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Happy New Year 
Goodbye 2020 and good riddance.
Thank you all for sharing the journey with me. Thank you for the questions, comments, gifs. We got through 2020. 2021 will be better.
2021 will be the year to Make Democracy Cool Again.
How about a few resolutions?
Goodbye 2020 and good riddance.
Thank you all for sharing the journey with me. Thank you for the questions, comments, gifs. We got through 2020. 2021 will be better.
2021 will be the year to Make Democracy Cool Again.
How about a few resolutions?
#1: Run for Something
(or help someone else run for something)
Want to really make a difference in politics and government? Don’t just march, @runforsomething.
Make sure things are done right. Be the person in charge. https://runforsomething.net
(or help someone else run for something)
Want to really make a difference in politics and government? Don’t just march, @runforsomething.
Make sure things are done right. Be the person in charge. https://runforsomething.net
#2: If you can’t run for something, find someone you know who would be terrific, and encourage that person to run.
You can also volunteer to help Run for Something screen candidates.
You can also volunteer to help Run for Something screen candidates.
#3: Be a Community Organizer
Do you have a talent for organizing? If so, democracy needs you. One reason the Tea Party was successful was that they organized locally and put pressure on local officials.
Do you have a talent for organizing? If so, democracy needs you. One reason the Tea Party was successful was that they organized locally and put pressure on local officials.
#4: Register New Voters
Start now. It's not too early.
In some states, you can become an official volunteer voter registrar. James Williams in Maryland told how he did it in his state. https://twitter.com/JamesMWilliam18/status/1134487920297910274
Start now. It's not too early.
In some states, you can become an official volunteer voter registrar. James Williams in Maryland told how he did it in his state. https://twitter.com/JamesMWilliam18/status/1134487920297910274
#5: Be An Institutionalist
Our democratic institutions are under attack. So what should you do? Defend them.
Defend Institutions is #2 on @TimothyDSnyder's list in his book, On Tyranny.
What's an institutionalist and how do you become one? See: https://terikanefield-blog.com/what-we-can-do-part-ii/
Our democratic institutions are under attack. So what should you do? Defend them.
Defend Institutions is #2 on @TimothyDSnyder's list in his book, On Tyranny.
What's an institutionalist and how do you become one? See: https://terikanefield-blog.com/what-we-can-do-part-ii/
#6: If you are a teacher consider an assignment requiring students to advocate on behalf of an issue of their choice, or allow / encourage your students to substitute an assignment with a civic engagement activity of some kind.
They are the future. Empower them.
They are the future. Empower them.
#7: Also, if you're a teacher, assign novels and stories about real-life young people who step and do what the adults seem unable to manage.
#8: Become a Social Engineer.
What do I mean? See: https://terikanefield-blog.com/we-can-all-be-social-engineers/
#8: Become a Social Engineer.
What do I mean? See: https://terikanefield-blog.com/we-can-all-be-social-engineers/
#9: Help People Become Citizens
Support low-cost immigration services, volunteer at an organization such as @CUNYCitizenship, or at organizations that tutor English and civics for the naturalization test.
Support low-cost immigration services, volunteer at an organization such as @CUNYCitizenship, or at organizations that tutor English and civics for the naturalization test.
#10: Subscribe to local newspapers and national journals that do good investigative reporting.
If everyone does this, lots of money will get pumped into news reporting. We need good reporters.
If everyone does this, lots of money will get pumped into news reporting. We need good reporters.
#11: Take lots of mental health breaks. You can't help save democracy if you are worn out and stressed.
Here is a photo from my mental health break today
JJ is working hard though, keeping me safe from seagulls.
Here is a photo from my mental health break today
JJ is working hard though, keeping me safe from seagulls.
It's a never-ending cycle:
We push forward. The reactionaries push backward.
If the universe is unfolding as it should, Trump awakened enough people from complacency and spurred us to treasure our democracy and take the necessary steps to preserve it. https://twitter.com/RealSeanFoley/status/1344850199592771586
We push forward. The reactionaries push backward.
If the universe is unfolding as it should, Trump awakened enough people from complacency and spurred us to treasure our democracy and take the necessary steps to preserve it. https://twitter.com/RealSeanFoley/status/1344850199592771586
This thread is now a blog post, here: https://terikanefield-blog.com/goodbye-2020-and-good-riddance/
I expanded this list and used it to update my "Things to do" page. https://terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
