Democracy takes an active informed electorate to make it work. We must be involved in the process from the beginning to the end. We must know our candidates and work for them. We must know the issues facing our country. We must know how our government works and which branches, institutions, and offices do what. We must be willing to contact our elected officials. We must be willing to invest time and energy in influencing our government. This is the Great Civics Lesson!

This Call List post has grown and grown. At first I envisioned it as a list of five current issues with instructions on how to find your MoC’s phone numbers, but it quickly became clear that so much more was needed.

We need to call #MoscowMitch as much as we need to call our senators. We need to call Nancy Pelosi on impeachment. We need to go to town halls and demand town halls if none are available to us. We need to go to protests. You can do all of these things with the information in this weekly post.

There are occasional BONUS issues that may be legislative but may be focused on other actions. For example, Justice Ginsburg is the BONUS in today’s post.

Get out your notepad and start taking notes about not only what you want to do but how you’re going to do it!

Remember, when you call your MoC’s office or have any contact with another human being in this process that we are all people. As passionate, concerned, angry, outraged you are on any issue, contain it and be polite. When you call your MoC, ask for the person who is responsible for the issue you are calling about. The more you know about how their office functions and the easier you can make it for them, the more effective you will be!

THE ISSUES

Climate Change

Reading time: 3 minutes

We’ve all read the horror stories of the fires in the Amazon rainforest. Since the Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the world’s oxygen, is it too soon to call for sanctions against Brazil? I mean, even though Jair Bandito Bolsonaro, the fascist president and the twin of the Ol’ Pussy Grabber of Brazil, has ordered the army to fight the fires, also eliminated many of the restrictions against attacking the rainforest that let them happen. So, is it too soon to sanction these motherfuckers into protecting the part of the globe that produces 20% of the motherfucking oxygen that the rest of us motherfuckers breath! Is it too soon for extreme solutions to extreme existential threats to the existence of all oxygen breathing creatures on the motherfucking planet? Is it?

Fuck these conservative motherfuckers who are only worried about their own profits and give no fucks about whether or not theirs is the last generation?

The Legislation

From Five Calls:

1. H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. This act requires the US to remain a party to the Paris Climate Accord. You remember that. That’s the brilliant climate change agreement that Barack Obama got the world to sign on to to help us prevent the impending climate collapse. So of course, the narcissist-in-chief being unable to tolerate anything that Obama did had to get us out of it. That was in July 2017, but we actually do withdraw until 2020, so there’s that.
   • Of course, HR 9 passed the House but #MoscowMitch has hidden it in his ass where no one — not even Elaine — is willing to look for it.
2. In the battle to preserve the ability of the planet to support HUMAN LIFE — remember, life will go on on the planet whether we continue to dominate the planet or not — seven of the past EPA administrators sent every member of the House and Senate who sit on committees related to the EPA to offer their help with oversight. Nice, right?
   • Of course, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will have four of the seven testify to the committee. Not a peep from the Repube controlled Senate.
3. The Green New Deal Resolution. You remember this one because the she-devil du jour, AOC, sponsored it, so, of course, every Repube on the planet has to mindlessly scream their mindless objections to it and decry ever doing anything about climate change because AOC. It has also been sponsored by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass).
   • The House hasn’t passed it and #MoscowMitch has hidden the bill in his little hidey-hole where even Sister Lindsey won’t look for it.

Tell Your MoC

#1 H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act

Of course, you need only call your senator and tell him or her to support the bill.

#2 Providing Oversight to the EPA

Call your senator and use this script (thanks to Five Calls):

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [LOCATION].

I’m calling today because I’m very concerned about the recent report from the US Global Change Research Program, and I urge Senator Ted Cruz to work on policies and programs that will face climate change head on, such as:

[Pick 1-3 items below]

• supporting legislation that prioritizes renewable energy and associated jobs over fossil fuel based energy (and),
• ending new fossil fuel leases on public lands, which should be preserved for the use for all (and),
• investigating potential improper behavior by political appointees to silence climate change scientists and their research.

Thank you for your time and attention.

#3 The Green New Deal Resolution

Call both your representative and your senators and express your support for the Green New Deal Resolution. Use this script.

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [LOCATION].

I’m calling to today in enthusiastic support of the Green New Deal Resolution, which addresses both environmental and economic crises impacting our country. I support the Green New Deal overall, but of particular importance to me are

Choose 2-3 from the following or state your own priorities:

• net zero greenhouse gas emissions
• a job guarantee and economic security
• infrastructure and industry investments
• secure access to clean air, water, and food for all
• justice and equity for front line communities most impacted by climate change.

I expect Senator Ted Cruz to support the resolution to bring real solutions to the looming climate crisis.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Guns

Reading time: 2 minutes

#MassacreMitch was so moved by the phone calls to his office that he decided to go on the TV and pull a lie from his ass to gaslight the nation with. He “promised” that the Senate would debate gun reform legislation when they returned from recess in September. Yeah right.

Well, your phone calls caused him to lie. Keep the motherfucker squirming. Keep calling his dumb ass and your senators. The Congressional recess ends soon, so it is imperative to keep the pressure on. CALL CALL CALL!

The Legislation

H.R.8 – Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

1. H.R.8 – Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. This bill is part of the enhanced smart background checks that you might have heard of. It requires background checks for private gun sales. Private sales are those by unlicensed sellers conceived of a citizen selling a privately held gun to another citizen like your uncle selling one of his guns to his nephew so he can shoot up a school, mosque, synagogue, church, movie theater, Wallmart, Congressional town hall, or other public gathering. So, why would anyone be concerned about that? Right?
   • The bill has passed the House and is now under consideration in the Senate. It has been placed on the Senate calendar and has had two roll call votes. So, maybe? All the more reason to call.
2. H.R. 1112: Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019. The second of the improved enhanced smart background check movement. This act requires that a background check be performed when a federal licensee transfers a gun to a non-federal licensed person.
   • The bill passed the House, has had two readings in the Senate, and is on the legislative calendar. Again, so wow? All the more reason to call in support of the bill.
3. S.506 – Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019. This is the vaunted red flag law. It was introduced by Sen. Feinstein (D – Calif). It has been read twice on the Senate floor and referred to the Judiciary Committee. A very good reason to call. Keep this law moving through the Schoolhouse Rock: How a Bill Becomes a Law pipeline.

Tell Your MoC

#1 H.R.8 – Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

Call #MassacreMitch and your Senator and tell them to support this bill. It is possible to pries this bill from #MassacreMitch’s ass and plop that turd-stained bill on the floor of the Senate for a vote.

#2 H.R. 1112: Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019

Call #MassacreMitch and your Senator and tell them to move this bill forward. We can get #MassacreMitch to move this bill if we continue calling.

#3 S.506 – Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019

Remember, this bill can affect mass shootings. Red flag laws have been demonstrated to reduce suicides and mass shootings are frequently attempts to suicide by cop. It is imperative to pass this law.

Other Things You Can Do

Indivisible also advices that you:

• Write a letter to your local newspaper.
• Social media your MoC by tagging them in your posts. Find your MoC’s social media using Common Cause.
• Find protests and town halls near you! Use these resources
  • Moms Demand Action
  • March for our Lives
  • If there are no town halls, call your MoC and demand one!

Impeachment

Reading time:1.5 minutes

To save our democracy, we must use democratic institutions to do it. The Repubes — led by #MoscowMitch, not the Ol’ Pussy Grabber — have been assaulting our institutions and traditions to hollow out our democracy and fill that empty shell with a single-party pseudo-democratic authoritarian regime to transfer as much money to the 1% as fast as they can. This is the system that Russia has. Jesus fucking Christ reading on the toilet! We keep electing these motherfuckers.

That is the best argument for impeachment right there. We ain’t gotta worry about him being convicted in the Senate. We just got to impeach the motherfucker. If we don’t, it’s like Julian Castro says, if we don’t impeach him, he’ll say They didn’t impeach me because I didn’t do anything wrong! We cannot let that happen.

According to Indivisible‘s Impeachment page:

Donald Trump has broken the law, abused presidential power, and stoked hatred in our country. Additionally, the Mueller investigation found:
→ 37 indictments
→ 7 convictions or guilty pleas
→ 10 possible instances of obstruction
→ Lying to investigators about over 100 secret meetings with Russians

Call Your Representative

Since impeachment only takes place in the House, you must call your representative and Nancy Pelosi. Use the Five Calls script, if you need to.

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [LOCATION].

I’m calling to express my extreme concern that the federal government is on the eve of a constitutional crisis because the Trump administration continues to brazenly defy Congressional oversight. The Mueller report’s findings on obstruction and his subsequent statement and testimony were clear: it is time for Congress to act.

The House of Representatives must now begin an impeachment inquiry into President Trump’s serious and troubling conduct.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Other Actions

According to Indivisible you can do these other things, too:

• Call Nancy Pelosi
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.
• Email your representative
• Tag your representative on social media so they can see your posts calling for impeachment. Use Common Cause to find your representative’s social media platforms.
• Go to town halls!
• Go to rallies and protests!
• Use Indivisible’s Impeachment page to find town halls and protests near you! Let us know how it goes if you do!

Tarrifs

Reading time: 2.5 minutes

The Congress is given power over tariffs. Don’t be gaslighted on this issue. (A) It hurts our citizens because it drives up prices. Seventy percent of the products sold at WALMART are made in China. And (b) Congress has Constitutionally granted power over tariffs. Thanks #MoscowMitch for abdicating your responsibility for tariffs to the Ol’ Pussy Grabber.

The problem with a trade war with China is that President Xi doesn’t have to worry about re-election. He has to keep his politburo or People’s Congress and party support, but that is easier than winning a general open election. He can hold China’s feet to the fire a lot more easily than the Ol’ Pussy Grabber can hold our feet — Ew! Isn’t that an ugly image? Thanks, Jack. Fuck.

That means China can out wait us. This tariff war will hurt the Ol’ Pussy Grabber and the Repubes in 2020.

The other issue is that China literally owns ALL of our old debt — Ali Velshi on Deadline White House Friday 23 August. All China has to do to really fuck us over is sell our debt.

We are so fucked.

The Background Information

Unfortunately, we have had multiple laws passed that hand control over trade and tariffs to the executive branch beginning in 1917 with the Trading with the Enemy Act. But, maybe the most egregious is the 1962 Trade Expansion Act (Section 232), which gives the executive branch the sweeping ability to impose trade restrictions through the US Commerce Department if it determines that targeted products hurts national security. It’s not like the Ol’ Pussy Grabber and company would ever abuse the specter of national security, right?

So you need to talk to your MoC about taking action in reining in this mishegas. These tariffs are the result of groupthink: uncritical decision making coupled with the active suppression of dissenting opinion. It is the soul of self-destructive group decisions. It has been the cause of some of our most disastrous national decisions: Bay of Pigs, Gulf of Tonkin, Invasion of Iraq.

They are destroying us as a nation by giving our trade away to, you guessed it, RUSSIA! Who is China buying its soy beans, wheat, and other farm products from now? Russia.

We can name the specific acts (adapted from the Vox story):

• Through the Trading With the Enemy Act of 1917, the president can impose a tariff during a time of war. But the country doesn’t need to be at war with a specific country — just generally somewhere where the tariffs would apply. (This is how Richard Nixon imposed a 10 percent tariff in 1971, citing the Korean War.)
• Trump’s White House cited Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, a provision that gives the secretary of commerce the authority to investigate and determine the impacts of any import on the national security of the United States — and the president the power to adjust tariffs accordingly.
• The Trade Act of 1974 allows the president to implement a 15 percent tariff for 150 days if there is “an adverse impact on national security from imports.” After 150 days, the trade policy would need congressional approval.
• There’s the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, which would allow the president to implement tariffs during a national emergency.

Tell Your MoC

Tell your MoC that legislation needs to be passed that will curtail his freewheeling imposition of tariffs AND unilaterally cutback on the tariffs already imposed.

Mention groupthink and how destructive it is.

Emphasize that Congress must do its Constitutional duty and take back control of imposts and excises or tariffs. They all know what you’re talking about.

#CheckAndBalanceHisDumbAss

BONUS: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Reading time: 2 minutes

While this isn’t legislative or even a hearing or court case or anything else, the news of RBG’s cancer treatment has us all worried about a liberal seat falling to the conservatives. And, it just pisses me off about Election 2016 all over again. Don’t ever come at me about the Dems needing to have nominated a “better” candidate. Notorious RBG is the embodiment of voting blue. Fuck that. Had Clinton won, we would have Garland’s seat and should the worst happen before 2020 RBG’s. You know Kennedy wouldn’ta retired on Clinton’s watch. Somebody got to him, so we wouldn’t have a major wanker like Kavanaugh anywhere near SCOTUS.

Her Health

Here’s the summary of RBG’s health concerns:

• 1999: Diagnosed with colon cancer. Treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation
• 2009: Surgery for pancreatic cancer
• 2018: Several health concerns:
  • November: A fall that cracked three ribs. Falls among the elderly — I’m looking at you #MoscowMitch — often are the most dramatic and visible symptom of physical and mental decline. Frequently, they are followed by other undeniable symptoms.December: Two cancerous growths were removed from a lung. It sounds like she has metastatic cancer either from her colon or pancreas. If that’s the case, it literally is only a matter of time. It just keeps coming back.
• 2019: Radiation treatment for pancreatic cancer.

This is serious y’all. RBG is a strong well cared for woman, but between the cancer and her age, she is imperil. I watched a portion of an interview with her on David Gupta’s Up broadcast on Saturday 24 August that was recorded three weeks ago before she went for treatment.

She sounded frail. She has that elderly woman shrinking thing going on — you know where you get smaller as cartilage collapses and the spine begins to warp. She spoke slowly, but clearly as she reported that she would remain on the Court for as long as she could do the job “full steam.” She thinks at least through the next term.

You Can Do

There is some evidence that “prayer” affects the health of the prayed for. I’m not going to go find it all now, but I’ve read it. That kind of thing stands out. I can’t see how it matters because I’m feeling desperate right now. We all need to feel like we’re doing something to help one of the most beloved figures in American government.

Pray, burn incense, light candles, send good vibrations, pour one out. Whatever the fuck you do to try to affect the things that are too far removed for you to have any effect on, you should do. At the very least, it can’t hurt.

You can also curse any fool who suggests that electing Clinton wouldn’t’ve made any difference, that Dems are to blame for nominating a less desirable candidate, or any of the other bullshit that BernieBros and never-Clintons care to regurgitate to sooth their own fucking guilt at having pissed away the courts and, especially the chance for a liberal Supreme Court majority for another generation because the fucking pea under their mattress was too gottam big!

The Repubes will go after Social Security. They’ll undo all of our hard fought for liberal achievements all the way back to the New Deal and then some. We’ll be kicking it — and by it, I mean the proverbial bucket — 1880’s style.

So fuck anybody who didn’t vote Clinton in 2016. Democracy is hard. You gotta know the consequences of your actions. This shit is on you. Own it motherfucker.

And, gottam it, it is hard to watch someone you love to go like this. It is hard to ask her to make the sacrifices and endure the pain of holding on until 2020. It just breaks my heart.

Contacting Your MoC

Find out how to contact your MoC using these links!

• Common Cause will give you the names, party affiliation, direct phone number, website link, and social media platforms of all of your federal, state, and local elected officials.
• Call My Congress: Uses your zip code to locate your Congressional Representative and your Senators. And, it returns phone numbers, tweeter handle, party affiliation, voting record, and link to C-Span appearances!
• 5 Calls: I am sad to report that Call Your Rep is no longer supported, but you can sign-up for 5 Calls which is a service that will help you contact your Congressional representatives and keep you abreast of on going issues that are important to you! Now, that is a good deal.
• The Capital Hill Switch Board: (202) 224-3121.
• MassacreMitch and #MoscowMitch: (202) 224-2541.
• Nancy Pelosi: (202) 225-4965

Join Indivisible

Follow the link to Indivisible to find a group near you, their campaigns, events in your neighborhood, and download their handy-dandy booklet!