How do we respond to the Republican House approving TrumpCare yesterday? I can’t answer that question for us or you, but I can answer it for me. I am continuing to resist, and today I called my three Members of Congress, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator Gary Peters, and Representative John Conyers, and thanked them. This I did because Ezra Levin, Angel Padilla, Leah Greenberg, three of the founders and organizers of The Indivisible Guide, suggested it in this video:
I am lucky in that my three members of congress all support Obamacare. It is important to call your members of congress even if they are opposed to Obamacare. Resistance is not futile.
They also suggested that since Congress is on recess for 11 days, these 11 days would be a good period for townhalls and asking questions.
Other helpful (to me) things they said included the following:
- In January 2017, Republicans in Washington expected to overturn Obamacare by the end of January. The fact that we held them off for 4 months is a win for us.
- Passage of TrumpCare in the House was actually an easy step for the Republicans.
- Passage in the Senate will be much harder.
- Local activists have formed more than 6,000 Indivisible groups across the country.
The Three R’s
- Resist: The immediate actions. Protests, town halls, phone calls, etc., as organized by MoveOn, Indivisible, and other groups.
- Rebel: The electoral components. Running for office, campaigning, GOTV efforts, becoming a precinct delegate.
- Revolt: The long-term efforts to change our culture. Writing and enacting new legislation and the “development of organizational and movement infrastructure.” [here.]
My source of The Three R’s was a recent story by first-time Daily Kos author Go Local Go Cooperative titled The three R's: Resist, Rebel, and Revolt.
Question of the Night
Did you, will you call your three members of congress?