“It is not your duty to finish the work but neither are you free to neglect it.”
~ Rabbi Tarfon, 2nd Cent
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
Thanks to subscriber Sherry F. for sending the above quote, which she suggests she’d like to “tattoo on her forehead.”
Me, too.
I think I’ve got the second part of it down, but the first part is harder for me to remember: It’s not my duty—or any of ours—to finish this work. I can’t. You can’t either. There will always be forces working for justice, and, as much as we wish otherwise, there will always be opposing forces seeking to oppress, steal, and hoard. We will never “beat” Trumpism. It’s been around, in one form or another, forever. It shows no signs of leaving.
But neither do we.
Darkness marches on, but so does illumination. Hatred marches on, but so does love. Greed marches on. So does charity.
Fascists march on.
We will march on also.
Evil doesn’t get extinguished—it just gets beaten back and beaten down over and over and over again.
Right now it’s our turn to do the beating.
If we do our jobs well, future generations will be able to take their turns more ably. That’s why we’re here; that’s why we act.
This video sums it up better than I ever could. I decided not to save it for “Extra! Extra!” Enjoy it now.
Then remember that every day you take a small action is a day that you are the light.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I support S 3933, Bernie Sanders’ End Corporate Greed Act, and would like the Senator to as well. Inflation is killing regular Americans like me, and the fact that giant corporations are making record profits while we suffer is unacceptable. This bill would tax these corporations 95% specifically on profits made above their average profits during the five years before the pandemic — in order to discourage price gouging. We know progressive tax policies work. Will the Senator co-sponsor this bill?
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I support HR 7443, the End Corporate Greed Act, and would like the Congressmember to as well. Inflation is killing regular Americans like me, and the fact that giant corporations are making record profits while we suffer is unacceptable. This bill would tax these corporations 95% specifically on profits made above their average profits during the five years before the pandemic — in order to discourage price gouging. We know progressive tax policies work. Will the Congressmember co-sponsor this bill?
Extra Credit ✅
Did you know that if you live in AZ, CA, FL, GA, NC, NV, PA, TX, or WI there’s a new tool to make voting and supporting progressives easy—even in races you’re not following closely? It’s called the Blue Voter Guide; it’ll help you fill out your ballot before you go to the polls and give you endorsement-based guidance for whom to support! Including judges! Find it (and share it!) at BlueVoterGuide.org.
Get Smart! 📚
I’m co-hosting a “fireside chat” conversation with Dan Pfeiffer, former Communications Aide to President Obama, Co-Host of Pod Save America and author of several books, including his most recent, BATTLING THE BIG LIE.
In BATTLING THE BIG LIE, Pfeiffer lays out how the right-wing media apparatus works, where it came from, and what progressives can do to fight back against disinformation.
In addition to discussing the book, we will discuss how Democrats are handling the messaging wars at this stage in the midterm election and what Pfeiffer thinks all activists should focus on to make sure Democrats make it past the finish line.
This will be a very insightful conversation—I hope you can make it!
Sign up here (attendees will receive the Zoom link before the event).
Give 🧀!
One of my subscribers organized this, y’all! Please help if you can!
The Road to Saving Democracy Runs through the Cheese State
We cheddar to think what will happen if the GOP wins in Wisconsin.
Ricotta pitch in for WisDems!
Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ reelection is vital because in Wisconsin, the governor certifies elections. Republican candidates for governor are already hinting that, if elected, they won’t certify a defeat of Donald Trump. Electing Senate candidate Mandela Barnes to replace a known Jan. 6th coup plotter, Senator Ron Johnson, is the Democratic Party’s best chance to flip a Senate seat this election cycle. Right now, these two races are neck and neck. Please join us at the Cheese Lovers for Wisconsin Zoom on Oct. 10th at 7:00 EST to help turn Wisconsin bleu and possibly win a Cheese Prize!
Win Races—phone or textbank! 🗳
Y’all, Reclaim Our Vote, the amazing org working to overcome voter suppression against mostly Black and Brown voters in Southern States, needs volunteers for both calling and texting voters.
They are phonebanking Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, Alabama, and Texas. They offer supported trainings/phone banks on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday every week - or call when convenient, 7 days a week! Find out more and sign up to phonebank here.
Are you afraid to make calls? Your personal number is not used, you call from the computer. And we usually leave voicemail rather than talking to the voter, and it is effective; voicemail increased turnout by 6% last year in Virginia.
And for a great lift, sign up here for a special Phonebanking for Introverts Training TODAY, October 6, from 4-6 PM PT.
They have begun texting to Georgia and North Carolina, followed by Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Sign up here to be alerted for texting.
Win Races — Send Letters!
Starting this week, Vote Forward launched a couple of new initiatives!
Letters to contact voters based on the issues they care about. YES! There are two campaigns for voters in Pennsylvania: Pro-Choice and Climate. Click one of the links to start writing!
A vote tripling campaign. It’s super cool—I just adopted 20 letters for it. Sign up here.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PPKQLX to 50409]
Wall Street billionaires have wreaked havoc in our communities. Our economy is broken, and it’s essential workers and their families who pay the price. For our country to thrive, our laws must prioritize the workers that make this country run, not corporate billionaires — that’s why, as your constituent, I’m asking you to support the Stop Wall Street Looting Act.
In the last few decades, private equity firms have been driving economic inequality, distorting our democracy, destroying over a million retail and related jobs, destabilizing local communities and threatening our families’ livelihoods. 10 out of the 14 largest retail chain bankruptcies since 2012 have occurred at private equity-acquired chains, destroying retail jobs in every corner of the U.S.
Private equity firms are buying up a greater share of our economy and concentrating wealth in the hands of a few. When they drive our companies under, they leave us with nothing. This is why we need to regulate these firms from the start, and discourage their risky behaviors. From Toys R Us to Art Van, to Gymboree, to Payless and many others, leveraged buyouts are destroying America's iconic companies, as Wall Street executives get large payouts while destroying our livelihoods. If we are serious about bringing economic justice to working families, we must put an end to Wall Street’s predatory practices.
Will you support the Stop Wall Street Looting Act? You can do so by co-sponsoring the bill and posting it in your relevant committee. Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Love the quote - thanks to you and Sherry F. This goes perfectly with a quote that Robert Hubbell included in his newsletter today. Robert is a kindred spirit in that he advocates optimism that is grounded in action. Antonio Gramsci, left labor activitist in Italy, in late teens early 1920's. said we must have "pessimism of the intellect but optimism of the will." Noam Chomsky quoted this in
an excerpt in shortened form from Chapter 9 of Notes on Resistance by Noam Chomsky and David Barsamian, published by Haymarket Books.] I haven't nearly finished the whole article, but here is the paragraph with the quote, followed by a link to the whole piece.
"The adage you quoted, “Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will,” which became famous, came from the period when he (Gramsci) was still able to publish. In his spirit, we must look at the world reasonably, without illusions, understand it, decide how to act, and recognize that there are grim portents. There are very dangerous things happening. That’s pessimism of the intellect. At the same time, we need to recognize that there are ways out, real opportunities. So, we have optimism of the will, meaning, we dedicate ourselves to using all the opportunities available — and they do exist — while working to overcome the morbid symptoms and move toward a more just and decent world.
https://tomdispatch.com/optimism-of-the-will/?utm_source=TomDispatch&utm_campaign=08674e2f98-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_07_13_02_04_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1e41682ade-08674e2f98-309571737#more