One year on

[tanaqui]

It's been a year since the election -- and I'm not sure any of us could have imagined or predicted everything that's happened in the last 12 months when we learned the result.

So to mark the anniversary, we thought we'd throw the floor open to you, our members, who have made this comm a place to find support, discuss strategies and celebrate the successes of the opposition.

Tell us about the high points and low points of the last year for you. Tell us about what's made you laugh or cry. As we settle in for the long haul and the first burst of anger-fuelled energy falls away, tell us what actions -- small or large -- you've been able to maintain. And let us know what plans and hopes you have for the future and the ongoing resistance.

Comments

[juliet316]

Honestly I think election night last year was the low point. It just completely stunned me, shattered me, and made me feel like my vote didn't matter like nothing else ever had. It was a gut - punch to the psyche that's for sure.

The high point was last night in Virginia's elections. It just felt like a ray of hope after a year that just seemed so dark and destructive.

[alchemise]

Yeah, I agree. I've been pretty much in a bad mood for a year now, but last night I felt a glimmer of hope that we're taking at least a step in the right direction.

[tassosss]

For me, after the intense grief of the election last year, my biggest down period was this summer. The constant repeal attempts of the ACA were incredibly disheartening, and I felt really helpless about it.

The high point, honestly, was last night and today with the election results showing that we can push back and succeed against the attitudes that got 45 elected. That's what gives my hope.

What I've been able to sustain is contributing money to a couple causes: journalism and my local food bank. I've donate in limps to other orgs like Southern Poverty Law Center.

I'm phone shy so I find it hard to call my reps, and my reps are deep blue anyway. I know I should keep telling them that I appreciate what they're doing but it's hard to motivate to do that.

What scares me the most right now is the damage being done to gov't agencies by the Administration. EPA and State are in trouble that will take years if not decades to recover from. They haven't hit my agency yet, but 45 only just started nominating people for posts, so we'll see what next year brings.

[rydra_wong]

I'm phone shy so I find it hard to call my reps, and my reps are deep blue anyway. I know I should keep telling them that I appreciate what they're doing but it's hard to motivate to do that.

Send them cards, maybe? I can't remember who came up with that as a suggestion for encouraging reps who are doing the right thing, but it's brilliant.

[redbird]

Or email?

That may not be as influential as a phone call, but it can't hurt, and when the message is something like "Dear Sen. Markey, Thank you for introducing the No First Use of Nuclear Weapons Bill," I don't need to call the representative's attention to the issue, or be sure they're aware of my call in the next 48 hours.

[tassosss]

Both of these are good suggestions.