Tags
31st Street Swing Left, Ask Nurses & Doctors, Chop Wood Carry Water, Do More Worry Less, Do Not Relent, Field Team 6, Future Now/The States Project, New Faces of Democracy, Next Generation Politics, Robert Hubberll, Students for Justice, The Civis Center, Ways to Get Involved, What Can I Do Now?, What Can I do to Help Now
For those who have long been readers of MillersTime, it will come as no surprise that I am a Liberal.
In any of the many definitions of that word, and the beliefs it indicates, I am without doubt a “person who believes that government should be active in supporting social and political change.”
Longtime readers of MillersTime are also probably aware that for the past several years, I have moved away from writing about politics and have largely refrained from posting articles about what is occurring in our country.
Nevertheless, I have continued to read, follow, and be absorbed by the state of our union. I believe the deep divisions throughout our nation, and what I believe are threats to the healthy functioning of our democracy, are distressing and ominous.
Rather than just continue to read and worry about these issues without trying to do something about them, increasingly seems foolish and a waste of time and energy.
I’ve seen seen numerous thoughtful and worthy suggestions to answer the question, “What Can I Do Now.” I have been particularly impressed by Robert Hubbell, the author of Today’s Edition Newsletter, who believes we need to “Do More, Worry Less.”
Hubbell focuses on a variety of organizations and possible ways to be involved, beyond just making donations, and has written about them over the last few months. These include:
Chop Wood, Carry Water; 31st Street Swing Left; Field Team 6; The Civics Center; Future Now / The States Project; Next Generation Politics: New Faces of Democracy; Ask Nurses & Doctors; Students for Justice; Vote Riders; Maya Maravilla, DNC Midwest Regional Desk for the Civic Engagement and Voter Protection;
Hubbell started his newsletter in February, 2017 “as an effort as to provide hope and perspective to his family after the unexpected results of the 2016 election. Over time, it was shared among friends and became of community of like-minded citizens devoted to preserving American democracy.”
Hubbell has also begun a Podcast where he interviews the individuals from each of the organizations listed above. See his Jan. 12 Newsletter: Do Not Relent (scroll to the bottom of his post).
While I do not plan to turn MillersTime into any kind of political blog, I am using this post to begin to “Do Something, Worry Less.”
Finally, if you know of or are involved in other efforts that you’ve found particularly useful and worthy, please post them in my Comment Section.
Emily Grossi said:
Thank you for speaking up, Richard, and for sharing these resources. In addition, I’d suggest:
-the Lawfare podcast (https://www.lawfareblog.com/topic/lawfare-podcast) and Ben Wittes’s Twitter (@benjaminwittes). BW is a senior fellow at Brookings. He and Susan Hennessey last year published an informative book, Unmaking the Presidency.
-Marc Elias’s Democracy Docket newsletter and Marc’s Twitter feed (https://www.democracydocket.com/) (@marceelias and @DemocracyDocket)
Marc is a DC lawyer who is doing something major every day
-the January 6th Select Committee’s Twitter (@January6thCmte)
Best, Emily
Kathy Headen said:
Rick, thanks for your concern. I feel the same way. I have an idea for you. Why not ask your friends to forward your message to 5 or 8 of their friends. More people should read it.
Thanks,
Ellen Miller said:
In case you want deep documentation of the dimension of the problem check out this article reported by The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/23/voter-suppression-election-interference-republicans?fbclid=IwAR08sBMYEaGyODc_yoJxsuF2R8Nce4MH1EqS-ZBJaqDWZJYKEF8sBnebfBM
David Meyers said:
This time last year gas was around $2, inflation was @1.5%, border was secure, we were energy independent, Russia was not threatened to invade Ukraine, China was being blamed for the virus, North Korea was quite.
The wall was almost complete, the Middle East was at peace, Iran was about to implode, 3 vaccines were now available, the TALIBAN were the enemy & didn’t have brand new weapons. Shelves were stocked, police were respected & crime was manageable.
Gee I wonder what changed????
So in answer to your question what can I do now.
Simple bring back TRUMP & elect REPUBLICANS. PROBLEM SOLVED
Anon-2 said:
As Richard knows, I am a conservative. By that, I mean this: “the government should take care of those who can’t take care of themselves, but because 1) humans respond to incentives, and 2) we give government guns, their power must be limited.”
What can you do?
1) Solve problems for others, don’t rely on government to do it. There is a reason Fairfax and Loudon are the wealthiest counties in the world, despite not innovating a la Sillicon Valley, or pumping oil, a la the Permian basin. People respond to incentives.
2) Learn about human behavior…understand the incentives, and understand the world.
Anonymous said:
Anonymous, here.
I am tired of living without representation in Congress. Are any of the orgs you reference interested in enfranchisement for the District of Columbia? And is there any work to be done towards that which does not involve donating money? I stopped receiving e-mail from the anti-gun March for our Lives b/c they ask for money in every.single. e-mail.
And of course I remain worried that the former president will somehow escape criminal charges for inciting riot and run again for the presidency. Without a congressman or senator, I have no one to pressure to look into that.