#democratic process

Donald Trump, March 7th, 2025

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📨 An open letter to the President & U.S. Congress

🗳️ Immediate Investigation Required: Fraud in the Presidential Election!

✍️ 38 so far! Help us get to 50 signers!

Donald Trump’s statement, “But then they rigged the election, and now we won,” raises serious concerns about election integrity. Widespread bomb threats at polling sites, ballot delays, and technical failures further undermine trust in our democratic process. With over 30 threats reported and potential foreign interference, a full investigation is essential. If necessary, a recount or re-vote must be considered to ensure every vote is secure and counted.

📱 Text SIGN PQNCWD to 50409 🤯 Text FOLLOW IVYGORGON to 50409 for more!

As I watch Biden and Trump face off in their first televised debate, I can't help but reflect on a country that has a population of 333.3 million people (as of 2022). With so many citizens, one would think there would be a wealth of candidates eager to run for the highest office in the land. Yet, here we are again, faced with a choice between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

I am no fan of Joe Biden by any means, and I am not saying that Donald Trump is the "savior" of America either. The reality is far more complex. Surely, there must be more people who can run for office, bringing fresh perspectives and new energy to our political landscape. Instead, we seem trapped in a cycle of familiar faces and entrenched political battles.

The Problem with the Status Quo

No matter who wins the upcoming election, one thing is certain: the American people will lose out. This isn't just a uniquely American problem, either. Over in the United Kingdom, we're facing a similar scenario. Our general election on the 4th of July this year feels like a rerun of old political dramas, with little hope for real change.

In both countries, the political landscape seems devoid of truly inspiring leaders. We see the same names, the same faces, and hear the same tired rhetoric. It's as if our political systems are designed to recycle the past rather than innovate for the future.

Where Are the Fresh Faces?

One of the biggest questions is why we aren't seeing more new faces in politics. With so many intelligent, capable, and passionate individuals in both the U.S. and the U.K., why do so few step up to run for office? The reasons are multifaceted:

The Financial Barrier: Running for office is incredibly expensive. Campaigns require vast amounts of money, which often means that only those with substantial financial backing or connections can realistically consider running.

Political Entrenchment: Established politicians have a stronghold on their positions, making it difficult for newcomers to break through. The political machinery often favors incumbents, who have name recognition and a network of support.

Public Disillusionment: Many potential candidates are dissuaded by the current state of politics. The negativity, polarization, and media scrutiny can be overwhelming. This discourages fresh talent from entering the fray, preferring to make a difference in less public, and perhaps less contentious, ways.

The Impact on Democracy

The lack of diversity in our political candidates has a direct impact on democracy. When voters are presented with limited choices, it undermines the very principles of democratic governance. Democracy thrives on variety and choice, enabling the electorate to select leaders who truly represent their values and aspirations.

In the absence of this variety, elections become exercises in choosing the lesser of two evils rather than selecting the best possible leader. This, in turn, leads to widespread disillusionment and apathy among the electorate. When people feel that their vote won't bring about meaningful change, they are less likely to participate in the democratic process.

Looking Forward

As we watch Biden and Trump debate, we should be asking ourselves what we can do to encourage more people to run for office. How can we lower the financial barriers, dismantle the entrenched political systems, and inspire a new generation of leaders?

We need to foster a political culture that values innovation, inclusivity, and genuine public service. This means supporting candidates from diverse backgrounds and with new ideas. It also means holding our current leaders accountable and demanding more from them.

In the end, the future of our democracy depends on our ability to broaden the pool of candidates and ensure that our political systems are open to fresh voices and new perspectives. Only then can we hope to elect leaders who truly represent the will of the people and can bring about the change that so many of us desire.

Members(hip) Matters: In a post written before the events of late last week, Thomas intended to continue the discussion of membership in Unitarian Universalism...

Editor’s Note: Today’s post was written before the events of last week on our Facebook Page. I will write more about all of that, maybe as soon as this week, but for now, this was the follow-up we had planned, presented as intended when it was written. Last week, I wrote a post about the importance of choice in what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. No one is born a UU. Even those raised…

That’s how democracy is supposed to work: we’re supposed to evaluate representatives not on their personalities or party affiliations, but on their records, and when they fail to deliver on their promises, those representatives are supposed to fear being denied their party’s nomination and thrown out of office by their own voters.

'Politicians respond to only one thing — power,' wrote Ta-Nehisi Coates back in 2011. 'This is not the flaw of democracy, it’s the entire point. It’s the job of activists to generate, and apply, enough pressure on the system to affect change.'

That’s how the American right ultimately brought us to this horrible moment: they conditioned Republican voters to actually expect and demand things, and punish those who wouldn’t deliver.

That same attitude is what’s needed from Democratic voters now — not just rage aimed at the conservative ideologues turning back the clock, but also rage at the Democrats who control the government today. Those elected officials must be forced kicking and screaming — against their own desires — to actually produce. Not tomorrow. Now.

Of course, many of us have been saying this for decades — and have been berated and belittled for doing so. But at least for a moment, it finally feels like we’re no longer alone.

If that’s fleeting, we’re screwed. If it’s enduring, then there’s still a tiny glimmer of hope."

I’ve been reblogging the FCC / Title II stuff almost every time I see it, but I didn’t actually call my elected officials until day. This is why:

Research.

https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page

The above link is to a website I didn’t know about until two or three days ago. A friend of mine who knows a lot more about politics than I do told me about it. Ballotpedia is essentially a wiki for politics and politicians. It records how they vote for certain bills and whether those bills pass, fail, or are withdrawn. They also include links to other sites that record similar information.

This was important because it allowed me to understand what issues were important to both of them, and tailor my message accordingly. I would advise anyone who has not yet called their elected officials to use that and other sites to figure out what that official cares about. Once you know that, you can explain why the net losing Title II protection would be bad for their constituents in a way that is immediately relevant to them.

As far as the actual calls go, I did not speak directly to either of my Senators, but rather to somebody tasked with the recording of messages. I made my points as clearly and quickly as I could, thanked her for her time and and help, and that was that. I did radio in college so I’m experienced in speaking off the cuff without a script, but if you don’t have that same knack, be sure to write your own script to read off of, rather than copy somebody else’s verbatim. It has a greater impact that way.

Earlier today I also drafted short letters, printed them out, stuffed them in envelopes and mailed them. No idea if they will reach their intended recipients before the December 14 vote in time for them to make any noise about the issue, assuming that they are influenced at all. But the impact of having a mountain of mail to get through might be greater than overloaded email and voice mail inboxes. So I had to try.

https://contactsenators.com/

The above website had both phone numbers and mailing addresses.

https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/

This is the official government page for contact data for Senators.

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

This is the counterpart site and page for the House of Representatives.

I’m hoping all those links work, and I’m hoping that somebody who reads this post can use the information. And of course, I have my fingers crossed that all our efforts will pay off, and either the plan to revoke Title II protection to internet access falls through, or if it does pass the courts overturn it.