Hope (and work) for better days
The struggle to protect democracy is far from over, and the stakes continue to be high.
Dear friends: As we settle into this spring, hope for better days thrives. The daily political news is no longer dominated by manufactured chaos. The current administration maintains its focus on how government can help ordinary people. It is hard to imagine - or remember - that our democratic institutions are still under attack.
Four months ago, a mob, cheered on and empowered by those holding the highest offices in the land, attacked members of Congress carrying out their constitutional duty to certify the results of a national election. For almost six months, those same leaders continued to disseminate the lie that the election was stolen. All over the country, this lie is being used to support passage of major restrictions on voting rights in state legislatures.
Propaganda campaigns continue to seek to divide and conquer, fueled in part by foreign actors who thrive in various forms of social media and who influenced major figures in the previous administration. Misinformation and disinformation are used to destabilize the notion of truth. (See links to source material after the photo.)
The news cycle did not serve us well when it chased every bombastic, insulting, violence-inducing tweet; and it does not serve us well when it ignores the ongoing propaganda campaign against democracy, and accountability for its violent expression in January 2021.
This struggle is far from over, and the stakes continue to be high. One of our two major parties is throwing its lot in with anti-democratic forces. We need to continue to stand strong: support the For the People Act, name and resist misinformation, hold leaders accountable. The building blocks for more inclusive and humane social structures are within our grasp, if we invest in the work.
A note on the ongoing pandemic crisis: Our nation cannot afford to ignore the suffering and loss caused by Covid. The U.S., and all wealthy nations, must not hoard vaccine and must stand for inclusion of all humans in the public health solutions.
Sent with gratitude for your company on this journey.
Misinformation and Russian influence: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/rudy-giuliani-fbi-warning-russia/2021/04/29/5db90f96-a84e-11eb-bca5-048b2759a489_story.html
Ongoing efforts to suppress voting rights: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/01/us/politics/republican-pollwatchers.html
Holding politicians accountable: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/the-politicians-who-tried-to-overturn-an-election--and-the-local-news-team-that-wont-let-anyone-forget-it/2021/05/01/cc8764f6-a91e-11eb-8d25-7b30e74923ea_story.html