Thoughts and Actions 18 Days Out

Warning:  This is going to be about politics, so if you are not in the mood, close this window now and find something more pleasant to do.

Here we are on Nov. 26, 18 days from the election and 17 days from the onset of Post Traumatic Election Day Disorder.  As I discussed in my previous entry, I experienced some guilt after my candidate lost the election.  I was disappointed in myself that I had not done anything more than vote for her.  No yard sign, no phone calls, nothing.  I am now working to find things that I can do to help right the wrong that has been inflicted on my country.  Here is what I’ve done so far:

1. I have revived my old Facebook page and am posting information on it, as well as using it to try to learn things.  It’s not perfect, but it does link me to information that I might not otherwise have seen.  

2. One thing I found on Facebook (or maybe got from Hubs?)  was a link to a Petition on Change.org.  The petition is asking the Electors in the Electoral College to refuse to vote for Trump on Dec. 19.  Hubs and I have both signed it, and Hubs sent some money to support this particular effort.   As of now, over 4.6 million people have signed it.  You can find a link to the petition here.   I also sent info about it to a bunch of friends through email and I linked to it on Facebook (but I didn’t have too many friends there yet at that point).  

After the petition signing, I received an email from the man who started the petition indicating that there is a follow-up where they are asking for volunteers to commit to some other actions.  They listed 7 items in a checklist for volunteers to select:

• Write a letter to the editor - I didn’t select this one, although I have since thought that I might write an open letter to either Gov. Kasich or one of my senators.  That is still in the thinking stages.
• Participate in a protest on Dec. 19 - I will not be doing this.  
• Make direct phone calls - without knowing whom I would be calling or what I would be asked to say, I didn’t commit to this.  If I had more information, I might do this.
• Share content online daily - I checked this one, and I have been posting relevant articles to my Facebook page (more about this in a bit).
• Print out and distribute printed materials at public events and locations - as with the phone calls, I felt I needed more info about this before I could commit to it.
• Make a donation to support petition efforts - This has already been done in our household.
• Talk about the petition with 1 new person every day - I checked this one even though I don’t necessarily see one new person every day.  However, I will mention it as the opportunity arises.  

As of this posting, I have not received any response to having checked off some items - perhaps mine didn’t go through, or perhaps the people running the petition campaign are overwhelmed with responses?

3. From Moveon.org I learned about the Postcard Avalanche.  This campaign is asking everyone to send postcards of their state to Trump telling him to NOT appoint Stephen Bannon.  Hubs did 6 cards and I did six cards.  They were mailed today.  

I still feel as if I am in that initial reaction stage of “first thing I think about when I wake up and last thing I think about when I go to bed.”  On Thurs, Hubs and I were talking about something else, and I was totally lost in the other subject, and then he randomly mentioned the name Trump, and it felt like I had been poked with a hot stick.  It was not pleasant to be jolted back into reality.   I am still shocked and dismayed that so many of my fellow countrymen would actually support a man like Trump.  Not only is this disappointing, it is confusing.  I want to understand the real reasons people would make that choice.  I am generally optimistic enough to believe that there are enough good people in this country who can turn this around, and I truly want to believe in the checks and balances that our government has in place.  I am very frustrated by all the comments I am hearing in the media about how we all just need to get over it and accept it and move on, or how we need to come together for the good of the country.  The huge potential for the ruin of our great country is looming large, and I don’t appreciate being told to “get over it”.  What has happened here in the last 18 months is complex, and there aren’t simple answers to it.  

I am trying to stay informed, and also trying to focus on the things in my world that I can control. I am also resolved not to let the bad decisions that others have made ruin the good life that I have.  

So, that’s where I am.  If any of my regular readers would like to discuss any of this, let me know.  

Thanks for reading.  I’ll talk to you again soon, I’m sure!

:)Amy