I got a lot of hope from the excitement from call recipients from phone banking this weekend. I interpersonal relationships are giving me hope and i have made plans for not being alone Tuesday night as results roll in…. I am prepared for the red mirage but so hopeful.
Thanks for that encouragement. I've done postcards because I've been too terrified of phonebanking (anxiety + fearing it will affect my hope), but I signed up for the "Everyone for Kamala" phonebank tomorrow and still terrified. Knowing it was positive helps! I've also made plans to not be alone Tuesday and Wednesday (and maybe beyond?). It does help.
If it helps, Teresa, in my experience canvassing they tend to have people reaching out to undecided, independent, or Dem voters. Phone banking may be different but I didn't know this until I canvassed (not this election bc I'm recovering from surgery). I'm going to do phone banking today & tomorrow. You can do this! Surround yourself with physical comforts and treats, and thank you for trying this despite the nerves!
I did do some text banking earlier on and, yes, these do all seem to be "likely Dem" or "Dem-leaning Independent", which is why I did it. But then, I got three vile, rude, awful responses (mind you, this is out of 100 so percentage wise it's really not that much), and it really affected my mood for days. So then I stopped doing it. :/ I've read all the reminders that it's not personal, to just move on, and that kind of response is normal, but it gets to me way too much. I need to work on letting it go. Thanks for the encouragement!
That IS hard when you're highly sensitive/empathetic, etc. It's not normal to treat each other that way. I hope this doesn't happen again but if it does, that you can find other ways to help that protect your feels - we each can't do all of the things, right?
Thanks Toni! I was trying to come up with my hopeful thing for today, and honestly your kind, intuitive, and empathetic response is the thing that gives me hope today. ❤️
Actually I think that very negative response can be quite normal. It's not like you get one message and just start yelling. I have been getting more than 25 texts a day and this week it went up. Now I just autodelete every message about politics. I don't answer at all whether I like or dislike the candidate and I block all the numbers. And my bloods pressure so goes up. This is one place that I think needs to be fixed with an auto opt-out so you NEVER get unsolicited texts.
Fine; amend "it's not normal" to "it's not respectful of the human on the other end of the text, who is likely an unpaid neighbor doing their best for their community."
I’m so glad to hear this. I’m phone banking tomorrow morning, and as an introvert I’m terrified. I wrote postcards and contributed to the limit of my income, but this last is a real go beyond my comfort level moment.
Phonebanking used to freak me out until I decided to treat it like being in a play. I'm just reading a script. Nobody can see my face. If they're unpleasant, I can just hit end call. Now I just cruise through hours of phone banks without a second thought.
I too am quite introverted and I tried out phone banking and I didn't hate it. It's tedious because people hang up on you and you have to keep starting over. Of the people I did talk to I only got two who were kind of jerks about it and everyone else was lovely and voting for Kamala Harris (this was in Georgia btw). But I lost my voice after an hour of that and switched to text banking, which is kind of gamified and fun. Also the dialer is easier to figure out.
I did blockwalking and phonebanking in Austin Texas this weekend. I was calling and knocking for people who hadn’t voted, many of whom were college students who’ve moved (soooooo many lived upstairs; got my steps in!) When I did talk to household members, though, it was all ‘Voted ALL TEAM BLUE!!’ Now, Austin is a Blue island, but the enthusiasm was real!
LIVE MUSIC! First time I've seen a dozen shows in a year since pre pandemic, and dang if it isn't still life affirming to be in a room with a bunch of people listening to very loud guitars.
I’ve been volunteering doing Iowa GOTV text banking. Most people don’t reply, but most of those who did had very enthusiastic responses! My favorite: “voting in person Tuesday- let’s flip this 💩”
I did doorknocking in PA and NC and now am calling to help people "cure" ballot issues with their mail-in ballots. Some of it is hard (just got a "fuck off" text from someone whose ballot was rejected) but much of it is heartening - connecting with people who are truly thoughtful (even if not for Harris/Walz) and want to move our country forward from the conflict and hate.
Wow, thank you for all your work. I so wanted to do door knocking in swing states but learned I'm just not good at it -- and it stresses me out too much. I appreciate those of you who made this such a sensational ground game!
I am volunteering with the Virginia Democrats as a poll greeter on Election Day. Basically, monitoring our poll site to make sure all those who want to can cast their vote quickly and without fear or intimidation. It is a small role, but I like to think I am helping to make a difference.
I did that in 2016 when I was in northern Wisconsin. Wisconsin was a state the polls got very wrong. I got a real close look at the racism that motivated my neighbors and went home that day feeling dismayed even before the results started coming in.
One thing I had to report was a voter who refused to be checked in by a young man who was a Somali American Not him- give me someone else and just show me how to vote for Trump” she said.
Good for you for doing the volunteer, it can be hard!
My mom (who I live with) has been phone banking in Arizona. I asked her how it was going today and she was like “Actually, I could not get someone off the phone. He was talking about how excited he and his fiancé were to vote for Harris and down ballet.” And this was in Scottsdale of all places.
My 16-year-old daughter has finally found her people at school. She had such a hard time in elementary school and middle school fitting in and now that she is a sophomore in high school, she finally has a nice group of friends who share her interests. I'm so happy for her.
I love this! I too really struggled as an elementary and middle school kid (turns out I was autistic) and finally found a great group in HS. Yay for your daughter!
yay for your daughter, and thanks for sharing this! my older kid is so lovely and smart and kid and a bit of an oddball, and the transition to middle school has been challenging socially. this is such a good reminder that it can be a long journey to finding your people, and it doesn't mean anyone is doing anything wrong.
I am heartened by the broadening communal understanding that democracy is not just one Tuesday every 4 years, but an ongoing process in and outside of the polling places. I see so many more people diving in beyond just getting folks to vote in this election. Because while electoral politics are foundational to our democracy, us folks holding us folks up and creating long-term change together is even better <3
Yes yes yes! I am not in the US but I have been helping people understand lately that there are so many ways to be involved in politics and even the small quiet actions help!
I was happily surprised that she sang a new song and it was just as good as her current stuff. My b-friend (who knows who she is but isn't otherwise invested) said "that was really good!" after both her numbers, which is a major WOW coming from him - LOL!
That’s exactly how I felt. I had heard of her but hadn’t heard any of her songs. I haven’t been able to stop listening to Pink Piny Club. It’s just a really good song with a message and she has an incredible voice.
This morning someone shared a thread that was filled with expressions of love that people made for the ones they care about. With so many negative posts out there, it was a refreshing piece of beauty. And now I know how goldfish crackers were invented.
I so agree. All four of my kids (ages 9-17) are asking such interesting and critically insightful questions about the world and the election tomorrow. That's what I'm thankful for: kids today seem to be more aware of the greater world than I ever was before I was 25.
My 5 year old daughter asks such interesting questions- she will ask about so many topics including complicated feelings like grief.
She asked me the other day why can’t her granny live with us anymore- she said she’s part of our family, and she’s supposed to live with us! My mother-in-law lived in our spare bedroom for the last four years and moved down the street so she is still in our neighborhood, but it’s a huge change for my sweet girl whose only memories are of her grandma being in the room right across from hers. I told her she is absolutely a part of our family, but there was the chance for her Granny to have more space and still be close by so she wanted to do that.
For the record it’s a big change for me too! I really liked having my mother-in-law living with me; she’s so much calmer than me and sometimes her chill attitude would help me stay calmer.
I have two kids living abroad in Israel this year, one who graduated high school and is taking a gap year studying in a religious program and a ninth grader who will be there through high school in an international school. Through 2 months and change, it has been wonderful to watch from afar as they both are maturing and thriving in their new environments.
It's a sad commentary that some women have to vote in secret, but also inspiring. From the article:
Tia Levings: So in my story, I was not allowed to vote. Head of household voting is part of the Christian patriarchy. So I was not allowed to vote unless my husband said I could. I was able to vote in the Florida recount because the heads of households were letting their women vote as long as they voted with their husbands. And I knew if I did not vote according to my husband’s wishes I would be physically punished.
This week I was getting flooded with messages of women who were saying they were voting in secret, they were explaining how they were doing it and they told me their stories. I put up a question box and said they could share more anonymously and even more came in.
What gives me hope as a 66 year old is people like you who represent the generation that has to lead, and has their priorities straight. You and those who have the courage to stand for the essential issues we are facing.
Good thing: Germany recently relaxed its rules to allow for balkonkraftwerk, which sounds like an 80s music revival but means that renters can install solar panels on their balconies to defray their electricity costs and impacts. I just read about that in Bill McKibben's newsletter and it kind of made my day.
Bonus thing: adopting another rescue dog in one week, can't wait!
I was there (as in "I was listening to my little transistor radio") when they first sang this. It still moves me.
I got a lot of hope from the excitement from call recipients from phone banking this weekend. I interpersonal relationships are giving me hope and i have made plans for not being alone Tuesday night as results roll in…. I am prepared for the red mirage but so hopeful.
Same!! I did voter calls to Pennsylvania and it was just overwhelmingly positive, which is a much different tone than previous phone banks I've done!
Thank you both for doing that work!
Thanks for that encouragement. I've done postcards because I've been too terrified of phonebanking (anxiety + fearing it will affect my hope), but I signed up for the "Everyone for Kamala" phonebank tomorrow and still terrified. Knowing it was positive helps! I've also made plans to not be alone Tuesday and Wednesday (and maybe beyond?). It does help.
If it helps, Teresa, in my experience canvassing they tend to have people reaching out to undecided, independent, or Dem voters. Phone banking may be different but I didn't know this until I canvassed (not this election bc I'm recovering from surgery). I'm going to do phone banking today & tomorrow. You can do this! Surround yourself with physical comforts and treats, and thank you for trying this despite the nerves!
I did do some text banking earlier on and, yes, these do all seem to be "likely Dem" or "Dem-leaning Independent", which is why I did it. But then, I got three vile, rude, awful responses (mind you, this is out of 100 so percentage wise it's really not that much), and it really affected my mood for days. So then I stopped doing it. :/ I've read all the reminders that it's not personal, to just move on, and that kind of response is normal, but it gets to me way too much. I need to work on letting it go. Thanks for the encouragement!
That IS hard when you're highly sensitive/empathetic, etc. It's not normal to treat each other that way. I hope this doesn't happen again but if it does, that you can find other ways to help that protect your feels - we each can't do all of the things, right?
Thanks Toni! I was trying to come up with my hopeful thing for today, and honestly your kind, intuitive, and empathetic response is the thing that gives me hope today. ❤️
Oh, man, I'm so glad my experiences helped. ❤️ Dusty in here!
Actually I think that very negative response can be quite normal. It's not like you get one message and just start yelling. I have been getting more than 25 texts a day and this week it went up. Now I just autodelete every message about politics. I don't answer at all whether I like or dislike the candidate and I block all the numbers. And my bloods pressure so goes up. This is one place that I think needs to be fixed with an auto opt-out so you NEVER get unsolicited texts.
Fine; amend "it's not normal" to "it's not respectful of the human on the other end of the text, who is likely an unpaid neighbor doing their best for their community."
I’m so glad to hear this. I’m phone banking tomorrow morning, and as an introvert I’m terrified. I wrote postcards and contributed to the limit of my income, but this last is a real go beyond my comfort level moment.
Good luck tomorrow, Sherri - and thank you for your contributions!
Phonebanking used to freak me out until I decided to treat it like being in a play. I'm just reading a script. Nobody can see my face. If they're unpleasant, I can just hit end call. Now I just cruise through hours of phone banks without a second thought.
You are “doing something” as Michelle Obama asked. You go!!
I too am quite introverted and I tried out phone banking and I didn't hate it. It's tedious because people hang up on you and you have to keep starting over. Of the people I did talk to I only got two who were kind of jerks about it and everyone else was lovely and voting for Kamala Harris (this was in Georgia btw). But I lost my voice after an hour of that and switched to text banking, which is kind of gamified and fun. Also the dialer is easier to figure out.
I did blockwalking and phonebanking in Austin Texas this weekend. I was calling and knocking for people who hadn’t voted, many of whom were college students who’ve moved (soooooo many lived upstairs; got my steps in!) When I did talk to household members, though, it was all ‘Voted ALL TEAM BLUE!!’ Now, Austin is a Blue island, but the enthusiasm was real!
LIVE MUSIC! First time I've seen a dozen shows in a year since pre pandemic, and dang if it isn't still life affirming to be in a room with a bunch of people listening to very loud guitars.
YES I am a huge concert fan – saw Maggie Rogers last week and Noah Gundersen as well – very healing to be in a big mass of music!
Ugh I was unable to make it to the Maggie Rogers concert I had tickets for due to kid stuff and I am so bummed. But I am so glad you got to go.
Ahhh that sucks! She is awesome – I should post some videos on the discord!
Concerts are one of my forms of therapy, no joke.
Seeing Andrew WK live absolutely makes a person feel better about the world
There's so many bands I've seen that I've felt this way after. Yay!
Live music with a good crowd is so therapeutic!!
I’ve been volunteering doing Iowa GOTV text banking. Most people don’t reply, but most of those who did had very enthusiastic responses! My favorite: “voting in person Tuesday- let’s flip this 💩”
thank you for doing that work!
I did doorknocking in PA and NC and now am calling to help people "cure" ballot issues with their mail-in ballots. Some of it is hard (just got a "fuck off" text from someone whose ballot was rejected) but much of it is heartening - connecting with people who are truly thoughtful (even if not for Harris/Walz) and want to move our country forward from the conflict and hate.
Wow, thank you for all your work. I so wanted to do door knocking in swing states but learned I'm just not good at it -- and it stresses me out too much. I appreciate those of you who made this such a sensational ground game!
I did PA vote chasing phone banking yesterday, partially inspired by Lyz's column! And it did in fact reduce my anxiety.
I am volunteering with the Virginia Democrats as a poll greeter on Election Day. Basically, monitoring our poll site to make sure all those who want to can cast their vote quickly and without fear or intimidation. It is a small role, but I like to think I am helping to make a difference.
I did that in 2016 when I was in northern Wisconsin. Wisconsin was a state the polls got very wrong. I got a real close look at the racism that motivated my neighbors and went home that day feeling dismayed even before the results started coming in.
One thing I had to report was a voter who refused to be checked in by a young man who was a Somali American Not him- give me someone else and just show me how to vote for Trump” she said.
Good for you for doing the volunteer, it can be hard!
My mom (who I live with) has been phone banking in Arizona. I asked her how it was going today and she was like “Actually, I could not get someone off the phone. He was talking about how excited he and his fiancé were to vote for Harris and down ballet.” And this was in Scottsdale of all places.
My 16-year-old daughter has finally found her people at school. She had such a hard time in elementary school and middle school fitting in and now that she is a sophomore in high school, she finally has a nice group of friends who share her interests. I'm so happy for her.
I love this! I too really struggled as an elementary and middle school kid (turns out I was autistic) and finally found a great group in HS. Yay for your daughter!
yay for your daughter, and thanks for sharing this! my older kid is so lovely and smart and kid and a bit of an oddball, and the transition to middle school has been challenging socially. this is such a good reminder that it can be a long journey to finding your people, and it doesn't mean anyone is doing anything wrong.
I love this as I have a sophomore son who is still struggling with this and it gives me hope. Thank you.
I am heartened by the broadening communal understanding that democracy is not just one Tuesday every 4 years, but an ongoing process in and outside of the polling places. I see so many more people diving in beyond just getting folks to vote in this election. Because while electoral politics are foundational to our democracy, us folks holding us folks up and creating long-term change together is even better <3
Yes yes yes! I am not in the US but I have been helping people understand lately that there are so many ways to be involved in politics and even the small quiet actions help!
Chappell Roan’s performance on SNL made me smile.
SAME! I loved it.
I was happily surprised that she sang a new song and it was just as good as her current stuff. My b-friend (who knows who she is but isn't otherwise invested) said "that was really good!" after both her numbers, which is a major WOW coming from him - LOL!
That’s exactly how I felt. I had heard of her but hadn’t heard any of her songs. I haven’t been able to stop listening to Pink Piny Club. It’s just a really good song with a message and she has an incredible voice.
Warnocks comments on Face the Nation is uplifting. Will look for a link.
His line that democracy is the political embodiment of a spiritual idea resonates so powerfully for me.
This morning someone shared a thread that was filled with expressions of love that people made for the ones they care about. With so many negative posts out there, it was a refreshing piece of beauty. And now I know how goldfish crackers were invented.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/xTYghVTjWYzQ8XPW/
My kids. They're young (3 and 6), but their budding critical thinking skills give me hope for the long term future. Humans, as a whole, are amazing.
I so agree. All four of my kids (ages 9-17) are asking such interesting and critically insightful questions about the world and the election tomorrow. That's what I'm thankful for: kids today seem to be more aware of the greater world than I ever was before I was 25.
My 5 year old daughter asks such interesting questions- she will ask about so many topics including complicated feelings like grief.
She asked me the other day why can’t her granny live with us anymore- she said she’s part of our family, and she’s supposed to live with us! My mother-in-law lived in our spare bedroom for the last four years and moved down the street so she is still in our neighborhood, but it’s a huge change for my sweet girl whose only memories are of her grandma being in the room right across from hers. I told her she is absolutely a part of our family, but there was the chance for her Granny to have more space and still be close by so she wanted to do that.
For the record it’s a big change for me too! I really liked having my mother-in-law living with me; she’s so much calmer than me and sometimes her chill attitude would help me stay calmer.
My son is taking his first flying lesson today. He's excited about aviation.
And the amount of Harris-Walz yard signs in my neighborhood.
I have two kids living abroad in Israel this year, one who graduated high school and is taking a gap year studying in a religious program and a ninth grader who will be there through high school in an international school. Through 2 months and change, it has been wonderful to watch from afar as they both are maturing and thriving in their new environments.
This post this morning from Emily Amick: https://open.substack.com/pub/emilyinyourphone/p/secret-votes-and-silent-courage-women?
It's a sad commentary that some women have to vote in secret, but also inspiring. From the article:
Tia Levings: So in my story, I was not allowed to vote. Head of household voting is part of the Christian patriarchy. So I was not allowed to vote unless my husband said I could. I was able to vote in the Florida recount because the heads of households were letting their women vote as long as they voted with their husbands. And I knew if I did not vote according to my husband’s wishes I would be physically punished.
This week I was getting flooded with messages of women who were saying they were voting in secret, they were explaining how they were doing it and they told me their stories. I put up a question box and said they could share more anonymously and even more came in.
WTF!
Just a gentle reminder that we are sharing good things in this thread.
What gives me hope as a 66 year old is people like you who represent the generation that has to lead, and has their priorities straight. You and those who have the courage to stand for the essential issues we are facing.
Good thing: Germany recently relaxed its rules to allow for balkonkraftwerk, which sounds like an 80s music revival but means that renters can install solar panels on their balconies to defray their electricity costs and impacts. I just read about that in Bill McKibben's newsletter and it kind of made my day.
Bonus thing: adopting another rescue dog in one week, can't wait!
Please come back with pup pics!
Of course!