Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/1

Deep breaths

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.

It’s a little hard to mean the “happy” part while listening to lawyers arguing for why Roe v Wade should be overturned. Let alone processing the grief over yet another school shooting—this one in my nephews’ former high school. Things are really tough in this country right now. There is despair everywhere.

And yet.

I know from my own life that it is often darkest right before a new beginning. I have hit bottom—hard—a few times, and known others who have done the same. In those moments it genuinely felt as if there were no point in going on. It was clear that the future was awful, hopeless, a gaping maw of misery.

It was at one of those times in my life when I first learned the phrase “Chop wood, carry water.” My dad offered it to me, after I asked him how to get through moments of unbearable emotional pain. It was a reminder to take small, practical actions, and trust that those would carry me through my days until circumstances had changed.

And lo and behold, they did.

We don’t know what the future looks like. We can’t predict it. We aren’t in control of most of it.

But we can take small right actions NOW to get through the anxiety of the day we’re in.

Eventually we will wake up and realize that this, too—whatever it is—has passed. And that the future was shaped by the actions we took when we had no hope at all that it would.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First, I’m appalled that the Supreme Court is weighing overturning Roe v Wade. I’d like the Senator to do two things to address this situation: first, push Senator Schumer to bring the Women’s Health Protection Act (S. 1975) to the floor for a vote right now. And second, co-sponsor and push to pass the Judiciary Act (S. 1141), to expand the Supreme Court by four justices to re-balance it. This reactionary court doesn’t deliver justice; it delivers extremism.

[To Dem Senators add:] Also, please pass the Build Back Better Act right away. Before the NDAA. Before anything. And when you’re done take up the Freedom to Vote Act right away—before the Senate goes on recess. Reform the filibuster and get it passed. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

I’m calling to say that I’m furious that the Supreme Court is weighing overturning Roe v Wade. I support HR 2584, the Judiciary Act, and want the Congressmember to as well. May I ask if they are signed on as a co-sponsor? [If yes thank. If no add:] Americans have utterly lost faith in the impartiality of the Supreme Court, and for good reason. It is a clearly partisan body; it needs to be rebalanced. Thanks.

Extra Credit

Please send to President Biden via his contact form or Resistbot:

I’m writing to say that I am gravely concerned about our democracy, and deeply distressed to hear that Congress is considering going on recess before passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. We are running out of time to fix partisan gerrymanders before the 2022 elections, and if we lose then it’s going to be hellish for everyone in this country.

Sir, you can influence Majority Leader Schumer. Press him to keep the Senate in session until voting rights legislation is law. And publicly support filibuster reform to get this and other critical legislation passed. The Republican Party is dangerous, extremist, violent, and uninterested in democracy. You can protect us from them if you use your influence. Thanks.

Get on the Phones! ☎️

We’re all upset about the attacks on our voting rights. But if the Senate passes the Freedom to Vote, John Lewis Voting Rights, and DC Statehood bills, we’ll finally be able to stop attacks on voting rights and make our democracy work for everyone.

The only way to pass these important bills is to convince Sen. Joe Manchin, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, and key colleagues to take decisive action to pass them.

Public Citizen is having a calling party tomorrow to put West Virginians in contact with Sen. Manchin so they can tell him how important protecting our freedom to vote really is.

It’s Thursday, December 2nd, at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT. Can you sign up to help?

Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)

[to your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PQUAQC to 50409]

I oppose the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as it currently stands and I ask you to also oppose it until it is substantially reworked. In the 21st century, we need to expand our concept of “defense” beyond just defending against armed human enemies, predator nations, and fanatic terrorists. A 21st century Defense Bill has to include defending us (and the world) from dangers such as climate catastrophes and global pandemics that are actually killing us, destroying our environment, and crippling our economy. 

The NDAA provides large sums to protect military bases from the fire, flood, drought, storm, and rising sea-level consequences of global warming. Yet it does nothing to protect the American people by addressing the root causes of the climate emergency, such as reducing the Pentagon's use of fossil fuels, or redirecting defense research dollars towards alternative energy sources, or reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Nor does it include funds or programs for combating the Covid health emergency or preparing us for the next global pandemic.  

I am dismayed by the blatant hypocrisy of Republicans and some Democrats. They complain about the BBBA’s fully-covered costs of investing in the American people and demand ever more cuts. Yet they eagerly vote for a bloated Defense Bill that is greater than the Pentagon even asked for, that is loaded with political pork, boondoggles, and corporate welfare, and that increases the national deficit they claim they are so concerned about. Unacceptable. Pass the Build Back Better Act now, then trim the NDAA, re-focus it, and get it done after. Thanks.

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OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk tomorrow.

Jess