(Thread) Things To Do
Democracy is under attack.
The antidote is more democracy (what Obama calls “citizenship”⤵️)
Our democratic institutions are being battered and damaged.
The antidote is to strengthen the institutions.
Need ideas? Stand by. . .
Democracy is under attack.
The antidote is more democracy (what Obama calls “citizenship”⤵️)
Our democratic institutions are being battered and damaged.
The antidote is to strengthen the institutions.
Need ideas? Stand by. . .
#1: Make sure you’re registered to vote. Lots of people are being purged from lists.
Check to see if you are registered here: headcount.org/verify-voter-r…
Deadlines for each state are here.
usvotefoundation.org/vote/state-ele…
Check to see if you are registered here: headcount.org/verify-voter-r…
Deadlines for each state are here.
usvotefoundation.org/vote/state-ele…
2/ Run for Something: runforsomething.net
Want to really make a difference?
Don’t just march, run for something.
Run for Something recruits and supports young progressives running for local office with the long-term goal of building a bench for decades to come.
Want to really make a difference?
Don’t just march, run for something.
Run for Something recruits and supports young progressives running for local office with the long-term goal of building a bench for decades to come.
3/ If you can’t run for office you can volunteer to help RUN FOR SOMETHING including screening candidates.
If you’re in California, Close the Gap California is working to get women elected. closethegapca.org (I vetted them. They’re cool 😎)
If you’re in California, Close the Gap California is working to get women elected. closethegapca.org (I vetted them. They’re cool 😎)
4/ Elections are held and monitored locally.
You should all get involved with yours. Start by contacting your local election board.
In some states, you can become an official volunteer voter registrar. James tells how he did it in Maryland:
You should all get involved with yours. Start by contacting your local election board.
In some states, you can become an official volunteer voter registrar. James tells how he did it in Maryland:
5/ Here’s James having being a good citizen on a Saturday:
The fact that elections are held and monitored locally explains why good people need to run for office.
Be the official making the decision about how the election will be conducted.
The fact that elections are held and monitored locally explains why good people need to run for office.
Be the official making the decision about how the election will be conducted.
6/ Isn’t that better than complaining that you don’t like the process?
We are the people. Don’t like how things are done? Run for office and change it.
(I understand this is the long-term solution; the short term solution is to vote in large numbers)
We are the people. Don’t like how things are done? Run for office and change it.
(I understand this is the long-term solution; the short term solution is to vote in large numbers)
7/ Check out Fair Fight, the organization Stacy Abrams started for free and fair elections.
The Fair Fight website is here: fairfight.com
See how you can help.
The Fair Fight website is here: fairfight.com
See how you can help.
8/ Protect the Vote.
If you're a lawyer, volunteer with a protect the vote organization (usually through the Democratic party).
They always need lawyers.
So far I've helped monitor elections two states, and I've done legal work in a third. It's interesting.
If you're a lawyer, volunteer with a protect the vote organization (usually through the Democratic party).
They always need lawyers.
So far I've helped monitor elections two states, and I've done legal work in a third. It's interesting.
9/ If you're a teacher, consider an assignment requiring students to advocate on behalf of an issue of their choice, or allow / encourage them to substitute an assignment with a civic engagement activity of some kind.
10/ Help People Become Citizens
Support low-cost immigration services, volunteer at organization such as @CUNYCitizenship, or organizations that tutor English and civics for the naturalization test.
Support low-cost immigration services, volunteer at organization such as @CUNYCitizenship, or organizations that tutor English and civics for the naturalization test.
11/ On election day, you can drive people to the polls
to help increase turnout. Here’s one place to start. carpoolvote.com
Organize locally: One reason the Tea Party was so effective was that they organized locally and put pressure on local representatives.
to help increase turnout. Here’s one place to start. carpoolvote.com
Organize locally: One reason the Tea Party was so effective was that they organized locally and put pressure on local representatives.
11/ Want to find the right group to join? Click here:
thedemocracylist.org/search
You can also organize your community.
Tell your representatives your views. The Democratic Coalition keeps a list and easy instruction here. medium.com/@TheDemCoaliti…
thedemocracylist.org/search
You can also organize your community.
Tell your representatives your views. The Democratic Coalition keeps a list and easy instruction here. medium.com/@TheDemCoaliti…
12/ Americans of Conscience has ideas for letters you can write to elected officials:
americansofconscience.com/4-7-2019/
A great way to get involved and donate from your own home is to write postcards to voters. More on that here. postcardstovoters.org
americansofconscience.com/4-7-2019/
A great way to get involved and donate from your own home is to write postcards to voters. More on that here. postcardstovoters.org
13/ Volunteer in your local Democratic office.
Even if you’re a conservative, 2020 is the year you have to vote Democratic. (Even if you don't love the candidate)
The GOP needs to learn a lesson.
If you find that your local office is a bit disorganized, help them get organized.
Even if you’re a conservative, 2020 is the year you have to vote Democratic. (Even if you don't love the candidate)
The GOP needs to learn a lesson.
If you find that your local office is a bit disorganized, help them get organized.
14/ Subscribe to local newspapers, and national journals that do good investigative reporting.
Donate to organizations like Raices or the ACLU, or Democratic candidates.
Make your views known, but try not to increase the polarization.
Donate to organizations like Raices or the ACLU, or Democratic candidates.
Make your views known, but try not to increase the polarization.
15/ Volunteering not only saves democracy, it can save your sanity.
It's a good way to lift yourself out of the exhausting news cycle without guilt (because you'll know you're pushing back in tangible ways) and you'll connect with like-minded people.
It's a good way to lift yourself out of the exhausting news cycle without guilt (because you'll know you're pushing back in tangible ways) and you'll connect with like-minded people.
16/ A more complete list is here: terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
The investigative journalists are today's heroes. They risk their lives for the truth.
They also get battered from all sides.
They also get battered from all sides.
Multiply this by thousands, then millions, and we make the world safe for our children.
Building community is the antidote to divisive politics.
People have been informing me that it's time to panic. Like this⤵️
Others said I don't know what I'm talking about because I've never experienced a dictatorship.
(1) My husband's family experienced the Pinochet dictatorship, so I have first hand accounts.
. . .
Others said I don't know what I'm talking about because I've never experienced a dictatorship.
(1) My husband's family experienced the Pinochet dictatorship, so I have first hand accounts.
. . .
(2) panic never helps.
Panic didn't get the Chileans out from under Pinochet. The Pinochet dictatorship ended when enough people who were opposed to him came together to oust him.
Pinochet used violence and terror, but his oust happened because of people coming together.
Panic didn't get the Chileans out from under Pinochet. The Pinochet dictatorship ended when enough people who were opposed to him came together to oust him.
Pinochet used violence and terror, but his oust happened because of people coming together.
This doesn't mean ALL the people wanted an end to Pinochet's dictatorship. There are people who prefer a strongman to democracy.
It means enough people came together.
I entirely fail to understand what good comes from putting our hair on fire . . .
It means enough people came together.
I entirely fail to understand what good comes from putting our hair on fire . . .
. . . will we think better with our hair on fire?
Will we be better able to plan and mount an effective defense?
Or will we simply play into the hands of the enemies of democracy?
My next task is to update my FAQs. This is what I have for now: terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
Will we be better able to plan and mount an effective defense?
Or will we simply play into the hands of the enemies of democracy?
My next task is to update my FAQs. This is what I have for now: terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
The reason I warned you all to expect lots more Crisis and Spectacle between now and November is precisely so, when it happens, you don't all go set your hair on fire ⤵️
I find the sudden rise of panic fascinating given the timing. . .
terikanefield-blog.com/expect-more-cr…
I find the sudden rise of panic fascinating given the timing. . .
terikanefield-blog.com/expect-more-cr…
Why panic now, when we're 9 months from an election?
The Constitution offers a remedy to our ails. Vote them out.
Before you say we can't vote them out ask yourself how Democrats won the 2018 election, and see my soon-to-be expanded FAQs:
terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
The Constitution offers a remedy to our ails. Vote them out.
Before you say we can't vote them out ask yourself how Democrats won the 2018 election, and see my soon-to-be expanded FAQs:
terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
Precisely.
Two people just showed me this thread. Thanks.
A little bit of agitation is good.
It motivates us to action. It stimulates voter turnout.
Too much is paralyzing. And pointless.
A little bit of agitation is good.
It motivates us to action. It stimulates voter turnout.
Too much is paralyzing. And pointless.
My threads are also blog posts. This one is here: terikanefield-blog.com/the-cure-for-w…
