaign.
There’s something about your light and energy that is very translucent.
Thank you to all HCR’s readers.
Thank you, Christine, for your kind words. It's not about me, but about us as a whole. I am not a politician, and my real political education has been this past year from HCR. I'm just a connector of dots who values the wonderful contributions on this forum of LFAA comments, and I'm working to help move our great discussions to effective action in service of our common goal to support democratic process.
I agree about Ellie’s force.
Hello Christine, it’s Roland. I am replying to an old post of yours, let’s see if you get this message.
Why don’t you subscribe to my substack page? Click on my profile, go to my Substack site, and subscribe. When I get your email, I’ll get back to you.
I would love to speak with you. ❤️❤️
I’m sending a similar message to you on different days, in case some of these days are “thread muted.“ So you might get duplicates of this message.
Love,
Roland
Thank you again. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email for more info: heathersherd@gmail.com
I’m really not sure how to act on behalf of democracy other than sharing these letters to my family and friends. MA is such a blue state. I joined the League of Women Voters and gave them a generous donation but then I really didn’t want to do their ZOOM meetings. And from some of their communications it appeared they were more interested in our town elections whereas, though I do vote in them, we have a lot of good people who love running our town. I’ve never enjoyed meetings let alone ZOOM meetings. I gave a lot more money than I should to Biden’s campaign and the Georgia races so much that my husband got angry. I’m looking for suggestions.
You sound like me Liz; I’m an introvert and have a hard time with meetings and protests. I sign a lot of petitions and make a few phone calls, and I’m on a small pension and tend to get myself in debt making too many donations. Letters, phone calls, and petitions seem a paltry effort but it’s a contribution towards the effort that I can manage. Don’t beat yourself up; any effort is a contribution.
Thanks—I like reminders not to beat myself up. If I lived in Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi I’d knock on doors.
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism, and meetings are available for community and info sharing, but not required. You can email for more info: heathersherd@gmail.com
https://www.mobilize.us/
Americans of Conscience has a weekly checklist you might find helpful. It’s a list of actions to take and the reason behind the request. Mostly letter writing and phone calls to make and she provides a script to help you. Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny has good ideas too. Now that things are opening up look for voter registration drives to help with, there is always back office work to do if you don’t like talking to people you don’t know.
Thank you Elizabeth— I’m making a list!
I felt much like you last summer, Liz, so joined Postcards to Voters and wrote 100 to people in Michigan urging them to vote in the Nov election. It took away the helpless feeling and maybe did some good. If everybody did what you did—donating and sharing—we’d be better off. Keep it up, friend.
Agree about Postcards to Voters, it’s a great way to contribute without knocking on doors or making phone calls....I like to think I helped the GA Senate race, and indeed, Jon Ossoff mentioned us in his thank you you to all who helped in his race.
Ossify is great!
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
MaryB, I was with you, writing 400 to Michigan (with help from the friends and family I recruited). I wondered if it helped, but at the very least it helped me feel like I was doing something positive, and made a contribution to the USPS.
Thank you— I could write editorials or postcards.
I hear you, Liz.I'm from MA, too, and do what little I can afford to do financially. I'm not a joiner, so I hesitate to join groups requiring meetings. I do the postcard/letter writing things, but have no idea that it really makes a difference. I'm waiting to hear the higher ups say that our work helps.
Be proud of what you did. It made a difference, two Senators' worth in Georgia! And in the face of Republican State voter suppression legislation, an even greater effort will be needed in 2022 and 2024. Those who did 100 post cards should plan on doing 200! (Purchase the pre-stamped ones from the USPS now before they become hard to get.) Targeted mailing lists will again be available. The evil ones, like Utah Senator Mike Lee, are already saying that their target is democracy. We are its defenders.
I do write for Postcards to Voters, but they have been pretty silent these days. I know it will pick up, and that's where I feel most like I do make a difference. But, here in MA writing to the locals etc. feels like I'm preaching to the converted. And, I'm not sure how people in other states respond to a MA writer. I'll keep on keeping on for sure.
I just did 10 postcards (feels paltry, after hearing of your 100?) to make waves for what is happening at Point Reyes in Cal. I agree that sending hand written cards could influence our reps? better in Congress etc. Not sure I could do 100 - had to portion out the measly 10 I did. Hand issues - old hands, that is! I truly send kudos to all of you who did so many. I'm sure it did make a difference.
Writing to locals is another ballgame. Such efforts must be attuned to local issues like zoning and schools. Nationally, it doesn't matter that your postal cards carry a MA postmark. Being handwritten says something to the recipient. I used "Flip the West," now known as "Activate America." With them, you buy the postal cards and stamps yourself (try for pre-stamped ones) from the USPS. They provide a targeted list of addresses with suggested messages in crucial States. I wrote their message on the blank side and added my own on the blank half of the front of the card.
Or before DeJoy stops production of prestamped post cards from the USPS!!!
Shhhh! Fontbgiivevhom ifes
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
Will do Jacob thanks for the idea!
Thanks Pam—I’m sure all the things we do make a difference. This is an attitude I think that comes from being born into the female caste. It’s like we never feel we give enough though we’re the ones doing all the giving—not the higher ups.
https://www.mobilize.us/
(HH meetings offered, not required!)
There are letter and postcard writing campaigns with VoteFwd and others. There’s phone banking too (with Fair Fight has others) if you are comfortable with that. There’s such a feeling of gratification being a part of something like that, as a community. It feels empowering and you know you have made a difference.
Thanks Pamsy!
I decided to get involved with my legislative district and next Sunday is their endorsement meeting, where they pick which candidates to endorse. It's slated to go for 7 hours on Zoom, though they say it may take "only" 5 or 6. May god have mercy.
Good for you, Reid. I admire your willingness to give up a day to get involved. Thank you.
😃
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
Good luck with that Reid.
I'm right there with you. I live in Los Angeles. My representatives are Democrats. I have done a few post cards. Mostly I have to rely on giving donations. I felt frustrated during the pandemic because had we been in normal times I would have been out marching with BLM. I'm thinking that in 2022 I may provide rides to the polls. I feel that we all have to become Stacy Abrams in our own little way.
Yes I’ve thought of providing rides too and helping at our election sites. Thank you.
I have regret in taking my democracy for granted for most of my life. We have a fantastic activist group in our state that has helped more of us to grow our activism by monitoring issues that need our attention and helping us direct our time and energy. Getting our voices out there by giving feedback on proposed bills seems important. Here’s one of their newsletters in case anyone is interested. https://mailchi.mp/1d976640a87c/legislative-updates-the-domestic-gag-rule-and-supporting-trans-rights?e=d79cae2224
Don’t feel so bad about not taking an active part in the democratic process until recently. We aren’t born with good decision-making skills; they are rarely taught, and sometimes we learn only from experience. Toastmasters International gave me some practical appreciation for parliamentary procedure and overcoming stage fright. There must be lots of ways to prepare for active participation in our democracy: joining clubs, volunteering in charities, etc. I started a Green Committee of Correspondence just before I left California and whst I learned from that is that hardly anyone I knew understood the value of Roberts Rules of Order or how to follow them. How the legislators get through all that to pass bills, I do not know.
Have you heard of Indivisible? Started by former Congressional staffers, they issued a guide book and within weeks there were thousands of local groups that did some amazing work based on the admonition that the only people politicians will listen to are their own constituents.
https://indivisible.org/democracy-guide
Yes, I did text messaging with them before the Nov 3rd election.
Thank you for this link, MisTBlu, this looks really helpful.
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
Another way one can keep engaged is to track legislature bills in your state. Here in N H, due to COVID, it has been doing zoom meetings and has created a remote testimony platform so that members of the public can put in their support/opposition to a bill. I do the latter by using the guidance that 2-3 progressive groups put out about the bills. I've been doing that for about 2-3 months. Some of the more atrocious bills put for by the Republican majority legislature have been walked back as a result. I also do occasional letters to the editor to my local newspaper about them.
Interesting approach— thank you.
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
You write really well. Letters to the Editors, possibly? Boston Globe has a radical following. I think it’s important to keep pushing back against the lies but I don’t know. It was felt Postcards to Voters, encouraging getting out the vote was successful. There are organizations like Spread the Vote trying to help people get registered to vote (getting the needed ID cards etc).
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
It’s funny but I don’t get the Globe only the Nytimes.
https://www.mobilize.us/
Thank you that’s a good site.
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
Do email HH for more info!
Mobilize.us pulls together many groups and offers a multitude of ways to get involved.
Mobilize.us is great! Thank you and added to the list!
Me too!
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email: heathersherd@gmail.com
Done!
"We The People, All of Us This Time = a greater force for progressive and necessary change to preserve and advance our democratic process." Yes! I think this title (and logo!), developed here by readers like Ellie on HCR's site, is more than a rallying cry. I think it completely embodies the movement, the spirit, the goals and urgency, of our true American democracy quest. Ellie, you may want to copyright it for us. Unlike very noble but misleading terms such as "Black Lives Matter" and "Defund Police", no one can deny what this means. ALL OF US THIS TIME.
so true . with permission, I would like to add it to my email signature. And wish I could make bumper stickers. and t shirts for the grandkids...and, and and.
Letter writing is good. We can also try to counter the disinformation/misinformation out there! If you know people who are critical of HR1/S1 ("For the People Act"), you could send them this -
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/people-act-separating-fact-fiction - or post the article on social media. Common Cause has a volunteer team which reports disinformation on social media & has had successes in getting disinformation removed. Volunteers can also post positive messages (f.e. about HR1/S1) created by Common Cause. Common Cause calls it 'inoculation' against against the disinformation. I post the positive messages and feel that I'm helping in some small way. There are other opportunities like this.
Thanks for this link, Joan!
This is great! Thank you.
Join local grass roots organizations that sprang up immediately after the 2016 election. As HCR suggested, write carefully crafted, fact based opinions in local papers that will be read by right/left/center. Reply on the Twitter posts of McConnell et al calling them out on their lies with links to fact based news. Call, email, and write to their offices constantly. There is a true decay in our country. My mother experienced it teaching government in the public school system in San Antonio. She loved it for many years. She quit because the students changed. There were fewer and fewer who cared, and more and more who were lazy or belligerent. Sports, entertainment, and political figures have gotten away with abuse, drug use, bribery, etc.. Ethics and morality are non existent. The English language in the U.S. has disintegrated. I remember reading a quote once that was something like, "As your language goes, so goes your nation."
Thank you Galilee— I so appreciate your post because you remind me of how much I value language. It is the skill as you suggest I can use in a concerted way to fight this war.
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email:
heathersherd@gmail.com
I’m taking your advice — I renewed my Twitter and I’ll start responding to McConnell etc
Liz, I don't actually use Twitter for me, but when I discovered that McConnell et al do, I try to reply on their posts - you can on Mcconnell's and #their Twitter handles in a post responding to their disimformation with link to facts.
I sent my first tweet to McConnell yesterday in response to his statement about Israel.
I have an appointment with my computer person today— I have Twitter but haven’t been using it — do you have a suggestion about who or what I can chat with.
McConnell for sure. I'm trying to find a way to respond to all, with McCarthy and Cruz at the top of my list. I will let you know.
Yes I signed onto McCarthy and I’ll find Cruz today.
Vote every time for everything. Vote
thank you ellie.... !!!!!!
Every word of this is golden!
Hear Hear, Ellie!! FairFight!!
1. How many here are willing to put time, effort, and maybe a bit of $ into an effort?
2. Is there an already up and running media expert among us?
Hi. A group of HCR Substackers has formed to support activism. You can email:
heathersherd@gmail.com
Ellie, we don't have 'the time it takes to raise a child"!
Manchin is our biggest hurdle but I am kinda seeing him soften just a twd. He and Lisa Murkowski are trying to work together on a plan to bring back the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
In spades
The Right has been arguing that we have a "republic" not a "democracy" forfuckingever. I remember arguing the point with a Bircher back in college in the mid-60s. And I recall hearing the argument the first time in the late 50s somewhere.
We are supposed to democratically elect our representatives, hence democratic republic rather than a pure democracy.
But, it appears that some of our representatives now want to remove the democratic part. They want the Republic and all the power it conveys without the messy part, the people.
It’s happening in Florida with the State legislature making voter initiatives much harder to achieve. And of course voter suppression laws.
Fudal.
https://establishedtitles.com/
My cousin, the evangelical trumper, said this to me in 2016 and I couldn’t find why that distinction was so important to those people. I didn’t want to argue with her on FB so simply responded that we are actually a democratic republic, but I still don’t understand what they are trying to say. What is their message here?
It's a misunderstanding of the term Republic, Cary: a convenient buzzword to contest "democracy" (also poorly understood in terms of its history). In essence, "Democracy" refers to rule by the "demos"--the body of citizens (origin: 6th-century BCE Athens). "Republic" (in Latin "res publica": public stuff) refers to rule through a representative limited body (origin: 6th-century BCE Rome). However, the much vaunted "democracy" in Athens was not very democratic (about 20% of the adult residents of Athens were eligible citizens, mostly because they had so many enslaved workers, "foreign" residents, and women), and the Roman "Republic" was essentially an oligarchic system dominated by the patrician class, which represented about 20% of the population (the Romans at that time were not engaged in human enslavement--that would come later after the Punic Wars).
Sorry, a long answer to your question. There is no essential difference between the two systems if one looks at them historically, as both were dominated by a minority of landowning men. And the Romans deliberately claim the date of 509 BCE as the year of the origin of the Republic because that is the year the Athenians claim to have established their democracy.
Long but great! Buzz word Democrat (currently synonymous with socialist as HCR describes) is today used by Putin/GOP/Koch propaganda to draw hate from the right to the left. Democrat (democracy) vs. Republican (republic). Authoritarian brainwashing tools, black and white thinking, us versus them.
Thank you Linda for stepping up and saving me having to write an answer. :-)
And kudos for an excellent disposition on the Greek and Roman systems.
It's what I do for a living. :-) There are sometimes reasons to study ancient languages!
Thank you for this explanation!
Right you are! So some folks want to split hairs to support superior persons (usually older white males) making our laws to benefit their way of life and "benignly" assigning crumbs to the rest, simply because we elect representatives to speak for us.
Thank you, Linda!
Their message is that the more people who vote, the more democratic our democratic republic becomes, and as a result, the less likely it will allow the private sector to have the freedom to do whatever it wants, supposedly but incorrectly, for everyone's benefit. See the position of the Heritage Foundation and Senator Mike Lee's anti-democratic remarks in HCR's comments today.
Bingo.
That they have no interest in the social net created in what they disparage as a “democracy”. In fact, they have always created holes in the net that allow SOME to fall through to their peril.
Their interest in a “republic” is money and power. And that the word is in the name of their party. They are obsessed with the word.
Whenever you find some little irksome detail, some extra hoop you have to jump through with whatever social program you are dealing with (taxes on Social Security, copays on Medicare, etc., etc.) you can thank the goddamned Republicans for throwing the monkey wrench in the gears.
And yet when it comes to the California Republic (it’s on our flag) they label us communists and deride “the Cali ways.”
Trump Republicans are trying to downplay one-person-one-vote democracy, because they know the demographic tide is running against them due to higher birthrates and immigration favoring people of color. To adhere to democracy will eventually reduce their political power, jeopardizing their longstanding economic, social and political privilege.
They know that and that is why the Fascist Senator from Utah, as quoted by HCR, is against democracy. He calls it "rank" democracy. Historically, it was called "pure" democracy, a system which our demographics make impossible, so we settle for a democratic republic, which is what we have. Mike Lee and his ilk want a democracy which gives them the freedom to have the economic, social and political privilege to which you refer and provides little else. To them, the fewer voters, the better off they are.
Yup. That's what "protecting the purity of the ballot-box" is all about.
They really want a monarchy. They just SAY they are a republic. The European royalty is alive and well and selling titles. They sold some into Mexico and the practice has seeped into the Southern States. Thus “Baron” Trump. It’s illegal according to our constitution. https://sealandgov.org/buy-noble-titles
Or....
https://establishedtitles.com/
See how this goes, TC? Republic = RepubliCANS and Democracy = Democrats so, of course, the right wants all of the power, the credit. A good definition of each: “ The major difference between a democracy and a republic is that a republic is a form of government whereas a democracy is an ideology that helps shape how a government is run. Put another way: a republic is the system of government that allows a country to be democratic!”
I am involved in supporting a fabulous daycare for underserved children in Winter Park FL that came into existence when women went to work in WWII. You are so right about affordable daycare being a key cog in restarting the economy....which is why this administration included it in the infrastructure package which it frames in terms of jobs. Arguing that the "social" programs ought to be funded somewhere else misses this key reality for women in the workplace. Thank you.
Cathy, your comment about the women is so important. Recently I attended a Zoom meeting with several voting rights groups including LWV and "All on the Line". They opened with this excellent music video by Keb' Mo: "Put a Woman in Charge".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FciQeRGYFlw
Here's a live version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZddINdr4Us
This has been my belief since I was a little girl - it's time to hand over the reins to women. Especially, put some Black, Brown, and Indigenous women in charge (as President Biden has been doing in his administration!)
Beautiful video!
Love this.
Ballot integrity = Voter suppression sounds like “1984.”
There is a daily newsletter (or weekly digest if you prefer not to get daily email) curated by Nicole Cardoza that offers take-aways (suggestions for action) with each essay posted. Although not directly related to influencing legislators, there is plenty to think about and act upon in daily interactions with others that might help with feeling useful.
https://www.antiracismdaily.com
Protestors to the bill are being brought in from out of state to protest in front of Manchin's office - West Virginia. I think letters need to be sent to him since he's become so pivotal to getting Democratic led bills passed.
A recent essay was about photo ID requirements (for voting and much more) and the effects upon marginalized groups. There was a link to find out what the laws on identification are in every state and info about efforts by various organizations working to overcome the barriers to obtaining identification.
https://www.antiracismdaily.com/archives/increase-access-to-identification-in-your-community-anti-racism-daily