Electoral despair and something you can do

No, really.

A lotta people have been asking me what I think is going to happen in November. And because we live in Bizarro World now, I literally have no idea. Every time I think I have a hint of things swaying one way or another, some lightning bolt of electoral weirdness strikes and I’m back to square one.

In the 20 (!) years I’ve worked with Jim Hightower, though, the biggest thing that I’ve learned is that real, solid, grassroots, relationship-building, community-building, deep-listening organizing is the only thing that’s going to save any of us. And on top of that, it matters that this kind of organizing is happening at the local and regional levels.

That’s why I’m one of a bunch of folks supporting a Zoom happy hour event on June 27th for an organization called the Movement Voter Project (MVP). I don’t really “do” political appeals in my personal writing spaces anymore because, yes, I’ve gotten that jaded. (My first-ever crowdfunding appeal was in 2004 (!) to raise enough money for me to go to Ohio to canvas for election protection work. Holy hell, a lot has changed.)

MVP’s work is different than a lot of the BS emails and text messages you’re getting from candidates. They target swing states, invest in local organizing groups, energize key voters, and win elections. All without compromising on the core values we hold dear, if you can believe that. It's “like a mutual fund for political donations,” and they are working on the long-haul, not just quick wins. This happy hour will explain how.

And, Hightower is speaking! As you know, Hightower is one of my most treasured coworkers and friends, and he’ll be sharing his wit and wisdom about grassroots organizing. I can tell you, the stories he’s prepping are absolute gems. Please, if you come to the happy hour, ask him about the conservative Texas county judge who said something rather explicit to him when he was running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner in the 1980s. You will not be disappointed.

Let MVP show you how you can actually make a difference, and have a good time with Hightower and his 12-oz-elbow-bends while you’re at it! If you can’t make it, you’re also *cough cough* welcome to make a donation to MVP here.

There’s a lotta hard pills to swallow this year, and the only way we’re gonna get through it is, as this post (inspired by writer Michael Brooks) says, is if we’re “soft with each other and hard on systems.” Solidarity means everything. This is one great way to do it on the electoral front.

Questions? Pushback? Comments are open below. Mwah, mwah.