How the "Revolution" started... and how it's going.

[Lonestarblue]

23. I too am frustrated about how to resist.

Here’s what I’ve decided. We do not have a Democratic version of Fox News or the online conspiracy sites. We have most of the mainstream media now actively trying to portray Biden as a failed president, blaming him incessantly for an admittedly chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and for allowing Covid to resurface (when we all know it is Republicans refusing the vaccine who helped Covid resurface so Biden would fail), as well as for the Democrats in the Senate who refuse to get rid of the filibuster to support his agenda.

So we do not have the media, we do not have social media like Facebook, Twitter is iffy, and we do not lie and create outrageous stories like Republicans do.

What is left? Most of us donate to Democratic candidates and causes, and that is important. But we need more, like the Stacey Abrams approach of boots on the ground, active interaction with citizens, going where the people are, registering people to vote, setting up opportunities to help people learn what is going on. Democrats have actual policies that people like—if they know about them and what they mean.

So here’s my plan—I’m retired so I understand that this plan will not work for everyone.

1. Volunteer for in-person work with Beto O’Rouke’s organization Powered by People. Do you have a similar organization in your state or area? If not, there may be an Indivisible group. If not, create an Indivisible group for your community.
2. Be trained to register voters as a volunteer with the Local Democratic Party.
3. Volunteer to work with my local Democratic Party on voter outreach efforts. For example, find out whether there are public spaces, like a library or at the entrance to a grocery store where a table might be set up to distribute information on how and where to register to vote in your state, along with requirements and rights for voting.
4. Closer to the 2022 election, make calls and write postcards (I have a good supply still from 2020!) to encourage voters to go vote.

My other interest, and this one is harder to accomplish, I think, is just finding out from people what is important to them and what concerns them. I’m not running for anything, but I don’t think the people who are running always do the homework of actually talking to people. That’s one reason to volunteer for Beto’s group. He talks to people.

I hope this post gives a few ideas. I’d love to hear your ideas, too. I know that sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the sheer volume of Republican hate and misinformation and the frustration of listening to people justify their lies and do things that are not helpful—or are actually dangerous like taking Ivermectin instead of just getting vaccinated. The onslaught of misinformation will not stop, and we cannot reach everyone, but perhaps if we attempt to reach younger voters and independents, that will be enough.