9/28/2020 be ready to vote
I had this in my drafts folder yesterday, and the day simply got away from me before I could hit "send." And in a good way - a lovely day here, filled with long walks, cooking, and art.
The message I wanted to send is simple: do not give in to cynicism or hopelessness. As we get closer to the election, many of those in power will work very hard to make us believe that our actions, our voices, and our votes are illegitimate, or that they do not matter.
Many of those in power will work hard to make us believe that a "strongman" has already "stolen" the election, or that the vote is already tainted, or that our votes will never be counted, or that if they aren't counted by 11:59pm on election night, they are lost.
Many of those in power will work hard to make us believe that we have no role to play in keeping our democracy alive, or that we should be scared to vote, or that chaos will reign (and then, they will work hard to create chaos).
Giving in to these beliefs only privilege those in power further. Anything that keeps us silent, benefits those who want to silence us.
Remember: we do not have a "strongman" in the presidency. We have a weak, deeply unpopular president who has not been able to move any agenda forward for the last two years unless it relied only on the approval of the Republican senate. We have an administration that is scrambling and in shambles, has not protected the American people from a pandemic, and has not supported real economic relief. Now, we know we have a president who was a failed businessman, carrying debt, and dodging taxes.
The "strongman" story is a diversion from these facts.
The only way this president stays in office past January 2021 is IF the American people vote him into a second term. That's it.
Check your voter registration here if you live in Washington state: https://voter.votewa.gov/WhereToVote.aspx
And be ready to cast your ballot, according to your conscience and values, as a statement that we will ensure this government of the people, by the people, and for the people, continues.
Sent with gratitude and love,
Liz