Pulling out all the stops. Every action, big or small, to fight this TrumpMAGA regime, every action counts.
Doing nothing achieves nothing. Whatever you can do from chaining yourself to the White House gate, to signing a petition, to talking candidly to your neighbors, these actions are important.
Dear Elders taking action,
On a daily basis, I nearly lose hope.
For our democracy. Our way of life. Our grandchildren.
And for each of you.
Well, for the whole world, if I get right down to it.
I want to give up. On a regular basis.
We, as elders, have lived history that arms us with the sincerity and the genuine deep concern for the loss of our hope for a more perfect union.
A more perfect democracy.
I am the first to criticize the atrocities of our imperfect U.S. republic throughout the history of the United States of America, and even before. When we were a colony of England.
But, the hope and the making of a more perfect union
does NOT include
giving up that hope.
Yes, there are so many who are supporting this authoritarian take-over. Especially including just about all Republican lawmakers and even the US Supreme Court.
There are also folks who ask,
“What’s the use?” Or, who say, “I can’t listen anymore. It’s too much. I give up. There is nothing we can do anyway.”
Here are some things we can do.
Big and small. They all matter.
I came up with ten here today!
#1. Keep ourselves informed.
You don’t have to watch the news all day or stay glued to social media. But, tune into your favorite reliable sources and do something with the news that strikes a cord with you. Example: Call your Members of Congress.
News I trust:
Rachel Maddow (videos) and WEBSITE
Marc Elias, Democracy Docket (videos) and WEBSITE
Brian Tyler Cohen (videos) and WEBSITE
Meidas Touch Network (videos) and WEBSITE
Inspirational and Informative sites:
Angela, from Parkrose Permaculture
My Gov Expert: Social Security & Medicare YOUR Complete Insider Guide (Ed Weir) Website and Youtube Channel
Impeach Trump. Again (website)nVeterans Fighting Fascism
Veterans Fighting Fascism (website)
Helpful apps:
Make your voice heard. 5 Calls is the easiest and most effective way for U.S. constituents to make a political impact. Click on the link to download it to your phone.
#2. We can talk to our neighbors. They maybe haven’t heard about a particular issue.
Talking to others about what we have learned and what we are doing to take action against this TrumpMAGA regime, helps raise the awareness of the seriousness of our times. Talking to others also seems to help feeling supported and supportive in these upside-down times.
#3. Support our Democratic leaders who are working hard to be the party of opposition.
I’m calling regularly and thanking them for fighting the Big Horrible Budget Bill, or whatever is on the agenda for today. (My agenda for today is: SUPPORT ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT)
Find your Members of Congress HERE
Our MoC’s in CA District 2:
Representative Jared Huffman
WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE
2330 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5161
Fax: (202) 225-5163
FORT BRAGG DISTRICT OFFICE
430 North Franklin St. Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2208
Fort Bragg 95437
Phone: (707) 962-0933
Fax: (707) 962-0905
Senator Alex Padilla
WASHINGTON DC
331 Hart Senate
Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2200 (fax)
SAN FRANCISCO
333 Bush Street
Suite 3225
San Francisco, CA 94104(202) 224-0454 (fax)
Senator Adam Schiff
Washington D.C.
Hart Senate Office Building #112
Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
San Francisco
1 Post St,
Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
#4 Complain to the Democratic lawmakers who are not doing enough to keep a united opposition party speaking up loudly and acting boldly.
I’m also calling to say, KEEP UP A UNITED OPPOSITION to the TrumpMAGA agenda.
From Carolyn:
I am a supporter of the Articles of Impeachment brought by Rep Al Green.
Not only do I continue to demand that my Members of Congress support Al Green’s Impeachment effort, I am calling other Dem Representatives who are undermining Rep Green’s efforts to force Congress to hold DJT accountable.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH THIS 2 MINUTE PBS VIDEO FROM “IMPEACH TRUMP. AGAIN”:
From Carolyn:
I am also a supporter of holding TrumpMAGA accountable by BOLD actions of resistance/ defiance.
Which Democrats Voted to Censure Al Green?
Approximately 10 House Democrats voted with several Republicans for Green's reprimand after he refused to sit down and shut up at the State of the Union address in March. (From Carolyn: I think they should have all refused to sit down and one-by-one have been escorted out of the chamber!)
Those Dems who voted in favor of censuring Rep Green included:
Ed Case of Hawaii
Tom Suozzi of New York
Jim Costa of California
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington
Jared Moskowitz of Florida
Ami Bera of California
Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania
Marcy Kaptur of Ohio
Laura Gillen of New York
Jim Himes of Connecticut
From Carolyn:
To call other Reps besides your own, you must call the Congressional Switch Board and ask for the Rep specifically, without giving your zip code information.
To contact the Congressional switchboard, call (202) 224-3121. This number connects you with the Capitol Hill switchboard, which can then connect you with the specific office of a Senator or Representative.
#4. Call the White House Comment line, where we will be able to politely converse with the MAGA volunteer on the other end of the line.
That comment line volunteer is an everyday American, like us, who must surely hear the fear and stress in our voices when we call to comment on what it is that we are concerned about on this particular day.
You can read my Blog article about how I conduct my calls to the White House Comment Line at THIS LINK. Scroll through that article to see how I do it, when calling the White House Comment line.
WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE (open T-W-TH 8-11:00 AM Pacific time)
HERE IS THE NUMBER: Comments: 202-456-1111
#5. Make donations to organizations that we trust will have an impact and support our flame of hope for a more perfect union.
Here are some suggestions:
~ Your own favorite independent journalists
~ A few organizations fighting for Democracy:
Fair Fight (re voting rights)
Indivisible (National organization)
#6. Join and participate in our local Indivisible group.
SIGN UP to SUBSCRIBE to our local INDIVISIBLE MENDOCINO email list HERE
Our numbers count, and we are growing by the minute. There are so many actions we can take.
~From writing postcards,
calling our Members of Congress,
to joining an immigrant first alert ICE Raid phone chain,
to marching in rallies for our rights.
#7. Explore ways to raise awareness.
Here are some ways I have discovered that are very effective:
~ Wear your message. My shirts now say: “Democracy Defender” or “No Kings since 1776” or “Veterans Fighting Fascism” (from Carolyn: I am a Gold Star Mother, so I support Veterans activists groups)
~ When folks ask me “How are you today?” I answer: “I’m upset. We’re experiencing a hostile take-over of our government…” (this leads to meaningful conversations)
~ Start an anti-fascist book club. MORE INFO HERE.
~ Make activist art:
Institute of Contemporary art, Boston: “A Mini Guide to Creative Protest”
#8. Attend an online training for taking a leadership role in organizing in the resistance, the fight for a more perfect union. (even for introverts)
ACLU has many…
From Carolyn:
During the writing of this Blog article today,
I attended the first (of four scheduled)
online activist/organizer training from the ACLU.
“Organizing to Protect Democracy”
This online activist training from ACLU was the most motivating, energizing, and hopeful thing I’ve experienced in days!
ACLU People Power Series: Organizing to Protect Democracy Session 1
CLICK HERE to register. Even if you missed this first session, you can still enroll. This training today was recorded and the recording is being sent out tomorrow, to my email (and yours, too, if you sign up)
Ready to turn your passion into action? Join our new ACLU People Power Series: Organizing to Protect Democracy. Our kick off session happens July 8th!
We are in the fight of a lifetime to defend our rights, our freedoms, and our democracy. This is the first session in our free, high impact, virtual training series built to ignite your activism and give you the tools to organize, mobilize, and lead in this critical moment. Our communities need bold action, and we need you in the fight.
You'll learn how to:
Organize effectively in your community
Have persuasive conversations that move people to action
Build lasting connections with others who are ready to rise to the moment
FROM CAROLYN: EVEN FOR INTROVERTS! You can organize. They show us how. It’s a lot about listening. Introverts are great at listening, right?!
Another online “pep rally” I attend every Thursday is the
“What’s the Plan” webinar from Indivisible.org at NOON Pacific time
Absolutely worth it!!!
#9. Organize a caravan of concerned citizens to travel across the country talking to everyday people along the way to Washington DC
where we can all
chain ourselves to the White House fence in protest of _________________
(you fill in the blank, from gutting Medicaid, Medicare & Social Security Security, to de-constructing our institutions that help us, including the VA, the National Weather Organization, USAID, the list goes on and on.)
**** This one is a bit far-out! But, if you are willing, I am willing, too. Think of the impact that thousands of Elders would have while journeying to the seat of power and collecting folks along the way. Collecting folks to join us in DC, or to join in the nation-wide defense of democracy and world-wide fight against tyranny.
#10. Do not consider for a moment that giving up and deciding to do nothing will accomplish anything at all.
Even your own peace of mind.
Yes, we must take breaks. Time out from the fight.
Take walks with our doggies.
Take time for ourselves.
Garden. Sing. Dance.
And then, focus again on what we can do to raise the awareness. To consolidate our collective power.
There are still way, way, way more of us
who want to live in a democracy,
and not an oligarchy.
A democracy that is truly for everyone.
And, luckily, there are actions, trainings, organizations to join in on
that keep our vision alive
of a more perfect union.
Thanks for being here with me at my blog.
I’m already so full of hope AND resolve again.
In solidarity,
Carolyn