Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/16

Help the helpers.

Art by Shepard Fairey via Amplifier Art

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.

A friend of mine wrote to me last night saying she was struggling with the news of the world. She said she felt heavy all the time, and found herself sighing regularly for no apparent reason. She added that she wasn’t sure how to “shake it.”

This, of course, is a feeling to which we can all relate. But I’m not sure “shaking” grief and fear over very real calamities happening to very real people is practical, or even possible.

What I told her is this:

It’s entirely normal to feel sad and scared right now. The world is in a terribly difficult place, and if one only watches or reads the news it can feel profoundly overwhelming.

The way I get through it is, as Mr. Rogers said, to “look for the helpers.” They are everywhere. Once I find them I try to help them. It immediately takes me out of my crippling sadness and fear.

For me this “help the helpers” approach is always the answer. Whether it’s helping those helping Ukrainians, helping good elected officials do their jobs, helping advance great causes, or helping great candidates who want to improve the world, there are so many ways to serve the cause of good.

And because I am not fighting anyone, I don’t wear myself out. To the contrary, I am recharged by every effort.

My friend seemed to appreciate this advice, and I hope you will, too. Although I suspect most of you know it already.

After all, that’s why you’re here!

So let’s go help some helpers right now!

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

First, I’m frustrated that oil and gas companies are using the situation in Ukraine to jack up gas prices. Congress needs to pass a windfall profits tax on oil and gas corporations and rebate their excess profits to consumers struggling with high gas costs. [H/T]

Second, I want the Senator to support a standalone version of the Child Tax Credit. There are [go here to find out] kids in our state that benefitted from the Tax Credit— those funds literally put food in the mouths of children. If kids really are the Senator’s priority—and they should be—-then getting this standalone bill passed needs to be her/his priority too. Thanks. [H/T and more info]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

First, I’m frustrated that oil and gas companies are using the situation in Ukraine to jack up gas prices. Congress needs to pass a windfall profits tax on oil and gas corporations and rebate those excess profits to consumers struggling with high gas costs.

Second, I want the Congressmember to support a standalone version of the Child Tax Credit. There are [go here to find out] kids in our state that benefitted from the Tax Credit, and those funds literally put food in the mouths of children. If kids really are the Senator’s priority—and they should be—-then getting this standalone bill passed needs to be her/his priority too. Thanks. [H/T and more info]

Extra Credit ✅

Would you all kindly sign this petition calling on Boeing to stop making donations to the Sedition Caucus and ask for the return of $190,000 in corporate PAC contributions to those members of Congress who voted to overturn the election? It’s put out by a group that’s working solely on this issue, and I’d love to help.

This is a case where a petition can make a difference if enough people participate. Sign here and please share.

Get Social!

Post this on twitter (can also be used on Facebook/Instagram by replacing @POTUS with @JoeBiden):

📢@POTUS You have a historic opportunity to produce alternatives to fossil fuels, fight the climate emergency, combat Putin’s stranglehold on the world’s energy economy, and support the transition to a renewable and just economy. #PeoplevsFossilFuels

[Download a graphic to go with it here.]

As long as you’re posting, won’t you please also post this on any social media platform? [you’ll need to attach the article yourself—Substack won’t let me post the link without turning it into a thumbnail.]

Some great NEW places to give in Ukraine from Dr. Timothy Snyder, a person who knows--they'll enable you to get money to Ukrainians directly, and fast. Please give, and please share.

Helping Ukrainians Directly

Win Races! 🗳

Very exciting! Today Swing Left launched a new tool called the Swing District Finder. Through it you can enter your zip code and they’ll match you with your closest competitive target race and suggest high-impact volunteer and donation options. 

How to get started? Go to swingleft.org/targets, and enter your zip code to find key information on your nearest Swing District, including incumbent and eventual challenger information, what’s at stake if Democrats win or lose, and high-impact ways to start reaching voters right now. I LOVE THIS! Please share.

Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)

[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PUVQIV to 50409]

As I’m sure you know, the U.S. Postal Service finalized plans in February to purchase up to 148,000 mail delivery trucks from Oshkosh Defense, 90% of them, powered by gasoline fueled combustion engines expected to get 8 miles per gallon.

I’m sure you also know that DeJoy is using non-union workers to build these trucks.

Louis DeJoy’s decision to sign a $11.3 billion contract for non-union built trucks with the fuel efficiency of a Hummer is disastrously bad management, and it directly defies the Biden administration objections that the multibillion-dollar contract would undercut the nation’s climate goals.

I’m asking you to become a cosponsor of HR 7018, the Green Postal Fleet Act, to block Dejoy’s bad deal and demand any USPS contract for new trucks include a mandatory requirement for at least 75% electric vehicles. The climate crisis won’t wait for action. I will be watching how you vote on this, please don’t let our country down.

---

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess