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Shared from Jennifer Hofmann, with gratitude for this wonderful checklist!

What to Do This Week of Jan 22, 2017

Action Checklist for Americans of Conscience

There are 21 months to mid-term elections. Let’s get cracking!

The intention of this weekly document is to make clear suggestions for action backed by well-considered research. If an issue doesn’t affect you, consider whether you would support this issue on behalf of other Americans and act accordingly. Although these topics have been well researched and are intended to be helpful, they are still subject to human error. Please do your own research!

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I believe I can make a difference.

Gear up for the next 652 days to the midterm elections. 

Print out this worksheet for the steps below:

* Put your representative’s name, local phone, DC phone, address, and email on the worksheet or your phone. Get them here.

* Put your two senators’ names, local phones, DC phones, addresses, and email addresses there too. Get them here.

* Get a pile of postcards (or sheets of 110lb cardstock to make your own) and 34-cent postcard stamps. Snail mail is the new response to full voice mailboxes.

* Decide on your “Top Three” most-important issues. Focusing on just a few issues will prevent overwhelm. Consider choosing at least one issue that doesn’t affect you personally. #Top3

* Have a conversation with yourself and/or beloved others about how you want to give time and/or treasure to your Top Three.

* Set aside time each week to be active. 20-60 minutes is a good range. Add this to your calendar. You might consider doing your actions with others for support and community.

I believe in a free, quality education for America’s youth.

Oppose the appointment of Betsy DeVos to Secretary of Education ASAP. 
Even if you’ve already called and/or left a message, call again. If you get voicemail, leave a message. (Hearing on 1/31. Instructions on the next page.)

Call: Senate HELP Committee Chair, Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 202-224-4944

Call: HELP Committee Ranking Member, Patty Murray (D-WA) 202-224-2621

Call: Your two senators. (lookup)

Script: Hi! I am calling to oppose Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education. (Really, that’s all you need to say.)

I believe in equal rights for all Americans.

Oppose Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions (hearing on 1/31)

Call: Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, Chuck Grassley (R-IA) 202-224-3744

Call: SJJC Ranking Member, Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 202-224-3841

Call: Your two senators local office (look up)

Script: Hi! I am calling to oppose Jeff Sessions for Attorney General.

Read the ACLU’s 7-point action plan 

https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/here-aclus-7-point-plan-action-take-trump-administration

Choose what action you will take based on what you read.

I believe in integrity and reject corruption.

Sign the first two petitions on the new White House website. (Incidentally, I’m happy to see the petition page--which Obama started--still on the site.)


* Release tax returns: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/immediately-release-donald-trumps-full-tax-returns-all-information-needed-verify-emoluments-clause-compliance


* Divest:  https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/divest-or-put-blind-trust-all-presidents-business-and-financial-assets 

I believe in creating a healthy environment for future generations.

Since the new potus* and crew don’t believe the climate crisis is real, we must ask our state governors to uphold Obama’s climate goals.

Click this link for an easy call with complete script. (Weekly Resistance rocks!)

I believe in my Constitutional right to free speech.

Call your governor if you live in Indiana, Michigan, Washington (state), Minnesota, North Dakota, or Iowa. These six states are proposing legislation that criminalizes peaceful protest and risk lives. (source) (source)

Also call your state representative if you live in the states above.

Share: If you know anyone in the states above, ask them to call. 

Script: I am a constituent calling to oppose new legislation that threatens my constitutional right to peacefully protest. 

I believe in the value of social welfare.

Protest the potus’* wide-ranging, unamerican budget cuts.
Full instructions on The 65 

I believe in affordable, accessible healthcare for all Americans.

Read this thorough, timely action plan to prevent dismantling the ACA.

https://www.risewhenwefall.org/healthcare

Choose what action you will take based on what you read.

I believe in the power of my voice.

        

Get coffee: Ask a few friends to meet up and discuss how you’ll proceed over the next four years. This website offers fantastic step-by-step instructions on how to take meaningful action. 

Send an email to friends. 

Use this guide: https://www.indivisibleguide.com/group-toolkit 

Recommended Reading

Prepare mentally: The next four years will be rough if you don’t understand how psychological manipulation works. Using precise examples, this article shows you how to avoid falling prey to fear-based mind games. Moyers is a little intense for my taste, but his information stellar.

Read: http://billmoyers.com/story/the-trump-resistance-plan-step-one/

ACA Executive Order: This article explains what the potus’* executive order means for the Affordable Care Act, signed the day of the inauguration.

Read: http://www.vox.com/2017/1/20/14343332/trump-obamacare-executive-order 

This is #NotNormal

It is not normal for a inaugural address to include words like carnage, trapped, robbed, decay, and ravage. (source) A normal president doesn’t use language of fear and escalation, but hope and vision. 

It is not normal for a democratic president to have military parades in major cities. (source) A normal president respects the military by supporting veterans and pursuing peace.

It is not normal for a president to threaten citizens for using their First Amendment right. (source) A normal president seeks to understand complex issues and takes a just and nuanced approach to solving them.

It is not normal for a president to promise to eliminate business conflicts of interest, fail to do so, and then lie about it. (source) A normal president enters his or her term free of conflicts of interest and even the impression of corruption.

Good news

Fair voting: Gerrymandering took another huge hit in Alabama where a judge found twelve congressional districts to be racially discriminatory and subject to redistricting. (happy dance for justice!) (source)

Republican leadership: Once again, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is calling for deeper investigation into Russia’s influence in the American election process. His willingness to speak out is courageous and commendable. (source)

NoDAPL progress: Water Protectors in North Dakota have two pieces of good news. First, out-of-state lawyers may now assist with the glut of arrest cases, and, second, the full environmental DAPL study will proceed. (source)

Stronger together: The Women’s March in DC to protest the new potus* was a rousing success. Women and allies marched in more than 500 US cities (source) and more than 70 countries in sister marches (source). The DC march alone surpassed inauguration attendance!

Commence Impeachment: The ACLU is taking the first step to analyze potus’* business conflicts of interest as an impeachable offense. Expect calls to action on this in the future. (source)

Housekeeping

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Final action

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