Why are we here?

Everything that is painful and terrifying about the state of the world right now is also revealing the path forward. That we cannot continue to plunder the earth’s resources, exploit human labor, and deprive people of basic human needs. How the delusion of separation and supremacy that got us into this mess will never, as Audre Lorde so powerfully taught us, “dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change”.

We can’t expect systems to reform themselves back into balance when they were never designed for balance. They were never designed for all of us. And so even as we engage in resistance and elect new candidates and policies, we must keep our eye on the prize and imagine new and alternative ways of living and being that tend to our needs and take care of all of us. Along the way, we must accompany each other, protect the most vulnerable, have each other’s backs and fronts and sides and make sure no one is left behind.

After all, why are we here if not for each other?

Kerri (she/her)

Art by @thecharliefund

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1. The cost of living crisis risks becoming a suicide crisis. Dr Sanah Ahsan looks at what might give us the hope we need to survive in an increasingly unliveable world.

2. The pro-democracy side is at risk not just because of potential electoral rigging, voter suppression and other forms of unfair play by the right, but because we are failing to win over hearts and minds. The uncomfortable truths that could yet defeat fascism.

3. There is so much general confusion, if not outright dread, about the state of the global economy. Globalism failed to deliver the economy we need. Now what?

4. There is an undercurrent in contemporary politics that has devolved it into something more akin to sports fanaticism. When does a political movement become a cult?

5. Those facing flood and fire can’t afford to lose hope. Neither should we. Rebecca Solnit on why climate despair is a luxury

With less than a month to go, the stakes are high. The midterms will decide whether President Biden and the Democrats will be able to advance much needed legislation in 2023 and 2024.  Key races for governor, secretaries of state, attorneys general, and control of state legislatures will decide if there will be fair elections in 2024. To be clear, a second MAGA presidency would be worse than the first, with few restraints. this year, the battleground is at the state level. Here’s what you need to know and what you can do:

Arizona: Getting Sen. Mark Kelly re-elected is a must (his opponent is a pro-Trump election denier). State races and propositions are also hot (the legislature is controlled narrowly by Republicans making way for egregious voter suppression and anti-abortion laws). Follow and support the lead of organizations like: Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA)  Northeast Arizona Native Democrats, Arizona Asian Americans Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders for Equity Advocates

Georgia: The high-profile campaigns of Stacey Abrams for governor and US Sen. Raphael Warnock is rallying voters and support around the country thanks to the organizing efforts of Georgia Poor People’s Campaign, New Georgia Project Action Fund, and Black Voters Matter 

Nevada: At stake is Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto seat, governor and secretary of state. Follow Somos Votantes, a Latinx voter mobilization group trying to turnout the Latinx vote which represents 20% of the electorate.

North Carolina: Dems must hold ground in the state legislatures b/c is Republicans win back control they would likely pass an anti abortion bill in NC). Also on the table is a highly contested senate race between Democrat Cheri Beasely and Ted Budd (Trumper who backed Graham’s ridiculous “ban all abortions” bill). Support  The New North Carolina Project targets improving turnout among Black voters and Latinx voters and New Rural Project.

Pennsylvania: In the race for the open U.S. Senate seat is an uncomfortably close race between Democratic Lt. Governor John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz. With a state legislature controlled by republicans, the governors seat (and veto power) is also at stake between Jan 6 assailant Doug Mastriano and state attorney general Josh Shapiro. Pennsylvania Stands Up is a membership-based organization working to have real conversations with real people to mobilize the vote. 

Wisconsin: Democrat Lt Governor Mandela Barnes is energizing voters but has a tough senate race on his hands against Trump ally Sen Ron Johnson. Democratic Governor Tony Evers is also locked in a tough re-election battle against Trump-endorsed Tim Michels. Wisconsin Working Families Party, has been actively on the ground doing voter education, campaigning for local candidates, and participating in federal campaigns since 2015.

Ohio: Ohio may seem like a reach having gone solidly for Trump in 2016 and 2020, and Republicans dominate state politics. But Congressman Tim Ryan is giving neophyte JD vance a run for his money. Support the work of New Voices Ohio who is committed to electoral justice and increasing the voting power of Black women voters who are not likely and less likely to vote in each election.

Michigan: The focus here is on protecting Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson against “stolen election” Trump endorsed candidates. Michigan is another state legislature dominated by Republicans and so safeguarding democracy and defending against threats to voting and election integrity is the priority (in addition to protecting the governor’s veto power against egregious legislation). There are many groups active on the ground in Michigan, including We the People Michigan and Detroit Action

Art by @stillwerise

Y’all this month’s reading list is fire. I have gotten lost in this book stack for hours on end. So much to learn, practice, repair and do. Please Please Please buy these books and follow these authors. They are writing our future into being. 

• Four Pivots, Shawn Ginwright

• Hospicing Modernity, Vanessa Machado De Oliveira 

• The Journal of Radical Permission, adrienne maree brown & Sonya Renee Taylor

• The Future is Disabled, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna Samarasinha

• Rest is Resistance, Tricia Hersey

• Are We Free Yet?, Tina Strawn

• The Persuaders, Anand Giridharadas 

Republicans are trying to win by spreading these lies. Here’s what you need to know to bust myths and have courageous conversations about what’s true and at stake in this election:

1. They claim that crime is rising because Democrats have been “soft” on crime. Nope. While violent crime rose 28% from 2019 to 2020, gun homicides rose 35%. States that have weakened gun laws have seen gun crime surge. And research has repeatedly shown that crime is rising faster in Republican, Trump-supporting states.

2. They claim that inflation is due to Biden’s spending, and wage increases. Also not true. The inflation squeeze we are all feeling is the result of multiple compounding factors (including post-pandemic shortages, the war inUkraine, China’s lockdowns). But the biggest domestic culprits are big corporations using inflation as an excuse to raise prices above their own cost increases, resulting in near-record profits.

3. They say Democrats voted to hire an army of IRS agents who will audit and harass the middle class. LOL. The treasury department and the IRS have made it clear that audit rates for households earning $400,000 or under will remain the same. the IRS needs extra resources to go after rich tax cheats. Republicans are lying about what the IRS will do with the new funding to protect their ultra-wealthy patrons.

Myth busting courtesy of Robert Reich.

We had the most beautiful conversation about how nature would do politics in last month’s CTZN meetup. This quote by @zeaink capture’s it beautifully. Join us NEXT THURSDAY for our monthly meet up where we’ll be talking about all things election care.

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