If It's Going to Be a Fight, Let's Make It a Good One

I’ve been trying to work through a meditation on American contradictions for the past few days, and I keep putting it down because it feels circular and self indulgent. Especially because I wrote this last year, which I’m pretty proud of, and this a few years ago, which I am also proud of, and I’m not sure I can do better this year. Not right now, at least. 

And anyway, haven’t we always been this? 

Today can be in celebration of possibility, or it can be in mourning for it. It can be about democracy or it can be about hotdogs and fireworks. It can be about a fight for the country or a fight for each other or a fight for yourself. 

But I feel better when I’m fighting. If you do too, this list is for you. 

Join the thousands who have signed up to run for office with Run for Something since SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade. You tell them where you live and they can help you figure out what to run for. Or you can volunteer with them and talk to young progressives who want to run for office. Anyone can do it - you don’t need any special training, and I promise it’ll make you feel better. 

If you like talking to people, sign up for a phone banking shift or a canvassing shift to help put people in power who will actually fight for us. Sister District does great phone banks with great training and regular check-ins. They make it as easy as possible to talk to people on the phone. If you want to find a candidate nearby to canvass for, you can check out Swing Left - they’ll tell you where your closest swing district is and how you can help. 

If you don’t like talking to people you can write letters to voters with Vote Forward. This is one of the most effective voter contact programs in the country. All you need is a pen, some envelopes, and some stamps. You can sign up here. 

This blog is called “How to Save Democracy” and a lot of the time I like to write about that, about civic engagement and participation, and building a better world together. But sometimes the only thing to do is get out and do it. 

I’m signed up to phone bank for Brittany Ramos DeBarros, who is running for Congress in the NY11 Democratic primary. I’ll be making calls on Wednesday. I’ve been working my way through Vote Forward letters, and I’d love to get together and do some with you if you’re interested. There are a million ways to fight back, and only some of them are here, but I hope you’ll pick something for this week. 

See you out there.