Wednesday, January 3, 2018

The Party’s Over


I count myself among the millions of us personally responsible for inching the rudder of the ship of state. Today Doug Jones was sworn in as the Senator from Alabama; the advantage reduced to 51 to 49. Don’t think the phone calls, the post cards, the background noise were of no use. Every pebble tossed into the water starts half a hundred ripples on the move.

Those are the ripples we see. Never discount the ripples of kindness. A helping hand. A firm opinion.

The party’s over; the new year is rung in, the work is begun. Several time’s I’ve mentioned the American’s of Conscience ActionChecklist; a weekly summary published by Jenn Hofmann, of things to do this week. Check out the current issue, pick one job and do it. Subscribe and see how easy it is to help magnify the ripples.

My two issues this week were opposing the appointment of Thomas Farr to the US District Court. In all fairness, half of my senators already are opposed, so I can ring Portman’s phone twice as often and nick him on a laundry list of issues he needs persuasion of.

The other issues are national voting by mail and DACA. This last will never go away until it does.

Ms. Hofmann began the current newsletter by advocating being kind to yourself. She gave a list of self affirming  actions, and I will double my efforts on my favorite one—lunch with a friend! I’m with Bilbo on this one. There is nothing wrong with two breakfasts in one day, and surely nothing wrong with lunch with two friends. Or two lunches with two friends.


You see what I mean. Let’s get busy again, or I’ll be playing Joe Hill in my posts. Forty four weeks to midterm elections.


27 comments:

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    1. It was 44 long weeks on January 1, 2017. Our accomplishments are fine. There will be more. Cheerleaders are appreciated, but not necessary. We can get the job done ourselves.

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  2. We'll keep chipping away and soon we will have something beautiful.

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  3. You can play Joe Hill in every post as far as I am concerned.
    Whether required or not...

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  4. I can't wait for the midterm elections. My hope is that the Dems will take the House, Senate or both to curtail Trump's power. The current Republican congress, in my opinion, will never impeach Trump, no matter what Mueller finds.

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  5. I am awed and happy at the groundswell of resistance. And love that it is starting to force changes. I so hope the groundswell becomes a tsumami.

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  6. Hari OM
    I wish the USA all the very best for 2018... especially those who are seeking to reset the balance! More power to you Joanne (et al). I am off now to have my second breakfast &*> YAM xx

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  7. You can count yourself lucky that it is at least theoretically possible that Trump and his cronies will be given the push before too many years have passed, we seem to be stuck with a Brexit which will all but destroy our country and no end in sight. That list seems a good idea. I will take a look now.

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  8. A new Senator? I hope this is the beginning of a turnaround that sees good things happening.

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  9. Joe Hill..such a moving song, and one which must be played

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  10. I sure hope these little actions amount to a change later this year.

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  11. Happy New Year, Joanne. Thanks for the motivational pep talk!
    Best,
    Chicken

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  12. thanks for the link again Joanne. we must all stay active and continue the pressure. I admit to losing my momentum in that regard but then there was a little thing called Harvey.

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  13. "Don't mourn. Organize!" Still words to live by.

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  14. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
    --Margaret Mead

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    1. Had I been thinking more clearly the day after the day after the last presidential election, I think I might have settled on that Margaret Mead quote. It sounds so good from you.
      I am well into Seedtime. It is all you said and more. Thank you.

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    2. I'm reading it again now, too. So glad you like it. There is a second one she did that is more about the people's lives and perspectives from that time period. The next one is Flowering of the Cumberland. She is a distant cousin of mine (three different ways...) so I have tried to read her books. They give me great insight into what it must have been like for my ancestors who settled in Southeastern Kentucky.

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  15. Cheerleading from here! I'm so happy to see the changes so far and I hope for more.

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  16. Joanne - I don't understand a lot about your political system but I do marvel that like us over here in the UK, we still live in relatively free countries where we can say more or less what we like

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  17. I was feeling like our phone calls, emails, tweets--you name it--weren't having their intended effect. -still particpated in the activities, mind you, but felt dejected regarding the whole affair. Jones in AL & Franken's replacement bring me a slight buoyant feeling I haven't had in some time.

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  18. Ah politics it's everywhere.
    Merle..............

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