Getting Political

I’m getting political today. I mean, more so than I have in the past.

This week’s news from the U.S. Supreme Court has been infuriating, disheartening, and downright scary for women, people of color, and the LGBTQIA community.

I have one simple request for people who read my blog: Participate in the election and governing processes.

Here in the U. S., that means registering to vote if you haven’t registered yet.

If you think you’re already registered, verify that now so you’re ready for November’s general election.

Once you’ve done that, think about how you can help your preferred candidates. Maybe you can donate your time to work for the campaign on the phone bank or handing out flyers. Perhaps you can donate money or put up a yard sign supporting that candidate.

Other actions you can take include contacting your local, state, and federal officials to encourage them to support the laws and issues that matter to you. Keep calling. Keep writing letters. Attend town halls and other events.

Join a group like the League of Women Voters or some other non-partisan group to help defend America’s democratic republic. Learn about gerrymandering efforts in your state. Be better informed about your state’s laws regarding who can vote, what is required to register, and if voter suppression efforts are a problem.

Then, reach out to your family, friends, and neighbors. Encourage them to register to vote. Help them with the paperwork if needed. Volunteer to drive people to the polls in November.

If you’re truly passionate about politics and think you have some good listening and leadership skills, consider running for office.

If Americans started caring about the kind of government we have and demanding better, we’d get better candidates. If you aren’t part of solving our political crisis, then you’re a part of the problem.

Stop being apathetic. What happens in your local town council, in your state legislature, and in the U. S. Capitol affects your life more than you realize. Take back the power that the U.S. Constitution gives to every American citizen. Vote.