Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/8
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.
I have to confess, I’m exhausted. And more than a bit frustrated. Turnout in our CA primaries was abysmal—of course votes remain to be counted, but yesterday we were at only 19% statewide. And Los Angeles was worse.
Amongst young people turnout statewide was at 7%.
As a result several awful incumbents will get to keep their jobs, despite the presence of incredible progressive challengers running energetic campaigns against them. Campaigns on which, in many cases, I’ve volunteered for months.
That hurts. And, as an activist, to see such a lack of enthusiasm for voting—even when it’s been made SO EASY—hurts more.
It also worries me for November.
I’m not saying that low primary turnout definitely predicts low Midterm turnout, but I do know that when someone votes in a primary they are significantly more likely to vote in a general election. Voting begets voting. It’s habitual. People think of themselves as voters…or they don’t.
Right now far too many folks fall into the latter category.
If we want to survive, if we want to thrive, if we want to win, we MUST get more people, especially young ones, to think of themselves as voters. I can’t overstress the urgency of the situation. Nonvoters are—mostly without realizing it—positioning themselves to live in an autocracy. They are surrendering to tyranny. If they can’t yet see that we have to make them.
Much of our focus must be on young people—registering them, educating them, taking them by the hand, if necessary, and leading them to the polls. Every one of us must find a way to help with this effort.
The Civics Center has launched a project to send recent college graduates voter registration stickers with a short letter explaining why voting is important. There is a small cost, but if you can afford it please consider signing up. I just ordered 50 stickers—they will provide me with the names and addresses of young folks to send them to, plus instructions—for $16.
We’ve got to think outside the box, and fast. Consider your platform. Get creative. Brainstorm with friends. How can you help?
Because we need ALL of us getting very imaginative, very fast. We will either be a nation of voters in November, or we will stand to lose the freedoms so many of us seem to take for granted.
P.S. I’m going to take a mental health day, so forgive the slightly shorter than normal newsletter. I’ll be back with a longer post—and sunnier take—tomorrow.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
[Yes, this is a repeat of yesterday’s call. Negotiations are happening NOW. We need to keep up an absolute din if we are to have the hope of getting even bare bones gun legislation passed.]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I want the Senate to pass strong gun legislation now. We want an assault weapons ban. We want expanded background checks. We want a federal red flag law, and safe storage legislation, and we want gun manufacturers to be subject to lawsuits like everyone else. No more slaughtered children. Pass common sense gun safety laws now. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I know the House is voting any minute now on HR 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act. I want the Congressmember to support it. Will s/he?
[If yes:] Thank you for looking out for all of our children. Please keep working to get more of your colleagues on board.
[If no:] To say that I’m disappointed is an understatement. The Representative is putting politics and the NRA about the safety of our children. How dare s/he? I will do everything in my power to make sure they lose their job in November.
Extra Credit ✅
Worried about Dem messaging? You can help!
This is an excellent social media toolkit for spreading a POSITIVE message about Democrats. It makes it extremely easy to post on whatever platform you prefer. Please bookmark it and use it often to remind voters what the stakes are and who is fighting for them. (Also, feel free to edit the text before posting.)
Win Races! 🗳
All, Environmental Voter Project has a lot of phonebanks coming up for various state primaries. They focus on finding low-propensity environmental voters and making sure they turn out for elections— it’s a smart approach that works!
After seeing how dreadful turnout was in CA yesterday I am more convinced than ever that we need to be working harder to get folks out to vote. Can you sign up for a phonebank here? They’ll train you, and there are lots of dates, times, and states to choose from.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
As an introvert, I have always found it difficult to be politically active. Your videos and emails are just what I need to get me in the game!
Your daily emails help me too and I look forward to them. Everyday that I don't do my "homework" I don't get down on myself. I just say that it takes awhile to form a habit. So thank you thank you. And I've been passing on info, tips etc to friends and family.