There are so many examples of politics gone bad floating around, and lots of anxiety about what the outcome of this election will be. One thing we know. Elections are turning points. Especially this one. We all feel a need to take action but there’s a lot of uncertainty about what to do.
Sometimes it’s good to dredge up some success stories from history to see how others have done it. Here’s Tikkun Magazine’s story of how ordinary people in Chile overthrew the Pinochet dictatorship.
How Ordinary People Can Save Their Country
Ariel Dorfman, Tikkun Magazine
It’s amazing how many times authoritarian rulers have done this. The human race just HAS to get out of this authoritarian rut. There are better ways, and it’s time we give this up for something less crazy-making!
From the midst of this crazy election, what scenario would you choose for confronting an unknown and anxious future?
What if you had a reliable plan of action, it fit your progressive values, you had lots of opportunity to decide just how you want to participate, and could do it with a group of other people whom you trust and care about? Here’s a suggestion for you: Choose Democracy.
“Choose Democracy” is a project from Waging Nonviolence and other groups. Right now, they’re helping local Hubs take focused action to be sure this election will not be stolen, and our democracy will be protected.
Their strategy is based on the premise that ALL VOTES MUST BE COUNTED. They’re asking concerned people worried about the election to form a Hub of their trusted friends, family and neighbors to band together and make targeted calls to election officials in our state, with a cordial demand that they commit to COUNT ALL VOTES. DON’T STOP THE COUNT. Stopping the count early is one strong scenario of how the election could be derailed.
A pledge to count all the votes is something any elected official could say “yes” to. It’s the American way of democracy and is a perfectly reasonable thing for anyone to ask.
If it’s hard for them to agree to that, having the conversation is still important. In the middle of vote-counting that official needs to know people care about this and ARE WATCHING THEM.
For instance, Arkansas’ Secretary of State is John Thurston. He’s in charge of elections in Arkansas and he’s a very quiet guy. You don’t see him in the news. If he gets 100 polite calls to make sure he plans to count all the votes, he’ll have second thoughts if he’s told from Washington to stop counting. He knows at least 100 Arkansans are watching. And politicians themselves say that for every one call they get, at least 10 more people agree with that view.
Are you curious about what happens in those Hubs? What happens that makes the Secretary of State listen?
The Hubs are friend groups. They connect virtually or in person (if they can) and build on friendships that are already good. They start out by deciding on simple roles, researching who they need to contact, and deciding what they need to say. It’s very self-directed and confidence-building. When somebody picks up the phone their friends make a whole support team at their backs. The experience makes good friendships deeper and gives everybody skills to be even better citizens. The research says these are super-effective groups.
Choose Democracy’s team will send Hub Leaders a well-organized guidebook that walks you through this process in a clear way.
Your Hub is also connected to a national team with long experience and a strategic plan. That’ll be important when things change quickly. And they will. Nobody will really know an outcome until the last vote’s counted and the Electoral College goes home. Having an experienced nonviolent strategy team on our side through all this is powerful encouragement.
If a friend asks you to join them in one of these Hubs don’t hesitate to say “yes.” It’s the peace people’s time to step up, and this is a planned strategy to succeed.
If no friends ask you to join them, don’t be disappointed. Email Omni at omni@omnicenter.org and volunteer to start one now. Omni can help you.
There are more interesting pieces to this story, and you’ll want to hear the whole thing. Choose Democracy will hold 2 more trainings before the election, on Oct 21 and Oct 27. If you hurry you may get in on one of these inspiring things. They fill up very fast.
Choose Democracy Upcoming Trainings
How to Beat an Election-related Power Grab
Weds Oct 21 2020 – 6:30 pm Central
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KvunmF40RyyQ4IvmT9Ylag
Tues Oct 27 2929020 – 6:30 pm Central
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w5b2BcXRSOuk9U0yZlybBg
The time is short, so don’t wait. All you need is 5-10 friends and a heart. We want our country to fulfill the promise it’s never really understood. If we’re ever to get to the promised land where the rights and welfare of all people, the care of our planet, and health of our communities really are the foundation of our culture, we must save the shreds of democracy we inherited. We need to heal and nurture it to become what it’s meant to be. And we can only do that if we’re in this together. Choose Democracy Hubs are a way toward that from my point of view.
Would you like to be a part of it?