I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
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Besides voting & encouraging like-minded people to vote, I contribute money to candidates and organizations. I know the small amount I can give doesn't do much on a national scale, but can make a difference on the local & even state level. I am also in regular contact with my elected officials. I do a series of talks on presidential topics to various groups around town. They aren't political, more human interest; but I definitely point out the positive leadership qualities & classy personality traits of my subjects (especially in relationships to their political opponents) & often say 'this is how I really wish politicians would act today'. Whether that has made anyone look at the candidates they support differently or not, I can't say; but I do give them food for thought.
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How can he kick if his foot is stuck in his mouth? What a chauvinistic pig.
MM, you asked what we are going to do for the election? I let my contributions to their campaigns ensure they can reach others with their message. Every dollar counts so the donation doesn't need to be large.
I am not sure that most diehard magats would be interested in discussing how putrid he is. So I will let my contribution do the talking.
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I don’t think it will suck regardless of who wins the election but I do think that if Biden wins, there will be violence and lawlessness, as well as challenges to the legitimacy of the election. Hmmm… I that is sucky . At best, it will plunge us into chaos. At worst? Our democracy disintegrates. I am usually very optimistic but I can’t shake the feeling of imminent disaster for our nation and with the situation in Israel , potentially WW III. I am so stressed over all of this and I only see darkness. This is so unlike me but I have a very bad feeling about the state of our union and the world.
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I speak up. My health prevents me from so many things, including being more physically involved in democracy such as signing people up to vote or running for office. But in a red state, I run into a lot of magas who automatically assume everyone is voting for Trump. Just today, a woman at water aerobics out of nowhere had to blurt out to the group that she hoped Trump wins the election. She kept on along those lines for a few more sentences and I spoke up and firmly declared, “I’m voting for President Biden”. We had a short back and forth exchange. I wanted the others in the group who chose not to say anything, for whatever reason, that not everyone is for Trump. This kind of incident happens to me rather often. Too many people remain silent. That’s their prerogative, but I am compelled to speak out. I also advise my husband to speak up and let others know he will be voting Democrat. The truth is, more people will listen to him than me because he is a well established white male. But since that is the case, I want him to use any clout he has to let others know voting for President Biden is the right choice. I do not want him to remain silent so others assume he’s a Maga voter.
I am not saying my words would change the mind of Walter Aerobics Woman. Like you, betrayal, I’m not spending energy trying to get magas to convert. But maybe someone listening might be swayed by my speaking up.
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((((exbrnxgrl)))), sending you a huge cyber hug! I not only hear you, I felt your fear! Again, somehow I learned to let go of what is out of my control. I do believe there is more to life than how we are on earth. While I am not a fan of organized religion, I KNOW there is something more after our body dies. I know this because I felt my sister's presence, she was with me after she passed from MDS, caused by the radiation for her breast cancer and non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She watched over me when I had breast cancer the last two times.
While it appears now that November will be horrible, the election is still over five months away. Not a long time, but in the world of politics it can be an eternity. So much can happen, both bad and good. Don't discount the good in our country. All we hear is what people report on TV and that is a large part of the problem.
As for helping, I too help with local campaigns, and I talk to anyone I can about Trump. Oddly, I don't begin the conversations but people open up to me naturally. I don't tell them who to vote for but will tell them what Trump did that has been bad for our country! Ironically, they tend to agree with me more than you would expect but freeing them of the cult mentality isn't easy for them. My conversations have a way of just flowing, and they are relaxed conversations. Although there was one woman who was canvassing for the GOP Primary (my Dh is a reg Rep) was afraid of me, she thought I was going to hit her because I told her point blank that what she was saying was BS! I told her I don't hit people, or use violence like the MAGA movement on Jan 6! Then she told me how she was going to go to the rally that day but backed out. She tried to tell me that the police tried to arrest her at her home because they said she was there. Her story was full of flaws and I pointed them out to her! I was respectful, and it was pretty obvious she didn't think she would meet anyone who knew the facts After that no one came to our door for the GOP!
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Living in such a Maga polluted area, it means a lot to me when I find out someone is a Democrat. I recently learned that the well respected district attorney and the county sheriff are Democrat. Also recently, I learned a very influential former mayor of my town and his wife, who moved to NC after retirement, are Democrats, and the wife is very outspoken about it. I know so many older women who are religious Trumpers, so I was very surprised, and pleased, to find out the former mayor’s wife is not one of them.
Sometimes dh will find out this or that guy he’s acquainted with is not a Trump supporter. This kind of discovery helps us feel supported. Dh said last week some woman was walking the indoor track at the Y and she was wearing a Biden tshirt. I can’t even tell you how rare that is around here, but I was happy to hear about it.There’s a small National Organization of Women group in my area. While I follow them on social media, they are more confrontational with Republicans than I personally want to be. I’m also not going to walk around wearing a tshirt or button or carry a tote bag with their logo on it. I’m supportive of their efforts, but I’m not going to live, eat and breathe politics or feminism 24-7.
I did pin a Biden/Harris button on my purse last election and will do so again this time.
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Thanks for all you do and I'm including everyone who mentioned anything. I have much appreciation for those who can do whatever it is they do. It really doesn't have to be a lot. Also gratified that there is recognition that way too much of our media is doing their level best to keep us all riled up and a case of instant nerves.
That hasn't stopped some of my dread (I do feel it) but I am hoping that things may look a little different as we get much closer to the election. By that I mean better than they often seem right now.
I have thought that closer to the election we may find plans have been put into place to quickly address and dispel any violence or damage to anyone or anything. At least I am hoping there are many plans being made to handle any outcome since we know how likely trouble could be. I'm personally not even sure who the Reps. candidate will really be but do know that person won't be any better than The Loon. That is one of the big reasons why I'm holding out for now and not letting something that is months away disturb my peace of mind. I am concerned and will stay that way, but I do expect a number of those things will change — so for now I ignore the news when I know the majority is meant to rile me and I find stories of good people doing good things to soothe me if I do become a little jittery.
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The woman at water aerobics went on and on about all the illegal immigrants flooding the country and how Biden was at fault. I attempted to explain that Republicans voted down a bill that could have addressed the issue. She did not seem to hear or care. She asked me “wasn’t I worried about the immigrants?” I told her it does not affect me. I told her cuts in Medicare and Social Security would affect not just me but a large portion of the population in our area who rely on them, and that Republicans are on record saying they want to make cuts to both. I told her I was pro union and pro women. I also said that if Trump is elected, it would be the last time we’d vote because our democracy would no longer exist. But I did not go any further because she is not going to retain a word I say. I could easily tell she is tone deaf. I cannot waste my time on such people.
There was a young woman lifeguard on duty who I’m sure heard the conversation. I can’t help but think young women like her have to feel like they’re under attack by society these days. Maybe it made a difference to her that I spoke up about my political beliefs.
I definitely agree that a lot can and will happen between now and November’s election.
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On a completely different note, I wrote a letter to the editor of the paper calling out the deterioration of a road leading to the local hospital and am very pleased with the result. To explain, earlier this year, a man wrote a short letter to the editor that this road was in terrible shape and needed fixed. I followed up with my own letter, saying I agreed with the man and shared that last October, I had to be transported by ambulance from this hospital ER to a Pittsburgh hospital for surgery on my leg and the road was so full of bumps it was a severely uncomfortable ride. The highly travelled road that brings people in from all over the tri-state area (OH, WV, PA) is half a mile long, rutted with potholes and has been like that for years! I stated it made the city look bad and detracted from the recent 75 million dollars worth of upgrades the hospital recently completed. I said local gov’t officials needed to find funding to completely resurface the road.
My letter was published a month and a half ago, and this week, the paper and local news reported that the road is now set to be repaved! It’s a $300,000 project which will take a couple months to complete since it involves a total resurfacing, and they’ll also pave several adjacent streets. They explained how it would be paid for including $100,000 that was secured from the state and additional appropriated city money. Bids came in under budget, so they added the surrounding streets to be paved. I believe my letter made a difference, and I feel very good about it!2 -
I also wanted to say, it always makes me feel very good when we get more people joining this thread, like mavericksmom and mom2bill in more recent months. It’s also great whenever members who aren’t as active here but are very much part of this thread, like trishyla and ChiSandy, pop in to offer comments, insights and experiences.
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I too love the “new blood” on this thread.
I am still stuck in my doom loop over the fate of our nation and the world. It is so unlike me but I can’t seem to get rid of the feeling of dread that continues to gnaw at me. This is something I have never experienced and I am not handling it well 😞.
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People only begin to grow when they cease to whine and revile, and commence
to search for the hidden justice which regulates their lives. And as they adapt
their minds to that regulating factor, they cease to accuse others as the cause
of their condition, and build themselves up in strong and noble thoughts. They
cease to kick against circumstances, but begin to use them as aids to their more
rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden
powers and possibilities within themselves.
James Allen0 -
Good job, Divine!
Exbrnx, set aside some time to think about the dread & then do something fun/distracting for awhile. There are lots of good series that would fit that description if you have any streaming services. We are quite partial to British murder mysteries. 😀
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Divine, good for you. I would speak up more but people for the most part avoid political discussions here save for my family for the most part. Those people who do say things sure sound like they have bought into the conspiracies to the hilt. Odd since their ancestors likely were immigrants and they are too, even if it is not real recent. Never been able to understand these people. Then the issue of — are you reluctant to do or say anything derogatory about your party or is it about Trump.
These things are a major difference for me as well. I would not hesitate if I thought my party was leading me astray to say it, or even to change my affiliation if bad enough. Seems like many never even think of Trump having been a Democrat (choke-choke) for years and he only switched to Reps. when he chose to run for office.
I guess there are things I'm destined to never completely understand, but I'm sure glad for people like you Divine. Like you and others, I'm glad too when we get people like MM and Mom and others for our thread. Getting other ideas to mull over and the slightly different viewpoints help broaden all of our outlooks, I'm sure. Let the ideas flow.
Exbrnxgrl, I feel for you. I also understand the feeling of hopelessness and feeling unable to find a way out. Likely a lot of us have had a time in life when we deeply felt something had gotten the better of us and we had to struggle and struggle over it. I do think time is a friend and while who knows what the answer will be, as for me — I just outgrew my struggle. I found myself staying behind while everyone else went on and made the decision (scary as it sort of felt like giving up my principle on things) to move on. It took awhile to realize I was still me, and I indeed still had principles and after a while I felt freed. I hope this will happen for you.
That said, I do think we all have things to worry over. It is a painful and difficult adjustment to realize we are not much better off than we actually still had the Loon in the WH. We in fact, seem to have not only him, but so many of the Reps. who are it seems hell bent on destroying democracy. We have every right to be frightened and should be. Your trepidation is understandable and far from a surprise. I do hope though and feel in the end there are more of us than them, and even more Reps. who don't actually see what their fellow Reps. are doing as right. Fear is a four-letter word and so is hope and I get to choose. One doesn't take much of another four-letter word (work) and one takes a whole lot.0 -
I do think strategic planning is being developed for any post-election bedlam and mayhem based on what happened in 2020. We cannot control conspiracy theorists but we can hope to get those in Congress and the Senate voted out and replaced by more rational individuals. Those people do not represent their constituents but their own thoughts and beliefs. So if FL and Georgia believe that these kooks represent them, these are problem states. I do believe Boebert will disappear and after yesterday's attach on a black representative, MTG has shown her true colors: antisemitic, anti-black, anti-immigrant, etc
While I think the Middle East is a powder keg and what is happening in Ukraine is all due to heads of state that are autocrats. I do think that both Russia and Israel need to stop with the land grab and respect boundaries of others. Yes, I am concerned about these areas but the problem starts at the top and trickles down. I think the focus should be on explaining autocracy vs democracy for those who slept through or never took a history or civics course. I think elections in these countries are a sham with a pre-determined outcome and leader.
As far as someone voicing their negative opinions about immigrants, ask them if they are American Indians because if they are not, then they are descended from immigrants. And look at how we treat the only true Americans with birthright status. I think a comment like, "Oh, I did not realize you were an American Indian" would stop them in their tracks and then you can say , "well, you must be descended from an immigrant". So many take pride in their heritage and identify with their place of origin not realizing they are still an immigrant.
These are the same people who employ lawn services, landscapers, eat out in restaurants where the cooks and busboys are mostly likely immigrants, eat fruit picked by an immigrant, etc. If they get their nails done at a salon, most of the women that work in the local ones are from Asia or Spanish speaking countries in my area. You could also ask if they raised their children to work in these occupations because someone has to pick up the slack.
These are the same people who don't want "Socialism" but gladly pick up their welfare checks, Medicaid, Medicare, free health care and other forms of "social services". If they think the economy stinks wait until they lose Obamacare, SS, health care insurance because they have a chronic disease, cheaper medications, etc. and have to pay out of pocket.
I will now cede my soap box to someone else.
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I’d like to join you on that soapbox Betrayal as I agree with what you expressed.
When I find myself feeling overwhelmed and nervous about the upcoming election, I think that taking a break from watching cable news for a few days is helpful to me. I’m disappointed that the hosts on MSNBC and CNN are not more aggressive in their fact checking when they are interviewing some of their Republican guests. They are also complicit in spreading negative messaging about Biden’s age, etc. Perhaps they think this is making them appear more balanced in their reporting, but BS is BS and needs to be called out. The stakes are too high at this point for these news outlets to start pandering to viewers to secure higher ratings.0 -
i definitely agree with the comments that unless they are of Native American decent, all U.S. citizens originated from immigrant ancestors. I just don’t think people like Water Aerobics Woman is capable of assembling those pieces together in her mind. She’s the exact type who votes against her own self interests. She unwittingly supports the patriarchy. I believe she’s heavily influenced by the entitled white men in her life, like her husband and adult sons. Even tho she lives in middle Ohio where the immigrants crossing the border down south is not affecting her daily life, she’s turned it into a reason to vote for Trump, disregarding any horrific atrocities he’s committed and tuning out the fact that Republicans intentionally vetoed a bill to address the immigrant issue specifically so President Biden would not get the win.
I also agree that the media has helped created the unrest we feel is going on in our nation in today’s world. They could do a better job but it seems like they are being guided by going for ratings to make a buck. At the cost of democracy. That’s messed up.
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For me it is about more than the upcoming election. For the first time in my life, I have experienced anti-semitism and am now very, very careful about telling people I’m Jewish. My former school has a multi-cultural festival every year. I was the faculty advisor who started it, with parent volunteers, about 13 years ago. I am invited every year , kind of like a teacher emeritus. Countries are represented depending on parent volunteers who set up and run the booths as they generally represent a country that parents either come from or who hold that heritage. We have had many Israeli families for years and they always have a booth. It sickened me but I had to speak with my (former) principal about security concerns. I still sub there so am very much a part of the school community despite my retirement. Local police usually attend our school events as part of community policing and kids get stickers and get to know them in a festive setting. This year, I will be viewing them as protection and the idea that I even have to consider this literally makes me sick. Our event is purely cultural focusing on food, music, language, history , etc. but this year? I am more than a little disturbed. An event that was pure joy for me for over a decade will now become an event overshadowed by fear.
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I can't fault a thing any of you ladies (all of you ) just said. It would be so refreshing if in this instant news world we could cut out all of the sensationalism, fake, totally biased and any news not based on honest facts. At the same time anything that was opinion clearly stated as such. I think along with other things it would be a real boon in separating truth, fiction which can also be known as conspiracies that too many people choose to stand in for truth.
Your entries are all so refreshing and sane
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Someone mentioned the Mrs. opting for the Michael Jackson look. I think she just wanted to hide from how she would be perceived for the person she had to be with. I'm presuming the son's graduation.
My other thought is that the Loon is trying to look interested while not being sure why he is there.
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You don't much at all Marge, but you did get this one right…
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Have you ever seen a larger collective of sane individuals and we all represent s different states. Some of you unfortunately are in red states and those of us in blue states are trying our best to keep them that way.
exbrnxgrl, I hear your message and while I cannot feel your fear, do wish that you did not have to experience this. No one should have to live in fear based on their faith, beliefs, color or creed.
I worked in a city hospital where I was definitely in the minority and never felt threatened or white hatred though occasionally some unpleasant person might call me "white trash" and I let it slide. Lived in a neighborhood where there were a few black families and no prejudice until another black family moved in and the husband was a bigot. He told the other families they were "uncle Tom's" because they were friends with their white neighbors. Then we were invited to one of their barbecues and introduced to the other black couples as the "token whites". I was insulted because up to this point I thought we had a good relationship with them; needless to say we left early. The wife and I were gardeners, watched each other's children with no rancor until this. She apologized for his behavior and I just told her that unless he was the one offering the apology, I could not accept it, because she had done no wrong. The relationship deteriorated to just exchanging hellos.
I try to be kind even to those who don't reciprocate and keep reminding myself I don't know what kind of day they are having. However, if you get in my face, I might not be so kind but would rather walk away than be confrontational.
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People are tired of him. Why should they go stand around on a hard pavement — they can sit in their recliners at home and listen to the same tired rants they've been hearing for years.
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