Yesterday marked my first foray into the 2010 elections: An hour and a half canvassing my neighborhood. Let me tell you, even though it was a record 110 degrees (hotter in the sun!), I think it was some of my most rewarding time spent in a while. Well, ranking below my quality time with my wife and daughter, but you get my point.
My neighborhood is a bedroom community. A lot of houses, a lot of foreclosures, and hardly any jobs apart from Wal-Mart and McDonald's. Mostly they're working class folks; not Scottsdale millionaires.
Honestly, I didn't quite know what to expect. This district has reliably elected Trent Franks (islamophobic Republican) several times. But getting out there and asking my neighbors to vote, and to look at John Thrasher, I found that out of the approximately 60 houses I have visited so far, the majority were registered voters- and only 5 or so couldn't or don't vote. Many were receptive to learning more about John and hopefully I helped to get out a few more votes.
It's an uphill battle in this district. John is a moderate Democrat who believes in solving our problems and not standing idly by while the middle class is destroyed by the billionaires that Trent Franks pals around with.
John wants to turn this district around. In Washington, I know he'll fight to get companies to locate here to give us real jobs; I know he'll fight to stop the banks from continuing to exploit our hard work and getting corporate welfare; I know he'll be our voice, not the monied interests that Trent Franks serves well.
I guess my reason for posting this is to hope that maybe someone will be inspired by my willingness to GOTV, even in 110 degree heat, to volunteer themselves. Every vote matters; we can win on the issues - people aren't keen on Republicans, they want representatives that will represent them!
This isn't my last GOTV weekend; I plan on getting another 60 houses next weekend, and another. I plan on working to keep a Democratic majority all the way till election day. I hope you'll join me.
UPDATE: If you're not into going door to door:
You can always volunteer to data enter, prepare canvasing packages, etc. Or give more money than you can afford, because you can't afford not to.
-Thanks for the reminder NCJim!
Donate to John Thrasher at ActBlue
Get to know John and volunteer!