What Next? What Should We Be Doing? … written recently by a good friend

Hello fellow election volunteers,

Since I last wrote trying to offer some sense of hope after the November election, I suspect we’ve all felt shell-shocked by the firehose of previously-unimaginable decisions, executive orders, appointments, lies and innumerable other egregious actions coming at us day after day from the Trump administration – all designed to overwhelm opposition and make it difficult to know when and how to respond. Among many negative reactions, all of this has contributed to writer’s block at my end.  I’ve sat down numerous times to put thoughts in writing, only to be confronted with the latest news and think maybe I should wait a bit longer to be sure I know how best to respond, and ultimately to wonder if I have anything worth adding to what others are saying.

I’m not sure I have any great words of wisdom that haven’t already been said more eloquently by others.  But perhaps it may be of some value to pass on ideas others have expressed that you may have missed, and suggest some ways that we can all respond as we feel motivated to do so in support of reclaiming our values, our country and our democracy in the days and weeks to come.

Last year many of you spent hours reaching out to voters across the country in various efforts to prevent what ultimately happened last November.  And I know many have been taking actions since the election to push back against what has been happening in our country since January 20.  Others have asked me what I’m doing or what they/we can do going forward. What follows are some thoughts about where we are, and what each of us can do in our own ways to reclaim our democracy and limit the slide to autocratic and often mean-spirited rule.  Thanks up front to the many thoughtful writers, modern-day prophets and organizations who have certainly influenced and helped shape the thoughts that follow.

First, as bad as we may think things are – and they are arguably worse than even the most pessimistic of us could have imagined pre-January 20 – there are important signs of resistance and reasons for hope that are encouraging:  People and organizations mentioned below who are offering helpful perspectives to guide us and point to ways that we can navigate these uncertain days; signs of “buyer’s remorse” among some who are questioning actions they didn’t think they were voting for; rallies across the country; town halls with signs of holding elected officials accountable for their actions (or probably more accurately, inactions and acquiescence instead of pushing back and raising questions); flooding switchboards with hundreds of thousands of calls to the offices of elected officials; and numerous court appeals to delay or stop administration actions – perhaps the most important checks left in our system, in the absence of congressional spines on both sides of the political aisle.

As segments of the population become more and more aware of the implications of actions of the administration, Musk and DOGE, increasingly the effects of these actions hit home – and people begin to realize the immediate and longer-term impact on their lives and on those in their families and communities.  People increasingly are becoming aware of the reality, the existential threat, that our society and democratic principles and values and what we say we aspire to are at stake, and that their continuation cannot be taken for granted when guardrails and checks and balances we thought would always be in place prove to be weaker than we assumed.  As more and more people become more and more aware of how they are being negatively impacted now and in the future, hopefully we will see more active pushback, and maybe – just maybe – enough of our elected officials on both sides of the aisle will develop – or regain – a conscience, courage and a spine to put values and country and democracy ahead of cowardice and political party and acquiescence and sycophancy.

It’s up to each of us to help make that happen – to show courage and shine a light instead of cowering in the darkness of despair.  It is only if and when we act and insist on being the best we can be – acknowledging that we’ve never been perfect as a country and that neither political party or segment of our society is perfect or has all the right answers, but insisting that we return to the quest for and aspiring to our better angels and the values of empathy and caring for each other, rather than cruelty and appealing to the worst in us – only then do we stand a chance to get back on the path to the common ground principles and values that should unite rather than divide us.  

And for those who say we can sit back and wait until we turn this around by winning the mid-term elections in 2026, that may or may not happen, and even if it does, it may be too late to prevent more of what we’re already experiencing.  Look at the damage already done to our supposed check and balance protections and trust in our democratic values and institutions in just two months, and imagine what more can happen between now and November 2026. Yes, that will be an important election year, but that’s too late to wait to take action on numerous fronts. We need to engage and challenge the current directions now.  And that means challenging people and actions – and inactions and acquiescence – on both sides of the aisle politically, as well as institutions of all types – the religious community, business leaders, education leaders, non-profits, law firms, the media.

 We all have our strengths and comfort levels, and we all have things we may be uncomfortable or unwilling or unable to do. But whatever those strengths and reluctances, each of us – each of us! – has something we can do to make a difference.  As starters, consider the following range of possible opportunities for engagement, and find one or more that you’re comfortable with.  I should say that there are some on the following list that I’m more positive about than others, and some I have more questions about in terms of my own preferred approaches, but all represent legitimate opportunities to take action, and all have significant numbers of people engaging with them.  So sift through the list and pick and choose something – or several somethings – that appeal to you, and then ACT – NOW and continuing until we begin to turn today’s chaos and upheavals  around.  Silence is complicity, and change won’t happen if we wait for others to act on our behalf.  It’s easy to feel exhausted and hopeless, but this is not the time to tune out. Now more than ever, we need to respond.  Previous generations fought for democracy – now it’s our turn.  It’s up to us. Let’s all commit to how we, individually and collectively, can turn despair and frustration and anger into hope and resilience and responsible actions to reclaim our country and its aspirational values.

In no particular order:

• 5 Calls:  https://5calls.org/ – This easy-to-access link provides information on, currently, 48 different issues about which you may wish to communicate with your US House and Senate elected officials.  The link provides background information about each issue, updated frequently, along with contact information for each official n your geographic area, and a suggested phone message.  You may of course modify the message to convey your own personal thoughts. Whether you are represented by Democratic or Republican elected officials, it’s important to contact them, as they all need to be reminded of their responsibilities to you and their larger constituency, and that people are paying attention to what they do or don’t do.
• NETWORK:  https://networklobby.org – A faith-based political advocacy organization for the common good which advocates for federal policies that advance racial and economic justice. Scroll down to Act Now and you’ll see numbers to call for various issues.  Some are outdated, but others remain topical, including separate messages targeted to Democrats and Republicans.
• Indivisible:  https://indivisible.org – A self-described progressive grassroots movement of thousands of local groups and millions of activists across every state, with a mission to lobby congress, elect progressive leaders, rebuild an inclusive democracy, and defeat the MAGA agenda. Some may find its approach too aggressive in some of its positions, and others will appreciate its no-holds-barred approach.  Either way, it’s worth checking out.
• Hands Off National Day of Action April 5:  Hands Off! – Not everyone is into rallies and marches, but for those who are, a wide variety of national and local organizations are mobilizing peaceful rallies in numerous locations in every state on Saturday, April 5 to say Hands Off – hands off our democracy, health care, our bodies, research initiatives, Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security, jobs, colleges and universities and public schools, personal data, and critical services, institutions, and organizations.  The website contains information about locations of events.  For those in the Rochester area, the event is scheduled from 2-4 pm in the lower section of Cobbs Hill Park.
• Commit to Democracy:  https://www.commit2democracy.com/ — A grassroots organization based on the west coast but taking action in states across the nation where key elections are taking place.  Promotes resistance in various ways to the current administration’s actions, and organizes phone banks, postcard writing and other ways of reaching voters in key elections each year.
• Faithful America:  https://faithfulamerica.org/  — A broad community of mainline Christians focused on social justice and pushing back against the efforts of “the religious right to serve a hateful political agenda,” with a particular focus on challenging Christian nationalism and white supremacy.  The non-denominational group mobilizes individual and collective actions supporting marginalized groups and upholding values of love, equity, equality and dignity.
• Working Families Party:  https://workingfamilies.org/ — Focuses on issues most directly affecting working-class citizens, including a particular emphasis this year on recruiting people with working-class backgrounds who will “fight for us instead of billionaires and corporations.”
• “Leaving MAGA”:  https://leavingmaga.org/ — An organization of former true MAGA believers who seek to empower others to leave MAGA, tell their stories, foster reconciliation with friends and family, and create a safe, non-judgmental environment for those who leave MAGA and who are questioning their devotion to Trump and the movement.
• Robert Reich:  https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-you-can-do and (1) Six small morsels of hope – Robert Reich – Not everyone will agree with Reich’s assessment of various issues, but I find his daily posts, including these two examples, to be a mixture of both alarmist wakeup calls along with ways of coping and signs of hope that there are things we can be doing to fight back against the divisiveness and vindictiveness of the past two months.
• Heather Cox Richardson:  https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-24-2025 and https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/march-27-2025?r=2235vv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email and https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/march-28-2025?r=2235vv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email  – These are examples of the daily posts by an historian who typically puts the events and implications of today in the context of historical events and decisions, and their implications, from the past.  She rarely suggests specific actions, but I find her daily musings to be helpful in providing valuable perspective to what is facing us each day.  As with Robert Reich, the daily posts are available free or via paid subscription.
• MoveOn:  https://front.moveon.org/ — A national grassroots organization with several million supporters which mobilizes to elect candidates, work for passage of legislation, and seek to create a more inclusive, progressive future.  It is in the forefront of working in partnership with other organizations to confront the actions of the current administration, and offers volunteers a variety of ways to engage.
• Leaders We Deserve:  https://leaderswedeserve.com/ — Dedicated to electing young progressives to Congress and state legislatures across the country “to help defeat the far-right agenda and advance a progressive vision for the future.”  The core premise of the organization is that young people need to be given real reasons to vote, and to vote against MAGA supporters and issues, or else we’ll get the same electoral and policy results as we’re living with today.
• NextGen America: https://nextgenamerica.org/ — Registers and mobilizes young voters 18-35 in key states to turn out at the ballot box and drive progressive change using innovative digital and field strategies.
• Braver Angels:  https://braverangels.org/ — Organization dedicated to bringing people from different perspectives together to find common ground, in the belief that, despite our political differences, the common thread of our citizenship connects all Americans and provides a basis for difficult, but promising and respectful debate and civil conversations. This organization, and these conversations, can provide a point of departure to help increase understanding across our political divides.
• Field Team 6:  https://www.fieldteam6.org/ — To win elections going forward, Field Team 6 plans to reach out to millions of unregistered voters who are likely to vote against MAGA issues and candidates, based on a unique database and multiple targeted outreach approaches.  Many of us worked with FT6 in past elections, and there are opportunities to continue to do similar work with them going forward.
• Activate America:  https://www.activateamerica.vote/savechildren — If you are concerned about the cuts to USAID, this link provides background information and suggested messages to send to your elected representatives in Washington.
• VoteVets:  https://votevets.org/ — Organization that promotes veterans’ issues in a variety of ways.
• Americares:  https://www.americares.org/ — A global non-profit organization focused not so much on political issues as on health and development, addressing poverty, disasters, and crises with medicine, medical supplies, and health programs.  Few volunteer opportunities, but important opportunities to donate to support significant disaster relief efforts, such as the LA fires, hurricanes, etc.
• Focus on “Real Things”:  Opinion | Michigan’s Kristen McDonald Rivet should inspire Democrats – The Washington Post – A recent op-ed talks about how to connect with voters by focusing on the “real things” that matter to them, and how decisions being made by Musk and the Trump administration impact the lives of average citizens and the programs and services they rely on.  This can be a recipe for election success, as well as for what types of issues each of us can emphasize NOW in any actions we take to hold our elected officials accountable.
• Year-Round Local Postcard Writing:  Yes, there are still opportunities for those who want to stay engaged in writing postcards to help persuade voters in selected “off year” elections in key places across the country.  One is Postcard Friday for those in the Rochester area:  contact Trish Harren at trish.harren@gmail.com . They do a great job of staying on top of issues and directing volunteers to act in response throughout the year. They also suggest other activist options for those in and not in the Rochester area.
• Author and Activist Bill Wynne:  Some of you in the Rochester area know Bill and his writings.  He writes blogs with personal, spiritual, political, antiracist reflections which challenge his readers and also often provide practical ways to get involved in reclaiming our democracy, our values, and relationships that matter.  Here’s an example of a recent blog: https://www.wewynneauthor.com/2025/03/08/resegregation-and-dei/.  The blog also provides information on how to be added to his regular email distribution list.
• Public Citizen:   https://www.citizen.org/ — A nonprofit nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization that focuses on representing the public interest against corporate power and in support of democratic principles.  It currently is participating in partnership with other organizations in eight lawsuits against various actions of the Trump administration. It provides frequent updates about issues that citizens can act on, in addition to its legal work. They typically do not endorse candidates, maintaining independence to “call out bad actors” of whatever political or organizational stripe.
• Our Local History:  https://www.ccsi.org/ourlocalhistory/ – For people in the Rochester area, a chance to advocate for local school districts and other community groups to support and empower students, teachers, and communities with the tools to engage with and own their local history of civil rights through inquiry, equity, and civic action.

Although much of this email has been about taking actions against the current Republican agenda and divisive actions, and how Democrats typically offer a more empathetic, inclusive agenda that at least purports to focus on needs of everyday Americans and standing up for democratic values around the world, the reality is that the issues facing us transcend Democrats vs. Republicans or left vs. right.  Those are real and represent how many of our issues are played out.  But the real most critical choice facing us today is democracy and its values or dictatorship, authoritarianism, and divisiveness.  We need to remind people of what we are losing, and may continue to lose, both now and in the future, if we continue down the paths of the past two months.

As we decide how we choose to engage as active citizens in the days and weeks to come, it’s helpful to be reminded of the “real things” noted above that are at stake, and to find ways to connect with those we may have disagreements with, to seek to find common ground where we can – as suggested by the Braver Angels and Leaving MAGA groups referenced above.  As others have said so eloquently, we face a stark choice – and also a promising opportunity – to reflect on what it means to live in a functioning democracy under the rule of law rather than under the rule of a self-focused ruler and his wealthy enablers – and then to take actions that help make people aware of what’s at risk under the current regime, and to begin to restore hope and movement toward the values, rights and freedoms that our country, warts and all, has always aspired to.  Let’s get to work!

Would love to hear reactions and suggestions of other approaches you may be aware of.  Let me know, and I’ll be glad to share them with everyone.  In the meantime, thanks for all you’re all doing and will do,

Don P.

What Next? What Should We Be Doing? … written recently by a good friend

Hello fellow election volunteers,

Since I last wrote trying to offer some sense of hope after the November election, I suspect we’ve all felt shell-shocked by the firehose of previously-unimaginable decisions, executive orders, appointments, lies and innumerable other egregious actions coming at us day after day from the Trump administration – all designed to overwhelm opposition and make it difficult to know when and how to respond. Among many negative reactions, all of this has contributed to writer’s block at my end.  I’ve sat down numerous times to put thoughts in writing, only to be confronted with the latest news and think maybe I should wait a bit longer to be sure I know how best to respond, and ultimately to wonder if I have anything worth adding to what others are saying.

I’m not sure I have any great words of wisdom that haven’t already been said more eloquently by others.  But perhaps it may be of some value to pass on ideas others have expressed that you may have missed, and suggest some ways that we can all respond as we feel motivated to do so in support of reclaiming our values, our country and our democracy in the days and weeks to come.

Last year many of you spent hours reaching out to voters across the country in various efforts to prevent what ultimately happened last November.  And I know many have been taking actions since the election to push back against what has been happening in our country since January 20.  Others have asked me what I’m doing or what they/we can do going forward. What follows are some thoughts about where we are, and what each of us can do in our own ways to reclaim our democracy and limit the slide to autocratic and often mean-spirited rule.  Thanks up front to the many thoughtful writers, modern-day prophets and organizations who have certainly influenced and helped shape the thoughts that follow.

First, as bad as we may think things are – and they are arguably worse than even the most pessimistic of us could have imagined pre-January 20 – there are important signs of resistance and reasons for hope that are encouraging:  People and organizations mentioned below who are offering helpful perspectives to guide us and point to ways that we can navigate these uncertain days; signs of “buyer’s remorse” among some who are questioning actions they didn’t think they were voting for; rallies across the country; town halls with signs of holding elected officials accountable for their actions (or probably more accurately, inactions and acquiescence instead of pushing back and raising questions); flooding switchboards with hundreds of thousands of calls to the offices of elected officials; and numerous court appeals to delay or stop administration actions – perhaps the most important checks left in our system, in the absence of congressional spines on both sides of the political aisle.

As segments of the population become more and more aware of the implications of actions of the administration, Musk and DOGE, increasingly the effects of these actions hit home – and people begin to realize the immediate and longer-term impact on their lives and on those in their families and communities.  People increasingly are becoming aware of the reality, the existential threat, that our society and democratic principles and values and what we say we aspire to are at stake, and that their continuation cannot be taken for granted when guardrails and checks and balances we thought would always be in place prove to be weaker than we assumed.  As more and more people become more and more aware of how they are being negatively impacted now and in the future, hopefully we will see more active pushback, and maybe – just maybe – enough of our elected officials on both sides of the aisle will develop – or regain – a conscience, courage and a spine to put values and country and democracy ahead of cowardice and political party and acquiescence and sycophancy.

It’s up to each of us to help make that happen – to show courage and shine a light instead of cowering in the darkness of despair.  It is only if and when we act and insist on being the best we can be – acknowledging that we’ve never been perfect as a country and that neither political party or segment of our society is perfect or has all the right answers, but insisting that we return to the quest for and aspiring to our better angels and the values of empathy and caring for each other, rather than cruelty and appealing to the worst in us – only then do we stand a chance to get back on the path to the common ground principles and values that should unite rather than divide us.  

And for those who say we can sit back and wait until we turn this around by winning the mid-term elections in 2026, that may or may not happen, and even if it does, it may be too late to prevent more of what we’re already experiencing.  Look at the damage already done to our supposed check and balance protections and trust in our democratic values and institutions in just two months, and imagine what more can happen between now and November 2026. Yes, that will be an important election year, but that’s too late to wait to take action on numerous fronts. We need to engage and challenge the current directions now.  And that means challenging people and actions – and inactions and acquiescence – on both sides of the aisle politically, as well as institutions of all types – the religious community, business leaders, education leaders, non-profits, law firms, the media.

 We all have our strengths and comfort levels, and we all have things we may be uncomfortable or unwilling or unable to do. But whatever those strengths and reluctances, each of us – each of us! – has something we can do to make a difference.  As starters, consider the following range of possible opportunities for engagement, and find one or more that you’re comfortable with.  I should say that there are some on the following list that I’m more positive about than others, and some I have more questions about in terms of my own preferred approaches, but all represent legitimate opportunities to take action, and all have significant numbers of people engaging with them.  So sift through the list and pick and choose something – or several somethings – that appeal to you, and then ACT – NOW and continuing until we begin to turn today’s chaos and upheavals  around.  Silence is complicity, and change won’t happen if we wait for others to act on our behalf.  It’s easy to feel exhausted and hopeless, but this is not the time to tune out. Now more than ever, we need to respond.  Previous generations fought for democracy – now it’s our turn.  It’s up to us. Let’s all commit to how we, individually and collectively, can turn despair and frustration and anger into hope and resilience and responsible actions to reclaim our country and its aspirational values.

In no particular order:

• 5 Calls:  https://5calls.org/ – This easy-to-access link provides information on, currently, 48 different issues about which you may wish to communicate with your US House and Senate elected officials.  The link provides background information about each issue, updated frequently, along with contact information for each official n your geographic area, and a suggested phone message.  You may of course modify the message to convey your own personal thoughts. Whether you are represented by Democratic or Republican elected officials, it’s important to contact them, as they all need to be reminded of their responsibilities to you and their larger constituency, and that people are paying attention to what they do or don’t do.
• NETWORK:  https://networklobby.org – A faith-based political advocacy organization for the common good which advocates for federal policies that advance racial and economic justice. Scroll down to Act Now and you’ll see numbers to call for various issues.  Some are outdated, but others remain topical, including separate messages targeted to Democrats and Republicans.
• Indivisible:  https://indivisible.org – A self-described progressive grassroots movement of thousands of local groups and millions of activists across every state, with a mission to lobby congress, elect progressive leaders, rebuild an inclusive democracy, and defeat the MAGA agenda. Some may find its approach too aggressive in some of its positions, and others will appreciate its no-holds-barred approach.  Either way, it’s worth checking out.
• Hands Off National Day of Action April 5:  Hands Off! – Not everyone is into rallies and marches, but for those who are, a wide variety of national and local organizations are mobilizing peaceful rallies in numerous locations in every state on Saturday, April 5 to say Hands Off – hands off our democracy, health care, our bodies, research initiatives, Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security, jobs, colleges and universities and public schools, personal data, and critical services, institutions, and organizations.  The website contains information about locations of events.  For those in the Rochester area, the event is scheduled from 2-4 pm in the lower section of Cobbs Hill Park.
• Commit to Democracy:  https://www.commit2democracy.com/ — A grassroots organization based on the west coast but taking action in states across the nation where key elections are taking place.  Promotes resistance in various ways to the current administration’s actions, and organizes phone banks, postcard writing and other ways of reaching voters in key elections each year.
• Faithful America:  https://faithfulamerica.org/  — A broad community of mainline Christians focused on social justice and pushing back against the efforts of “the religious right to serve a hateful political agenda,” with a particular focus on challenging Christian nationalism and white supremacy.  The non-denominational group mobilizes individual and collective actions supporting marginalized groups and upholding values of love, equity, equality and dignity.
• Working Families Party:  https://workingfamilies.org/ — Focuses on issues most directly affecting working-class citizens, including a particular emphasis this year on recruiting people with working-class backgrounds who will “fight for us instead of billionaires and corporations.”
• “Leaving MAGA”:  https://leavingmaga.org/ — An organization of former true MAGA believers who seek to empower others to leave MAGA, tell their stories, foster reconciliation with friends and family, and create a safe, non-judgmental environment for those who leave MAGA and who are questioning their devotion to Trump and the movement.
• Robert Reich:  https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-you-can-do and (1) Six small morsels of hope – Robert Reich – Not everyone will agree with Reich’s assessment of various issues, but I find his daily posts, including these two examples, to be a mixture of both alarmist wakeup calls along with ways of coping and signs of hope that there are things we can be doing to fight back against the divisiveness and vindictiveness of the past two months.
• Heather Cox Richardson:  https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-24-2025 and https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/march-27-2025?r=2235vv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email and https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/march-28-2025?r=2235vv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email  – These are examples of the daily posts by an historian who typically puts the events and implications of today in the context of historical events and decisions, and their implications, from the past.  She rarely suggests specific actions, but I find her daily musings to be helpful in providing valuable perspective to what is facing us each day.  As with Robert Reich, the daily posts are available free or via paid subscription.
• MoveOn:  https://front.moveon.org/ — A national grassroots organization with several million supporters which mobilizes to elect candidates, work for passage of legislation, and seek to create a more inclusive, progressive future.  It is in the forefront of working in partnership with other organizations to confront the actions of the current administration, and offers volunteers a variety of ways to engage.
• Leaders We Deserve:  https://leaderswedeserve.com/ — Dedicated to electing young progressives to Congress and state legislatures across the country “to help defeat the far-right agenda and advance a progressive vision for the future.”  The core premise of the organization is that young people need to be given real reasons to vote, and to vote against MAGA supporters and issues, or else we’ll get the same electoral and policy results as we’re living with today.
• NextGen America: https://nextgenamerica.org/ — Registers and mobilizes young voters 18-35 in key states to turn out at the ballot box and drive progressive change using innovative digital and field strategies.
• Braver Angels:  https://braverangels.org/ — Organization dedicated to bringing people from different perspectives together to find common ground, in the belief that, despite our political differences, the common thread of our citizenship connects all Americans and provides a basis for difficult, but promising and respectful debate and civil conversations. This organization, and these conversations, can provide a point of departure to help increase understanding across our political divides.
• Field Team 6:  https://www.fieldteam6.org/ — To win elections going forward, Field Team 6 plans to reach out to millions of unregistered voters who are likely to vote against MAGA issues and candidates, based on a unique database and multiple targeted outreach approaches.  Many of us worked with FT6 in past elections, and there are opportunities to continue to do similar work with them going forward.
• Activate America:  https://www.activateamerica.vote/savechildren — If you are concerned about the cuts to USAID, this link provides background information and suggested messages to send to your elected representatives in Washington.
• VoteVets:  https://votevets.org/ — Organization that promotes veterans’ issues in a variety of ways.
• Americares:  https://www.americares.org/ — A global non-profit organization focused not so much on political issues as on health and development, addressing poverty, disasters, and crises with medicine, medical supplies, and health programs.  Few volunteer opportunities, but important opportunities to donate to support significant disaster relief efforts, such as the LA fires, hurricanes, etc.
• Focus on “Real Things”:  Opinion | Michigan’s Kristen McDonald Rivet should inspire Democrats – The Washington Post – A recent op-ed talks about how to connect with voters by focusing on the “real things” that matter to them, and how decisions being made by Musk and the Trump administration impact the lives of average citizens and the programs and services they rely on.  This can be a recipe for election success, as well as for what types of issues each of us can emphasize NOW in any actions we take to hold our elected officials accountable.
• Year-Round Local Postcard Writing:  Yes, there are still opportunities for those who want to stay engaged in writing postcards to help persuade voters in selected “off year” elections in key places across the country.  One is Postcard Friday for those in the Rochester area:  contact Trish Harren at trish.harren@gmail.com . They do a great job of staying on top of issues and directing volunteers to act in response throughout the year. They also suggest other activist options for those in and not in the Rochester area.
• Author and Activist Bill Wynne:  Some of you in the Rochester area know Bill and his writings.  He writes blogs with personal, spiritual, political, antiracist reflections which challenge his readers and also often provide practical ways to get involved in reclaiming our democracy, our values, and relationships that matter.  Here’s an example of a recent blog: https://www.wewynneauthor.com/2025/03/08/resegregation-and-dei/.  The blog also provides information on how to be added to his regular email distribution list.
• Public Citizen:   https://www.citizen.org/ — A nonprofit nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization that focuses on representing the public interest against corporate power and in support of democratic principles.  It currently is participating in partnership with other organizations in eight lawsuits against various actions of the Trump administration. It provides frequent updates about issues that citizens can act on, in addition to its legal work. They typically do not endorse candidates, maintaining independence to “call out bad actors” of whatever political or organizational stripe.
• Our Local History:  https://www.ccsi.org/ourlocalhistory/ – For people in the Rochester area, a chance to advocate for local school districts and other community groups to support and empower students, teachers, and communities with the tools to engage with and own their local history of civil rights through inquiry, equity, and civic action.

Although much of this email has been about taking actions against the current Republican agenda and divisive actions, and how Democrats typically offer a more empathetic, inclusive agenda that at least purports to focus on needs of everyday Americans and standing up for democratic values around the world, the reality is that the issues facing us transcend Democrats vs. Republicans or left vs. right.  Those are real and represent how many of our issues are played out.  But the real most critical choice facing us today is democracy and its values or dictatorship, authoritarianism, and divisiveness.  We need to remind people of what we are losing, and may continue to lose, both now and in the future, if we continue down the paths of the past two months.

As we decide how we choose to engage as active citizens in the days and weeks to come, it’s helpful to be reminded of the “real things” noted above that are at stake, and to find ways to connect with those we may have disagreements with, to seek to find common ground where we can – as suggested by the Braver Angels and Leaving MAGA groups referenced above.  As others have said so eloquently, we face a stark choice – and also a promising opportunity – to reflect on what it means to live in a functioning democracy under the rule of law rather than under the rule of a self-focused ruler and his wealthy enablers – and then to take actions that help make people aware of what’s at risk under the current regime, and to begin to restore hope and movement toward the values, rights and freedoms that our country, warts and all, has always aspired to.  Let’s get to work!

Would love to hear reactions and suggestions of other approaches you may be aware of.  Let me know, and I’ll be glad to share them with everyone.  In the meantime, thanks for all you’re all doing and will do,

Don P.

If you care to comment on this, please work through my website.

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