Check in January 16

[tassosss]

(Sorry it's a day late. The three-day weekend threw me off.)

It's been a busy week of confirmation hearings. More are coming up this week.

Things to read/watch
Racism and Sexism Strongest Predictors of Trump Support, not Economics
Six Democratic Senators Hold Rally for Save ACA
Immigrants Rights Rallies Happenning
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) statement on boycotting the Inaugeration More congresspeople are also boycotting now.
States Might Protect Contraception Access A reminder that State politics is very important to pay attention to.
Argument for Medium Term Strategy Argues that Pence is the lesser of two evils, though not by much.

Obama's Farewell Address

For discussion
Homeland Security Designated as "Critical Infrastructure"
Flocking behavior and how to use it for political defense

Confirmation hearings info
Upcoming
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: Governor Nikki R. Haley
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency: Scott Pruitt
Secretary of the Department of Commerce: Wilbur Ross
Secretary of the Interior: Ryan Zinke
Secretary of Education: Betsy DeVos
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Tom Price

Last week - you can still call your Senators about these people
Secretary of Defense - James Mattis
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Dr Ben Carson
Secretary of the Department of Transportation: Elaine Chao
Director of CIA - Mike Pompeo
Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson

Action
Downloadable posters for the Women's March on Jan 21
Local Women's March Events on Jan 21
How to turn a phone script into a letter
Throw a weekly anger/calling party This is something we can organize here if someone wants to be point person.
Fandom Charity Auction: Fight Back

Healthcare repeal
Weekly reminder to call about saving the ACA
Another Way to Call to Oppose PPACA Repeal - Focuses on damage to Medicare and Medicaid argument

Reproductive Rights
Tuesday Jan 17 Conference call with NARAL to learn more about threats to reproductive rights


Housekeeping: A quick note, please lookout for article paywalls and include a second link on the topic that's fully accessible. We want to make sure everyone can go to a source for more info.


How is everyone doing? I haven't made new badges yet, but I'll get to them this week. They'll be Star Wars themed.

Poll #17890

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 11

View Respondents

This week I

View Answers

called my one senator
5 (45.5%)

called my other senator
3 (27.3%)

called my represenative
5 (45.5%)

wrote a letter
2 (18.2%)

made plans for the Women's March
5 (45.5%)

took care of myself
9 (81.8%)

other action
5 (45.5%)

Comments

Re: There are more of us than we know!

[snickfic]

Seconding tassosss - this is a really great comment to read. :')

Re: There are more of us than we know!

[sathari]

Oh, wow, thanks!!!!! That means a lot to me! Seriously, if I can help anyone else find their inner citizen that's the best thing I can do!

And, seriously--- I've been thinking a lot about, not only how the other side jumped the gun, but also about how the framers of the Constitution left US citizens so many tools to FIX IT when our democracy starts to get broken and we just have to PICK THEM UP NOW and USE THEM.

I mean. On the one hand. The US as a nation is a Thing because the people who made it declared war for "certain inalienable rights", and the founding documents of the nation basically have "let's give people a means other than killing each other to express their needs for expansion of who gets which rights" built in. And on the other hand, the one time that completely broke down--- that would be the Civil War--- is also the result of the framers deliberately and consciously making decisions about sacrificing the rights of African-American slaves. And this is still screwing this up. Possibly at least in part precisely because they were so good at framing the structure of government, for better or for worse.

But it also means that WE HAVE TOOLS. We have tools to resist foreign influence and tyranny and the erosion of our rights that are part of the fabric of our nation. They're imperfect. But they're there. And we have to pick them up now. And not put them down until we've expanded our rights and their protections that much further this time.