Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/26
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
This will be a slightly abbreviated newsletter as we move into a holiday weekend.
I hope you’re hanging in there; I know things are wild right now. But, as Lao Tzu warned us (according to my husband; I have no idea if it’s true, and it’s definitely paraphrased): some things are made harder by expecting them to be easy.
What do I mean? Democracy is messy. Humanity is messy. Politics is messy. If you, like me, are a student of history you’ll agree it’s difficult to find a time when humans weren’t in conflict. This isn’t to imply that this moment in history is “normal”—not at all! But neither are times like this especially rare. We humans are fractious sorts.
So let’s accept that we’re in for more tumult, expect it to be hard for a while, and do what we can to care for ourselves as we trudge through this protracted, yet ultimately finite, storm.
While always, of course, taking our steadfast actions.
For as Lao Tzu also said: “Great acts are made up of small deeds.”
That’s our part.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I am angry that MAGA extremists have forced us into imminent default because they want to pass outrageous cuts to social services that would never happen in normal circumstances. I oppose such cuts, including cuts to Medicaid—and that includes work requirements—Medicare, Social Security administration, veterans benefits, cuts to the IRS, or any cuts to climate programs. Also—and this is important—I absolutely oppose Joe Manchin’s dirty permitting reform bill and will be very, very upset if that gets included in this agreement. Anything that expedites oil and gas drilling is not OK with me. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I am angry that MAGA extremists have forced us into imminent default because they want to pass outrageous cuts to social services that would never happen in normal circumstances. I oppose such cuts, including cuts to Medicaid—and that includes work requirements—Medicare, Social Security administration, veterans benefits, cuts to the IRS, or any cuts to climate programs. Also—and this is important—I absolutely oppose Joe Manchin’s dirty permitting reform bill and will be very, very upset if that gets included in this agreement. Anything that expedites oil and gas drilling is not OK with me. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Citing concern for staff safety, Target has yielded to the loudest voices and will be removing some LGBTQIA+ Pride items from their shelves.
Let’s remind Target that when they give in to the worst impulses in society, those impulses will grow; we expect them to stand firmly with the LGBTQIA+ community or cease their rainbow-washing completely. We can write to Target here: Corporate.Responsibility@target.com.
I wrote (this is just for an example. It’s obviously very specific to me):
To Whom It May Concern at Target,
I’m writing as the mom to a 13-year-old nonbinary child to ask you to return Pride merchandise to the shelves in stores from which you’ve removed it. I can’t tell you the devastation it causes in young queer people to hear that businesses aren’t willing to stand with them during this fraught and frankly scary moment in American history. While a smaller business, furthermore, might have real reason to fear a boycott, you’re Target. You can take a small financial hit—if it comes—to stand up for a vulnerable community. And from a business standpoint it’s the smart move. These are your future customers, and they will remember forever if you abandon them now. Thanks.
[H/T Rogan's List]
Get Smart! 📚
State Democratic Parties have a key role to play in ensuring fair elections. And we need to strengthen those efforts now to be ready for 2024 in the key swing states of Arizona and Michigan. Winning both is essential to blocking MAGA.
On Tuesday, May 30th, at 7:00 pm ET, I'm going to join a zoom webinar and fundraiser that has been organized by 31st Street Swing Left. They are holding this fundraiser to enable the MI and AZ Democratic parties engage the expertise of DEMpower Labs as they prepare for the upcoming election cycle.
The event will feature a presentation and Q&A session with Kim Allen of DEMpower Labs. Kim and the team at DEMpower support Democratic state parties with the nuts and bolts of election organization and voter protection programs, from recruiting staff, to facilitating planning, to ongoing coaching and support.
To attend either click on this link on Tuesday at 7ET or give ANY AMOUNT here and you’ll receive the Zoom link in an email. There is no donation required to attend.
Read the Polls!
I thought this new polling from the Environmental Polling Consortium was fascinating:
By a greater than two-to-one margin (68%-32%), voters prefer to deal with energy prices by “cracking down on price gouging by oil companies, taxing the huge excess profits of oil companies, and expanding energy production from clean energy sources” (68%) over “expanding oil drilling in U.S. oceans and wilderness areas and building more pipelines across the country for transporting oil and gas” (32%) [Climate Power/LCV/Fossil Free Media]
Most voters believe that companies involved in solar and wind energy production are making things better for energy consumers (53% better / 15% worse), while they lean toward believing that companies involved in oil and gas are making things worse for energy consumers (29% better / 38% worse) [Climate Power/LCV/Fossil Free Media]
84% of voters support increasing the amount of energy produced from clean energy sources [Climate Power/LCV/Fossil Free Media]
78% of voters approve of subsidies and tax breaks for wind and solar energy companies [Climate Power/LCV/Fossil Free Media]
89% of voters support cracking down on oil and gas companies that engage in price gouging, including 65% who strongly support this idea [Climate Power/LCV/Fossil Free Media]
76% of voters support passing a tax on the excess profits made by oil and gas companies [Climate Power/LCV/Fossil Free Media]
66% of voters disapprove of tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies [Climate Power/LCV/Fossil Free Media]
Majorities of voters believe that oil company CEOs (59%) and oil industry lobbyists (55%) are making things worse for consumers when it comes to energy prices [Climate Power/LCV/Fossil Free Media]
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PQIAIN to 50409 or share]
I’m writing after yet another catastrophic and poorly reasoned Supreme Court decision—this one gutting the Clean Water Act—to say that our court has been overtaken by partisan reactionaries and must be fixed. It is doing irreparable harm to Americans.
The Constitution allows Congress to change the number of justices on the Supreme Court—lawmakers have done so seven different times throughout American history. Adding seats to the Court is a practical, proportional response that would allow us to stop the harm being done and restore its balance and integrity. Additionally, setting Supreme Court term limits would be perfectly constitutional and an important part of this effort. Polls show that over two-thirds of all Americans support term limits for justices.
In the face of an unaccountable, unethical majority on the Supreme Court determined to strip Americans of our freedoms, we need Congress to deliver the reforms necessary to protect our democracy. That starts with expanding the Court. Please do everything you can to pass Ed Markey’s Judiciary Act of 2023, which does just that. This is an emergency. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Great advice! We shouldn't expect anything we have to do to be easy. We just have to do it!
Have a lovely weekend.
Thanks for the Target email, Jessica! Here's what I just wrote. I hope other Chop Wood readers will speak up, too.
"I’ve been a Target shopper for years, even when I’ve had to drive 100 miles to get to one of your stores. You undoubtedly have millions of other loyal customers. So I’m surprised your decision-makers would betray the loyalty of your customers and staff by caving to the hysteria, hate, and fear promoted by right-wing extremists against Pride. The anti-LGBT+ people choose to purposely target a minority of people with bigotry, rage, and contempt. I’m appalled that Target is OK with that.
"Acclaimed historian Timothy Snyder writes about people who seek to diminish, disrespect, or even destroy targeted groups. In ON TYRANNY, TWENTY LESSONS FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, he says, “Do not obey in advance.” By caving to bigotry, you confirm that threats to harm others work. A powerful company like Target is teaching hate groups how much they can get away with.
"I am discouraged by the choice Target management has made - and angry as well. Millions of us expect better from you.
"I’m eager to hear your public apology for caving to hate - and to see you restore your Pride products to your stores. Tell the haters your company's bottom line depends on loyalty to staff, customers, and human decency."