I Think I Can Help
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
My biggest concern for the next few years is the combination of President-elect Dingus Tramp and a Congress with a spatial relationship to conservatism akin to Earth’s closeness to Alpha Centauri1. They can push a very aggressive legislative agenda very quickly through the process. That means ACA, Medicare, Social Security, arts and science funding, anything that’s not buying more artillery can be gutted. Too many people dear to me can be affected by this.
Reflecting on the results of the election these last few weeks has left me feeling angry and powerless. I do not like feeling angry or powerless. Nor do most of you. All these emotions do is serve to paralyze me, paralyze us, from doing anything useful. And, like terrorism, it wins when we are left stewing in inaction.
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Powerlessness stems from two places:
- Lack of knowledge
- Lack of clear next steps
The best way to affect change is through dedicated, consistent efforts. After a number of friends posted that Speaker Ryan had set up phone poll about keeping the ACA, I had and idea. And I think I can help. I’ve developed the skill to read and understand legislation. I know how to track the bills, track the committees and committee members introducing legislation, and I know how to dial a phone. What I’m going to endeavor to do for the foreseeable future is read the laws as the come through, digest them, and tell you about them. And then tell you who to call.
With knowlwdge, it will then be up to us to do the easy thing of telling people in DC how terrible we think it is.
Knowledge is power. But you have to use that power to do something. I think I can help.
1. It is waaaaaaaaaay out there.