Fri 12/13: Emergency! Call! Write! Call again!

Image by Flash Alexander from Pixabay

Wake up the sleeping giant!

Indivisible started with the simple conclusion that Tea Party tactics, including mass call-in campaigns to legislators, had been devastatingly effective in changing the course of politics that led to the election of Donald Trump.

They also knew that there are a lot more Americans in favor of progressive policies than the opposite, and if these people would to contact their legislators too, we could overwhelm the efforts, and influence, of a minority supporting bigotry and anti-democracy.

image.png

But impeachment, and the next presidency won’t be handed to us because it’s the right thing to do, or because more people want progressive change. The other side is working 3x as hard to make up for their smaller size. We, a sleeping giant, need to wake up.

We have to call.

Action #1 –  CALL! Don’t take your Democratic legislators for granted.

Make sure your local representative knows you support them doing the right thing. If you have a Democratic representative, remind them that you have their backs and thank them for all that they’ve done so far. Remind the 10 House Democrats who want censure instead of impeachment to be braver. These include Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.), and Ben McAdams (D-Utah). Two Democrats have announced they will definitely oppose impeachment: Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, and Colin Peterson of Minnesota. Tulsi Gabbord (D-HI) won’t say but she’s playing to GOP audiences.

Minimal script for Democratic legislators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank [Rep/Sen.] for their unwavering support of impeachment. Continue reading “Fri 12/13: Emergency! Call! Write! Call again!” →

Thurs 12/12: 5 actions for do-it-ourselves-democracy – Making our voices heard in this impeachment battle.

The next step in the impeachment process is the markup to discuss and vote the two articles of impeachment out of the Judiciary Committee and onto a full House vote probably next week.  The markup session began last night and will continue today with a vote expected yet today. (npr)

Action #1 – Help us finish the poem!

This is an action for both a little stress relief and to get your creative activism powers flowing. Send in your stanzas to indivisibleventura@gmail.com and we’ll put them together to create a poem to read at upcoming impeachment events! Here’s the original poem to assist!

Action #2 – Get ready! Be sure you know where your closest impeachment action is! There are now over 440 locations!

Map of impending impeachment rallies across the country (impeach.org)

map of events

Put your zip code here to find out your nearest location. There are currently 440 events happening across the country. Here are ones nearby… Continue reading “Thurs 12/12: 5 actions for do-it-ourselves-democracy – Making our voices heard in this impeachment battle.” →

Wed 12/11: Ethical eating isn’t just about the food on your plate. Fight for the servers too! Deadline to comment is tonight, 11:59pm EST!

Action #1: Please comment until the deadline tonight on the restaurant industry’s $700 million dollars-a-year money grab from tipped servers.

The deadline to write in is tonight, Wed. (12/11), 11:59 pm EST! Take the length of time you’d eat a quick meal and make a comment.

Will my comment make a difference? Yes. See action #3 below.

Information on this action is here! 

  • Write a comment here
  • Read the proposal here
  • Other comments, which are almost all from restaurant owners/managers are here. However, there are now some comments for the workers. Please add your comment as well. Have you ever been a server? A bartender? Did you get the subminimal wage?

Action #2: The House passed H.R. – Raise the Wage Act. The Senate needs to pass S.150!

Ask your senators to give the gift of basic economic stability for those now stuck with subminimal wages. S.150 – Raise the Wage Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (really – 1938) to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank Sen. (Feinstein/Harris] for supporting worked by co-sponsoring S.150 – Raise the Wage Act Continue reading “Wed 12/11: Ethical eating isn’t just about the food on your plate. Fight for the servers too! Deadline to comment is tonight, 11:59pm EST!” →

Tues 12/10: Holiday gift ideas and activities that make a difference.

Action #1 – Postcards for America-California has a HOLIDAY PROJECT!

The Impeachment of DJT is moving along quickly (HOORAY) and while the House is certain to vote to Impeach, the Senate is not…unless we pressure them! Please share these materials (google drive or this page) with anyone you think will help with this effort. We may think our little effort doesn’t amount to much but multiplied by the hundreds, thousands, and yes, millions of Americans who feel exactly as we do, then we can change this situation. U.S. Senators are a fearful bunch, right now they fear Trump more than us. Let’s change that equation because THEY WORK FOR US!

  • 4 printable postcard designs
  • Write your short, clear message (See suggestions below.)
    • Don’t be a Russian Asset! Vote to Impeach and Remove Trump!
    • The Rule of Law is ALL! Vote to Impeach and Remove Trump!
  • Add a postcard stamp (or $.35 cents postage.)
  • Mail your card and REPEAT!
  • Here are all the addresses for GOP Senators (plus a Dem and an Ind who generally vote with them). Write to as many of them as you want, the more the better, as often as you want to! All it takes is some of your time, some card stock, your printer, and stamps.

Action #2 – Check out this great holiday gift guide to a better future.

Some of these sites allow us to buy things for ourselves, our family, and our loved ones. Some provide things to people we may have never met. In that case, consider donating in honor of someone. And don’t forget to look for causes in your own town that need support.  Continue reading “Tues 12/10: Holiday gift ideas and activities that make a difference.” →

Tues 12/10: Today’s do-it-ourselves-democracy action – 2 actions for election security.

Action #1 – Call your senator to add election security to the budget on Dec. 20th.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code]  and I’m asking Senator______ to protect election security by:
1. Dedicating at least the $600 million the house passed for election security 
2. Requiring hand-marked paper ballots only, no machine marked paper ballots, with the single exception of non-tabulating ballot marking devices for voters who need assistance.
3. Requiring a secure chain of custody of the ballots. 
Contact:
Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884
Who is my representative/senator?: hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com 

 

Action #2 – Working together, we can bring election security to the national debate stage.

This guest post from Jennifer Tanner of Indivisible DA-33 tells us how to do it! We have until Dec. 13th to get this done. SHARE widely!

If you’ve already done this, share with your family and friends! 

Continue reading “Tues 12/10: Today’s do-it-ourselves-democracy action – 2 actions for election security.” →

Mon 12/9: The IRS wants to bow out of investigating corruption in tax-exempt groups. Tell them we want them on the job. Deadline tonight, 11:59 pm EST.

Action – Comment on the IRS’ dereliction of duty – Due tonight (12/9) by 11:59 EST.

This is from 2016 before Trump was elected, but still very relevant regarding dark money.

The IRS is proposing regulations allowing tax-exempt groups to keep donor identities secret. Political groups using tax-exempt entities for fundraising will be able to do so without disclosing the identities of their donors, effectively using so-called “dark money” to finance their causes and preferred candidates. Although the proposed rules would apply equally to groups such as Planned Parenthood, Indivisible, National Rifle Association, labor unions and trade associations, “dark money” is disproportionately used by far-right proponents.

Deeper Dive 

Propublica has published an article called “How the IRS Gave Up Fighting Political Dark Money Groups” as the IRS proposes new regulations allowing tax-exempt groups, including people, companies and unions  to dispense more than $1 billion in dark money while keeping their identities secret. Such spending is legal because Section 501(c)(4) of the U.S. tax code allows organizations to make independent expenditures on politics while concealing their donors’ names — as long as politics isn’t the organization’s “primary activity.” The IRS is was supposed to check that organizations comply. Continue reading “Mon 12/9: The IRS wants to bow out of investigating corruption in tax-exempt groups. Tell them we want them on the job. Deadline tonight, 11:59 pm EST.” →

Mon – 12/9: Have you ever waited tables? Worked as a bartender? Write to protect these tipped workers from a salary grab. Update! – Deadline extended to Wednesday (12/11) at 11:59 pm EST.

The deadline is updated to 12/11 due to a technical issues with a government regulation website yesterday.

Action – Write a comment to protest another blow to tipped servers. New deadline – Wed. (12/11) by 11:59 pm EST.

Servers already have enough to deal with…

Now the Trump administration has put out a new proposal that allows restaurant owners to pocket more of their workers’ tips indirectly. Our administration has squarely landed on the side of the National Restaurant Association (the “other NRA”) against tipped workers and has neglected their duty to enumerate the economic damage caused by this proposed change.

  • Write a comment here (if this link is down, go here.)
  • Read the proposal here (if this link is down, go here.)
  • Other comments, which are almost all from restaurant owners/managers here. (this link may be down for some reason…)

First- good news: The new rule does prevent employers, managers, and supervisors from directly taking tips received by employees. But that’s kind of the bare minimum.

The bad news: The proposed rule eliminates the “80/20 rule”, replacing a 20% limit on servers doing non-tipped “side work” with slippery wording like “reasonable” amount of time. (See definition of “80/20 rule” under “Deeper Dive” below)

More bad news: The proposed rule allows employers who pay the full minimum wage and don’t take “tip credit” to implement a mandatory “nontraditional” tip pool to include employees who do not customarily and regularly receive tips, such as cooks and dishwashers. “Wait! This seems like a good idea”…keep reading. (See definition of “tip credit“ under “Deeper Dive” below)

Continue reading “Mon – 12/9: Have you ever waited tables? Worked as a bartender? Write to protect these tipped workers from a salary grab. Update! – Deadline extended to Wednesday (12/11) at 11:59 pm EST.” →

Donations Needed for Ventura’s New Homeless Shelter! You may have some of this stuff in your garage!

Ventura’s new year-round shelter, The Arch: All Roads Connect To Housing, opens on 1/9/20 and will make a huge impact in the lives of those experiencing homelessness in Ventura.

Below is a list of items that would be very helpful if they were donated. Please donate by the end of 2019. ‘Tis the Season!

If you can assist, please contact Meredith Hart (mhart@cityof ventura.ca.gov). In addition, please feel free to pass this on to any group, faith community, service club, or individual who could assist with the suggested donations.

CLOTHES 

Continue reading “Donations Needed for Ventura’s New Homeless Shelter! You may have some of this stuff in your garage!” →

Fri 12/6: Do-it-ourselves-democracy – Making our voices heard in this impeachment battle.

Map of impending impeachment rallies across the country (impeach.org)

Action #1 – The “Friends and Family Plan” meets the “Power of Five” 

Make sure your contacts in GOP-run states know the power of their phone calls to their legislators regarding the impeachment hearings. Then ask them reach out to five fellow local voters to call as well. Share this video below on calling to inspire them.

What do I say?: We have some scripts here. Here’s one from #needtoimpeach and one from 5calls.org. Pick your favorite or make up your own. Ask your contacts to share their own great phrases with five fellow local voters.

All you need are these basic elements and a live person on the other end of the phone. This is more effective than texts, bots, or leaving a message. Be nice. The person answering phone is NOT the legislator. The whole thing will take less than a minute.

  • Your zip code. They need to verify that the person calling can vote for the legislator.
  • The issue: In this case – impeachment. For other calls, say the bill number or the subject clearly.
  • What you want them to do: Vote “yes”, vote “no”, thank them, spank them, or ask a specific question.

Contact for all legislators: hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com 

Action #2 – Sign up to talk to people in GOP states.

Continue reading “Fri 12/6: Do-it-ourselves-democracy – Making our voices heard in this impeachment battle.” →

Fri 12/6: Today’s do-it-ourselves-democracy action – Help get an election security question added to the next debate

Action – Working together, we can bring election security to the national debate stage.

This guest post from Jennifer Tanner of Indivisible DA-33 tells us how to do it! We have until Dec. 13th to get this done. SHARE widely!

Dear Fellow Citizens,

The December debates are being hosted by PBS & Politico. They are soliciting questions for the candidates. Our intent is to come up with one election security question we can share widely and get as many people to submit as possible. The deadline is Dec. 13th. But the sooner we do this, and the more people that participate, the more likely the question will be chosen.

Please post on social media and forward widely to all your networks.

We are asking you to fill it out the question with our script as the language needs to be specific, since we have found this topic is filled with landmines and is easy to distort. We’ve had it reviewed by experts and we spent a lot of time to make sure its correct.

The big win will be to get the conversation out there since this is not being spoken about. Reporters and 10 million people watching the debates will now be aware of the need for election security.

Please cut and paste the following answers into the form at each link – DEADLINE DEC. 13th!:

PBS: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/got-a-question-for-the-2020-democratic-candidates-we-want-to-hear-it

Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/21/submit-a-question-for-the-december-2020-debate-stage-069522

Answer for Question #1: What question(s) should we ask on the debate stage? 

Continue reading “Fri 12/6: Today’s do-it-ourselves-democracy action – Help get an election security question added to the next debate” →