Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/20
Hi, all, and happy Friday.
Yesterday was another tough day, with news of Oklahoma’s new abortion ban hitting me, at least, like a punch in the stomach. The cruelty is so unfathomable, the harm to be caused just jaw dropping.
What comforted me, albeit only slightly? The knowledge that most people in America had the same reaction as I did to this news. Of course I don’t relish the fact that so many of us are scared, angry and hurting, but I DO celebrate the fact that most of us aren’t rabid misogynists and tyrants. Really!
We are in the unfortunate situation where a minority of would-be fascists are empowered to make terrible decisions affecting the great majority of us. While this in and of itself is enraging, there is comfort in the fact that it is, at least, a minority of people willing this harm into reality.
Yes, it will take us a long time to unwind the damage that’s being done because of these laws.
But we. Will. Unwind. It.
Because there are more of us.
Because we are on the side of right.
Because we have demographics on our side. We have better candidates. We have better policies. Most voters agree with us. The “Immoral Minority’s” cruelty is increasingly repugnant to even the most disengaged of voters.
We will fix this because we have no choice. How? By grieving collectively, (and raging a bit, too), and then looking for ways to push our lawmakers towards better policies…and to oust the ones who have to go.
I’ve got a whole bunch of such opportunities below. Take them, knowing you are doing so amidst a vast collective of decency, love, and compassion that will, in the end, prevail.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, it's been six months since Gigi Sohn was nominated to the FCC board. She’s an amazing nominee—I want to see her confirmed now! With the FCC currently tied 2-2, it's deadlocked on nearly every issue affecting Americans. It’s unacceptable!
Second, I have two funding asks for the Senator. First, please ask them to earmark funding for the new Office of Environmental Justice to hold polluters accountable and advance equitable investments.
Also, please ask them to support the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax in the 2023 budget proposal to close major tax loopholes and require wealthy Americans to pay their fair share. Thanks! [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to ask the Congressmember to support the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax in the 2023 budget proposal to close major tax loopholes and require wealthy Americans to pay their fair share. We need this money desperately to fund climate action and help American families. Thanks. [H/T]
Extra Credit ✅
Please personalize and send this to President Biden through the White House portal. Or send it by texting text SIGN PQFNAA to 50409.
President Biden, I’m writing out of great concern about Direct Contracting, now called ACO REACH, which hands a beloved and trusted public program, traditional Medicare, to Wall Street investors in the name of improving health equity. But health inequities cannot be eliminated by profit-seeking corporations, which created the inequities in the first place! You can stop this Wall Street money grab by issuing an executive order ending Direct Contracting Entities (DCEs)/ACO-REACH.
Almost 100 mostly investor-owned DCEs operate in practically every state and have the potential to assign up to 36 million people on Traditional Medicare to a for-profit DCE without their knowledge or consent. The new DCEs, ACO REACH, propose to achieve equity without any evidence—in fact, there is plenty of evidence that when for-profit corporations get involved in health care, such as in dialysis centers and nursing homes, costs go up and patient care suffers. DCE/ACO-REACH are run by private equity firms, venture capital investors and commercial insurers, and can pocket up to 40% of the Medicare dollars as profit or administrative fees, threatening to bankrupt Medicare.
Private equity will never achieve health equity. Please support the Congressional Progressive Caucus demands urging you to issue an executive order ending the DCE/ACO-REACH program now! Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
Want to hear more about the Georgia model of winning elections and how it can be used everywhere?
On Thursday May 26th, 5Pm PT / 8 PM ET you’ll have the chance to do that with Airlift and the amazing Nse Ufot from the New Georgia Project.
The stunning White House and U.S. Senate wins in Georgia last election cycle were possible thanks to ten years of persistent organizing by the New Georgia Project and its allies. Now NGP is expanding their model at home and throughout the South.
Come hear Nse Ufot talk about building a long-term strategy to WIN, the challenges and opportunities across the South, and how to cut through the disinformation noise. She’ll also share insights from the May 24 primary election results.
Nse will also highlight NGP’s Reproductive Justice Initiative, and how abortion rights are inextricably linked with the voting rights NGP has long championed.
Sign up here! (Note this is a fundraiser, but no money is required to attend!)
Get Social!
Please post this on social! (If you do it on Facebook replace the below tag with @vot.er.org)
Are you a health care professional who wants to help save democracy? @Vot_ER_org connects providers with the tools, training, & community to register colleagues & patients to vote. Spread the word!
Why? Because voting creates healthier communities! https://vot-er.org/ 🏥
Win Races! 🗳
Y’all, I’m doing a Wisconsin phonebank today and I’d love your company. We’ll be calling infrequent Democratic voters to make sure they request their absentee ballot for August and November. Friendly calls, and WisDems will train you first!
Please come, and make sure you say hi to me! (Although I will be a bit late due to dog health situation.)
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN POXUXX to 50409]
I’m writing with great concern that Andrew Biggs has been nominated to serve on the Social Security Advisory Board. Once confirmed he’d be one of 7 members responsible for directly advising the President, as well as Congress and the Commissioner of Social Security, on policy, administration, and implementation.
Mr. Biggs has spent his entire life advocating for the privatization of Social Security and the dismantling of benefits millions of American seniors rely on every day and millions more are counting on for retirement. In 2013, Biggs testified before the Senate in favor of raising the retirement age for Social Security, advocating for taking years worth of earned benefits away from every American.
Back in 2005, he was instrumental in President George W. Bush’s attempt to privatize Social Security. His position has never changed, which is why the New York Times Editorial Board called him “a zealous advocate of privatizing Social Security.”
I’m asking you to oppose his confirmation. Andrew Biggs must not be confirmed and Social Security must be protected. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess