Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/8
Very well.
Hi, all, and happy Friday.
I assume most of you saw last night’s post by Heather Cox Richardson—there’s a ton of overlap between her list and mine. If you haven’t yet had the chance I encourage you to find the time to read it. She’s always great, but this essay was particularly moving and inspiring.
I was scrolling through the comments after reading it and saw one I loved so much I had to put it here. It was from a reader named Kathy; the comment consisted solely of this quote:
The times are very bad. Very well, you are there to make them better.
— Thomas Carlyle
I love it so much I may have to put it on a tee shirt.
The times are, indeed, very, very bad—although of course they are not only that. They are also very good—there’s no point in denying all the ways our lives are easier than those of our forebears. Still, the level of stress, strain, dread, outrage, and uncertainty that we’re living with is considerable. How to handle it?
By remembering that we are here to make it better. What an honor! What a purpose! What a life’s work!
But it’s the “very well” in that quote that is, perhaps, carrying the most weight. Because relief from anxiety—at least for me—always starts with acceptance. So every time a new headline pops onto our screens, every time Trump hits a new low, every time the climate news gets scarier, every time another bad poll breaks…let’s consider starting our response with a deep breath and a “very well.”
Very well. The times are very bad.
Only then can we move to “now how can I help?”
And in that small leap all the magic, all the power, and all the hope happens.
Look, maybe we wouldn’t choose to live in this moment. Maybe we would. Either way, we’re here. Very well. Let’s be part of the solution. We’ll feel better for trying.
And there is no question that the world will get better from our efforts. We’ve proven that—and very well—already.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that a group of Congressional lawmakers are pushing to include the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act as part of the 2023 Farm Bill. (The bill number is S. 2019.) I want the Senator to oppose it. This bill is a blatant attempt by Big Ag to maintain the status quo and ignore growing demand for the more humane treatment of farm animals. It’s also an infringement on state’s rights. It’s a terrible bill opposed by animal rights organizations and many, many Members of Congress. Please ask the Senator to join them in blocking it. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I understand that a group of Congressional lawmakers are pushing to include the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act as part of the 2023 Farm Bill. The bill number is H.R. 4417. I want the Congressmember to oppose it. This bill is a blatant attempt by Big Ag to maintain the status quo and ignore growing demand for the more humane treatment of farm animals. It’s also an infringement on state’s rights. It’s a terrible bill opposed by animal rights organizations and many, many Members of Congress. Please ask the Congressmember to join them in blocking it. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s use Perfect Union’s tool to make an official comment telling the FTC to block the Exxon and Chevron mega-mergers, which would consolidate their already massive domination of the fossil fuels market and deepen America’s carbon footprint by signing and sending an official comment now.
Get Smart! 📚
On December 13th at 7PM ET, BigTentUSA will host an engaging discussion with renowned authors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, facilitated by Ian Bassin, Executive Director of Protect Democracy and recipient of the 2023 MacArthur Fellowship. The conversation will focus on Levitsky and Ziblatt’s new book Tyranny of the Minority, a follow-up to their previous bestseller, How Democracies Die. Investigating the consequences of ‘ruling by the few,’ they will delve into the emergence of minority rule and examine necessary reforms to address these issues before they become intractable. Sounds fascinating!
Spread the Word! 📣
This video won a competition held by Equal Citizens—they asked members to submit shorts explaining as simply as possible how Super PACs work and why they’re corrupt. I think it does the job beautifully. Please watch and share! (The runner-ups are here.)
Give 💰!
BlueVoterGuide.org is the left's secret weapon for 2024. It's unique among voter guides, laser focused on increasing Blue turnout by enabling faster, smarter, more confident Blue choices up and down ballot.
Blue Voter Guide is powered by grassroots volunteers who built and maintain the website and research the endorsing groups. Their only cost is candidate data, purchased from a national vendor. I'm co-hosting a fundraiser for them in Los Angeles on January 20, to help bring the guide to all 50 states. Even if you can't make it to LA in January, please consider supporting this fantastic new tool that enables hesitant, low-propensity voters to complete their ballot, and will make all the difference to Blue candidates in close, swing elections.
Win Races!! 🗳
Activate America just launched a postcarding campaign into NY-03! The special election has been called for February 13th. That’s just around the corner, and time is of the essence.
In 2020, President Joe Biden won this district by 8.2 points. However the district has moved to the right since that time, and elections analysts rate it a tossup.
Still, Democrats have had great success in special elections over the past several years. We have a good candidate and are well-positioned to flip this seat blue. If we do, we’re more likely to keep it blue in November. This is a great opportunity that we mustn’t squander. Let’s get to work!
To request postcard addresses and a script, sign up HERE.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
A reader wrote me this week after seeing my “I Want to Do more on Climate” post. I liked what she said, so wanted to share it:
I really enjoyed the I want to do more on CLIMATE! 🌎 in today's Chop Wood, Carry Water. As a career-long environmental program manager, I've had mixed feelings about calls to personal action; your call to support candidates, and encourage environmental voters, is spot on.
In addition, if we took those actions in ALL OUR ROLES in life, and started Sustainability Committees in our workplaces, schools, civic orgs, faith orgs, etc. etc. etc. - and greened all those supply chains and adopted best practices in operations - think how powerfully it would cascade through!
I undertook this at my little church, Clifton Presbyterian. We turned off our giant gas stove with 12 burners to light only when we need it, saving about $2500 in propane a year; are switching out from propane to high-efficiency electric heat pumps; are adopting more sustainable practices for our events and disposables; etc. etc. Many faith orgs formally support such action under "Creation Care" or "Earth Care" - here is the PCUSA's.
Yes! If we took these actions in ALL OUR ROLES in life imagine how things would change!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To all three reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PMCHZF to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Congress is facing a critical decision on supplemental aid for Ukraine. It failed to pass supplemental aid for Ukraine in its September continuing budget resolution.
I am writing to ask that you help rectify this exclusion and vote yes on Ukraine aid. Ukraine is running out of supplies. As Russian strikes on civilians continue, the U.S. cannot turn its back on Ukraine.
The United States is not alone in supporting Ukraine—in fact, 19 other countries have committed a greater percentage of their GDP to help than the U.S. has. Aid for Ukraine has some of the strictest oversight and accountability mechanisms in the history of U.S. aid, helping to make sure that this aid isn’t wasted. Giving Ukraine the tools it needs to finish the fight is the right thing to do to ensure that more Russian atrocities are stopped. Moreover, of the $67 billion spent on military aid to Ukraine, 100% of that is for weapons produced in the United States — this represents a serious investment in domestic manufacturing and American jobs. Aiding Ukraine enhances American readiness and prosperity.
As your constituent, I’m asking that you please vote YES and work to make sure this legislation passes. And quickly!
Thank you for your support.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
"...later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered
where does it hurt?
it answered
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere."
__Warsan Shire
Ha! You did it. I'll buy a T-shirt, too. A great Letter, as usual, but a great essay as well. Heather and Joyce. Two of the rightly most loved women around. (you're getting up there Jess.)