The Home Body's Guide to Activism

The Home Body's Guide to Activism

It seems like EVERYONE is heated, angry, scared, excited, and never more interested in politics. Cool deal, let's capitalize on it- let's harness our energies for change. But how? 

There's a lot of derision of "slacktivism," like re-tweeting and sharing posts, checking in online, etc., then patting yourself on the back and stepping away. It could be a show of solidarity, but as far as making actual change, the impact is close to nil. 

A lot of us see activism as the thing people do in the streets- protests, rallies, chanting, etc. And it is. A physical presence lets people know that hey, we're out here and we're pissed, it gets media attention, it's a talking point. There are also a lot of reasons someone might shy away from that kind of activism: health, lack of childcare, fear of retribution from family or a job, schedule, etc. It's everyone's duty to participate in the political process- but there are ways to engage without taking to the streets.

1. Sign the petitions. Those WhiteHouse.gov petitions get responses once they hit a certain amount of signatures. Petitions can show an official, a business, an elected official, etc., just how any people support or oppose their actions. Aside from getting added to email lists (which you can easily unsubscribe from), there's minimal effort on your part.

2. CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. This is by far, IMO, the most effective thing you can do. WE elected our officials, we pay their salaries, and we can pressure them to fairly and accurately represent us. And if they don't? We work to un-elect them (hey, midterms 2018!). 

Know who is voting on what, and which body of government has what power. For example: the Senate has to approve Cabinet members. Don't want Ben Carson as your Secretary of Education? Let your Senator know NOW. Keep up with your state and local representatives too, because many of the things they vote on affect your life most immediately.

There are many ways you can do this. You can call their office and leave a message. If a human answers the phone,they won't argue. They are required to log calls, emails, faxes etc. Call and say "I'm a constituent and I'd like to let the Congressman/woman know that I support or oppose this bill..." Send an email. Send a fax. There's no way to stop a fax from coming, and it uses up supplies. If you can't (are unable, don't want to) go to your official's office, make your voice heard through a call, an email, or a fax.

Find your state officials.
Find your state Representative in Congress.
Find your Senators.
All of the US Senate Fax Numbers. 

Set an alarm, once a week, once a month, and see what your officials are doing and LET THEM KNOW which of their actions you support and which you didn't.

3. Put your money to WERK. Donate to causes you support. Donate to the ACLU, who vows to fight for the rights of all Americans. Donate to SPLC, who track hate crimes and teach tolerance. Donate to a cause you believe in- there are plenty that do great work and get high ratings on CharityWatch, so if you can, open your wallet. 

Also, donate to support candidates you support. It is expensive to run a campaign, especially against an incumbent. A few bucks can go a long way. It may seem far off, but I'm planning for midterm elections in 2018. 

Furthermore, spend your money in a way that reflects the world you want to live in. Support small and local businesses. Let companies know when they use their profits to support things you go against (ahem, remember Chik Fil A)- and let them know you will not spend your money there.

4. Support the people that are on the front lines. It can be exhausting to be the one on the front lines, protesting, lobbying members of Congress, tabling, whatever. Make sure your friends know they can turn to you. Make them tea, cook them dinner, offer hugs. We're a community.

5. Take care of yourself. Don't run yourself into the ground because it helps no one. Walk your dog, go for a run, bake cookies, hug your spouse. We need you! 

The great this about America is that everyone has the right to participate in the process. Your elected officials are much easier to reach than you think (I know, I live near DC). Their *job* is to listen to you. The first amendment is awesome because it gives us the right to voice our opinions and not be imprisoned (it does NOT however, give you freedom from criticism, FYI). But, your voice is more powerful when it's combined with action.

What do you do?