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The news this summer has been one blow after another. I had already been planning to write a note of encouragement with practical suggestions, then with the Supreme Court ruling on the aptly named Trump vs. United States this became a personal imperative. This news felt like a sucker punch to the gut. The only thing I can compare it to is how I felt the morning after the 2016 election. I am worried we have witnessed the end of the American Experiment and it’s ironic that it happened a few days before we have our annual celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The framers and signers of that document wanted to separate from the rule of kings and establish a government where the people being governed had a say.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

This was new territory and the Declaration was not enough. The colonists had to fight to establish this new form of government and now we need to fight to keep it.

So, what can we do, especially when all feels lost? First, we need to support each other. Keep in touch. Form bonds. Remind yourself that you are not alone. We are the majority and need to make sure that we are heard. Get in touch with organizations like Indivisible or your local Democratic office. Do you traditionally vote Republican or Independent? Check out the Lincoln Project. There are smaller and less formal groups to join, such as this one, Voters For Accountability. Join our group on Facebook and check out our website. I admit I have been complacent and not updating as much as I could or should, but that changes now.


Express your anger and your outrage. Contact your Senators and your Representatives and let them know how you feel. Find out who represents you at the state and local levels and contact them as well. This election could very well be decided by state legislatures.

From the Department of the Obvious: Vote. Vote for whomever is the Democratic candidate for President. Our Democracy is on the line. Vote for Democrats down ballot. Make a plan now. Check out your voting location. Make sure you have a valid ID. What are your local rules for voting absentee, early, or by mail? What local and state positions are on the ballot? Are there amendments, bond issues, resolutions, etc.?

Spread the word. Get your friends to vote too. Volunteer with organizations that work to get out the vote:
•Reclaim Our Vote – “Reclaim Our Vote is a grassroots, primarily volunteer-run campaign that focuses on increasing BIPOC voter turnout through post-carding, texting, and phone banking. Working with local, on-the-ground partners and our Democracy Centers, we build effective, respectful, and relevant campaigns that engage BIPOC voters around upcoming elections.”
•Postcard To Voters – “Postcards to Voters are friendly, handwritten reminders from volunteers to targeted voters giving Democrats a winning edge in close, key races coast to coast.”
•Vote Forward – “Vote Forward is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that empowers grassroots volunteers to send handwritten letters encouraging fellow Americans to vote.”
•Postcards for Virginia – “Postcards4VA is a grassroots initiative to connect with friends, neighbors, and voters throughout the state of Virginia asking them to vote.”

Share this resource: ActiVote, a secure platform from a small team devoted to democracy and voter privacy. ActiVote provides ballot and polling info, ranks candidates in relation to a voter’s surveyed views, verifies registration, Voter ID, etc.

Also from the Department of the Obvious: Stay Informed. Question where and from whom you get your information. One source I recommend is “Letters from an American,” a newsletter by Heather Cox Richardson, a professor of American History. She puts today’s events in perspective using historical context. As she says, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure rhymes.”

Join a peaceful protest. As of this writing I have not seen any official ones being organized, but if you are local and reading this, watch the VFA Facebook group page because I will post those there.

If you are financially able to do so, donate to a local candidate or the presidential campaign. ActBlue is one place to look for candidates that might need your support.

Stay strong. We are in this together. We are “We, The People.”