Weekly Check In

[tassosss]

A lot of information has been going through this comm this week, and a lot of it is scary and depressing, so I just wanted to have a check-in post for folks. How are you all doing?


How are you coping? Have you done something to take care of yourself this week?
How goes getting involved?


Three easy things you can do from your computer that take 2 minutes
1. Find the phone numbers for your (onerepresentative and two senators and program them into your phone.
2. Sign a petition for:
Audit on the vote tally for the 2016 Presidential Election More info here
Pledge to Fight for Justice: Take the pledge: Fight On for Justice (sponsored by Kamala Harris)
Stephen Bannon: STEPHEN BANNON HAS NO BUSINESS IN THE WHITE HOUSE (Southern Poverty Law Center)
Myron Ebell: Do Not Allow Myron Ebell to Lead the EPA Transition (petitions.whitehouse.gov)
3. Set up donations to an organization through the smile.Amazon.com program (may be different for folks in UK)


Two easy things that you can do from your computer that require money
1.Donate to an organization that’s gonna need the money in the new administration You can set up monthly donations if you have the funds.
2. Donate to Foster Campbell, the Democrat running in the U.S. Louisiana Senate Run-off race on Dec 10


One challenge-but-you-can-do-it thing you can do with your phone
1. Call your representatives and express your opinion on
a. Bannon’s appointment
b. Oversight of Trump’s financial’s
c. Affordable Care Act - for this you can call Paul Ryan’s office at (202) 225-0600 since he’s doing an automated survey and you don’t have to talk to a person
Call (202) 225-0600
**WAIT** The earlier phone number (before it was overwhelmed) had silence for 40 seconds. This phone number might not, but be patient if necessary
Press 2 to participate when you get prompted to take the survey.
Listen to the long (biased) message
Press 1 to register your support for the ACA
It will give you an option to leave Paul Ryan a message at the end, but his mailbox may well be full.



Let us know how it’s going! I’ll make badges! Even if you haven’t done anything yet, we want to hear from you. We’re also happy to take feedback on the comm to make it smoother. tanaqui and I are figuring things out as we go.

Comments

[tanaqui]

From what I know of these kinds of automated systems, they can actually be pretty speedy in their response -- just a fraction of a second -- so it probably did register your vote. (I also personally don't see the harm in trying again, if you feel up to it.)

[chanter1944]

I did end up trying again. For what it's worth, there was more of a delay between my pressing 1 and the automated thank you message that followed this time, so I wonder if there isn't a set window of time that elapses regardless of which option is selected... anyway. I'm fairly sure my selection went through this time, at least.

[tanaqui]

Glad you were able to make your voice heard in the end!