It's been a week, hasn't it? As I write this, my back hurts, I'm unshowered, I have text messages from voters to respond to, work I've left undone, and a home that needs some attention and furnishing. I woke up at 6AM to yell about politics some more and wore myself out, and now I'm just sitting here with my malaise and irritation.
And I'm also feeling deeply for (good) candidates, who expose themselves to incredible abuse in exchange for policy proposals that will benefit everyone. I'm thinking of friends running back in Washington and candidates in my new city who get raked over the coals too often for simply being who they are and trying to live with dignity and honesty.
I'm also thinking about campaign workers, who give hours and hours and hours and hours and hours of their time to candidates and issues for low pay and usually crappy working conditions. I know how tired I feel going into the final stretch, and I also know it's nothing compared to the work weeks they're putting in.
When I worked on Rep. Jayapal's campaign in 2018, we unionized our little campaign of 3 staff members: we wanted fair hours and wages, time off, and benefits like those her congressional staff had. We weren't asking for much: the same basic benefits most full-time employees have. The same things she fights for in Congress all the time.
When we fight and win, we can move on to bigger, better fights, like we did after unionizing—we fought for our interns to get paid, and for a restorative justice process for another staff member who lost their job. We fought for creative campaign strategies and to do things differently, and better.
And if we win this November 3rd, we can demand the Green New Deal, the DREAM Act, and the BREATHE Act. We can push for rights for domestic workers and gig workers. Medicare for All is coming, and a massive defunding of the military and the police. But it all depends on this election, and this election depends on you.
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F̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ Organize for Democracy
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With only 9 days left before the election, we have our work cut out for us. Here are a few things I'm doing to defend democracy before, during, and after Election Day.
Before: With 9 days to go, I'll be phone banking and texting voters across the country. I'm expecting to see historic turnout this year, and I'm so glad to have had even a small part in getting voters to the polls, to the mailbox, or to the voter registration website.
During: On Election Day I've signed up to be both a poll worker and Election Defender, and you should too! Especially if you're in a swing state, making sure that voters feel safe and have all that they need to weather long lines and intimidation is crucially important this year. Different states have different shifts for workers, but I'm hoping I'll find a way to do both or duck out of working the polls if there's a need for someone to help with de-escalation or voter care.
After: I have every expectation that we will need to be defending democracy in the streets as much as we will at the ballot box, and I'm ready to get myself to DC or wherever else to do that. I don't care much for Joe Biden, but I do think a more just democracy is possible, and we're not getting closer to it with 45 in office.
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I may never be an old Jewish grandma, but I do have an excellent challah recipe (thanks, Sarah!). I'm matching that with my love for Mah Jongg, which I've been playing virtually with an obsession that borders on problematic. 🀄️
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As you read this: I'm taking the morning off.
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