The efforts to push back on the fossil fueled fascists by Congress and the Biden administration have been weak at best, and cringe-worthy at worst. The House passed some good laws: including the Freedom to Vote Act, which expands access to voting in every state; the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act which prevents discriminatory voting laws from taking effect; and the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which combats the partisan attacks and unethical behavior we saw under the Trump administration.
But every single one of those bills is dead on arrival in the Senate thanks to Mitch McConnell and Joe Manchin's unwavering fealty to the fossil fuel industry and anti-democratic corporations of all kinds. Never forget, fossil fuels are funding Trump and his fascist allies: Sixty-five fossil fuel companies gave $8.8 million to more than 100 members of Congress who voted to challenge the electoral college outcome. Twenty nine fossil fuel executives contributed more than $18 million to political groups that worked for Trump and his Congressional allies. The biggest beneficiaries were the same ones we now know were most-closely planning the insurrection with Trump and team.
But faced with the stark reality that the people who tried to overthrow the election and instal an American fascist regime by force had corporate sponsorship, Democratic elected leaders wasted an entire year on avoiding conflict and seeking compromise. Confronted with the rise of a fascist party largely funded and empowered by fossil fuels, our so-called leaders have acted to reject neither fascism not fossil fuels.
This January 6, 2022, we need to show up and defend democracy from the rise of fossil fueled fascists. Will you join an outdoor vigil near Washington to mark the anniversary, demand accountability for the insurrectionists, and defend our elections and freedom to vote? With over 150 events across the country, there are COVID-safe options near most of us to take action as Congress returns to Washington, D.C.
See you in the streets,
Drew and the 198 methods to save our democracy crew
Image from Shut Down DC