October 21st
I read an op-ed yesterday about how the real divide in the US is between political junkies and the vast majority of Americans who see little difference among politicians and simply experience politics as so much noise. I am trying not to be frightened by this. While I do not think of myself as a junkie of any kind, I am definitely not in the majority. Hmmm.
Today’s first action is very important, not noisy, and will take one minute: Call on your state legislators to support the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA), which would “raise $7 billion per year from corporate polluters and invest the funds into our communities, transforming our economy to one that’s 100% renewable and creating good, green jobs.” In the words of my favorite podcaster, the law would “make corporations pay” for the damage they have done.
Here are two reminders of things I have already mentioned on other days: 1) Make a plan to NOT go to work if there is a premature declaration of victory or electoral results show significant irregularities and/or signs of tampering. This may entail bringing it up at a staff meeting and having a conversation about public service. There is no more public service than defending democracy. 2) Please vote on the Working Families Party line. The party needs to meet a higher threshold of votes to maintain its ballot line. The WFP has been instrumental in supporting progressive candidates and keeping the issues of health care, the climate crisis, tenants’ rights, and systemic racism at the forefront.
Yesterday, a US judge rejected a class action settlement because of the Department of Education’s failure to carry out “loan forgiveness for borrowers who have accused their colleges of fraud, ruling that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos undermined the deal.” Of the 78,400 applications for loan forgiveness, 94% were denied in what the judge described as a “disturbingly Kafkaesque” process. I just thought this would motivate you for my big ask.
HERE’s THE BIG ASK: It’s time to mobilize friends in swing states: Arizona, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. Emily has designed a bumper sticker: EVERY VOTE COUNTS. COUNT EVERY VOTE. We’ve got a print run of 1000 and we need your help to find folks willing to distribute 50-100 bumper stickers at churches, farmer’s markets, schools, and libraries. (They can distribute anyway and anywhere they want, and as far as I’m concerned, they can stick them directly on parked cars!) I’ve got a commitment from one friend in NC and one in FL. All I need from you is the name and mailing address of someone who will get this done. Please email me by Friday at esalynn@gmail.com with the subject line: count every vote.
Plan ahead for your Friday treat: The Believer is hosting Making Comics for a New World with Leila Abdelrazaq on Friday 10/23 at 7 PM. Register here.
with love,
L