By Don Backman, ITCA Co-Leader
We are just about two months away from the midterm election day. These are the most crucial midterms in the history of the United States, and this is the most critical time. We have worked hard to make inroads against the Regime. We now have a chance. A better than a good chance. And we need to see it through with a final all hands-on deck push.
The Regime knows it is vulnerable and is doubling down. Our choice is: Do we continue our representative democracy and try to fix things or do we give up and accept a change to an elected corrupt aristocracy/dictator who represents nobody but themselves.
Oregon is a trifecta blue state. This means that our elections should be fair. Prudence dictates being vigilant in this situation, though. Be aware that the mail in ballot issue is not over, and blue states have an ongoing role in this national battle.
First, we need to look at our own backyard. We have Maga vs Democrats’ elections right here. The sad fact is anyone who wants to run for the GOP is MAGA. If not right now, they will be as soon as they are elected. Huge amounts of billionaire money and corporate money is funneling to the Maga candidates for the state legislature and senate. The Republican Candidate for Governor has long been Maga. There is a strong Maga push to take over the City Council in Bay City, too.
To win, we need to get out the vote. Sign up to work with us to get out the vote by contacting those democratic and unaffiliated voters who are undecided or infrequent voters, and ask them to vote.
Secondly, join Hands Off Our Vote. Indivisible and a consortium of national groups are working on Hands Off Our Vote which is a series of national online calls providing training to everyone who signs up. We can help out in contested areas across the nation.
Third, join in with some friends or acquaintances and Phone Bank or send Postcards to voters in targeted red states who need encouragement to get out and vote. Look on Indivisible.org, sign up for their newsletters, and help with their alerts.
Finally, we need to be ready for the corruption and attempts to stop people from voting. They are already happening and will continue to ramp up. We all need to be ready to join in with nationwide protests when they are called. Make sure we are able to contact you and your friends in a hurry. There won’t be much time to prepare. We need to be ready.
Facts matter. The Regime has been trying hard to wear us down, to convince us that our efforts, our resistance, don’t matter. MAGA and the billionaires are framing this as Socialism in order to divide the resistance. The facts, however, differ. We are electing Democratic candidates based on their willingness to fight the fascists. In fact, grass roots resistance has changed things nationwide. Grassroots’ efforts resulted in the massive Hands Off and No Kings protests that convinced tens of millions more that they can resist and to not go along. Grass roots efforts showed big colleges and universities, corporations, state governments, and people in all walks of life that resistance matters. The grass roots has been convincing the Democratic Party leadership to quit wringing their hands and actually fight to save our democracy.
Show up. Vote as soon as you receive your ballot. Insist that family and friends vote. Point out that being “non-political” supports Donald Trump and Maga. Ask them if they support young children being arrested and held in cages with adults. Ask them if they support the takeover, inflation, contaminated food supply, and disease. Then ask them to do something about it. Join your friends and neighbors on the streets when called.
Let’s finish this. VOTE!
“We’re Winning This, Y’all” – Ezra Levin, Indivisible co-founder.
About ITCA
ITCA is a nonpartisan group that takes action to protect women’s rights, defend civil liberties, and maintain a society based on human dignity and the rule of law. An attack on one of us is an attack on all.
