Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/20
“The strongest and sweetest songs yet remain to be sung.”
- Walt Whitman
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
Thanks for your many enthusiastic responses to my Activism 101 invitation yesterday. I’m thrilled that I’ll be seeing so many of you at these upcoming workshops.
Some of you asked how you can attend if none of those dates work. You have two choices: first, you can reply to this and ask me to add you to my “strays” list, and I’ll email you when new dates pop up. Second—and this is my preferred option—you can put together your own group of eight or more, and I’ll put a workshop on for you!
My goal is to spread the word about the power you and I have, how best we can use it, and how critical it is that we do. So I’ll be happy to do as many of these webinars I can.
OK, I’m multitasking, as usual, so I’m going to go. But remember, the sweetest songs yet remain to be sung…and they will be sung. If we keep doing the work.
So let’s do that one more time!
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
Please ask the Senator to support the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (S.2992) and the Open App Markets Act (S.2710). And please ask them to push Majority Leader Schumer to bring these bills to a vote as soon as possible. Americans overwhelmingly believe that Big Tech companies should be held accountable through tougher laws to keep markets competitive. These bills will help with that. Let’s get them passed. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I want the Congressmember to call for a vote on and strongly support HR 5723, the Social Security Act 2100, a Sacred Trust. This bill’s rapid adoption by the House is critical to strengthening the most important anti-poverty program in America’s history. And it’s paid for by making millionaires and billionaires pay the same rate as everyone else. No brainer!
Extra Credit ✅
Fix My Funds is launching a new global climate campaign: Vanguard S.O.S. The idea is to push Vanguard to tackle its climate problem for the sake of its customers, the communities impacted by its investments, and a livable planet.
Let’s all send Vanguard a message by sending a one-click fax to their headquarters calling on them to take real action to address the climate crisis. This is easy—it took two seconds!
We know it’s possible for Vanguard to move quickly — it just did when the asset manager suspended Russian securities from its portfolio in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. So let’s tell them to do the same for our planet.
Get Smart! 📚
Care about Ohio? Want to see Democrats win there?
Join former Ohio Party Chair and author of Laboratories of Autocracy David Pepper (and special guests!) at a virtual town hall to talk about how we help that happen!
Join him on Thursday, April 21 at 8pm or Friday April 22 at noon to talk about what you can do – and how you can help make a Blue Ohio.
Zoom registration links: Thursday at 8 PM ET here. Friday at noon ET here.
P.S. If Ohio is your jam, consider “adopting” it, too! Sign up for my Adopt OH newsletter & check out the Ohio Master Doc here.
Win Races! 🗳
Amazing Congressional candidate Jamie Mcleod-Skinner’s primary is coming up on May 17th. Indivisible is partnering with Working Families Party to call voters.
Jamie would be a strong progressive voice and make history as Oregon’s first out LGBTQ+ member of Congress. And if that wasn’t enough, her opponent is Kurt Schrader, who has blocked progress on President Biden’s agenda and compared Trump’s impeachment for the January 6 insurrection to a lynching.
Click here to sign up to phonebank, beginning on April 23 at 2pm ET/11am PT.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PDRLNE to 50409]
Social Security is the nation’s cornerstone economic security program – protection that Americans earn through a lifetime of hard work. Social Security supports Americans who are retired, have experienced a career-ending illness or injury, or have lost a parent or spouse. It is important to families in every single Congressional district across the United States and has been a bedrock of financial security during the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social Security’s trust funds currently have approximately $2.9 trillion in reserves. Yet, the funding provided by Congress for SSA’s operating expenses has not kept pace with the need for SSA services: as baby boomers have aged more people have been applying for and receiving the benefits they have earned. At the same time, as a result of inadequate budgets SSA’s staffing has been cut, leading to lengthy wait times for service including at SSA field offices, call centers, and disability hearing offices. Insufficient resources have also challenged SSA’s ability to serve the public during the COVID-19 crisis, leading to new service delays.
Importantly, Social Security is the face of the government for many Americans. It's time to provide SSA with the resources it requires to provide service commensurate with the strength and importance of the program. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess