It has been a rough week. Donald J. Trump will be our 45th president and he will have a republican congress to achieve his ultra conservative agenda.
Here in Pennsylvania, republicans gained seats in both the senate and the house and now hold a veto-proof majority.
My heart aches for those who have been ridiculed, chastised and demonized during this tumultuous election and now feel lost and even more disenfranchised.
I think it is healthy for us to take some time to reflect and mourn. But we must also brush off our political bruises and move forward.
A few things we can do:
- Acknowledge the difference: Trump is considering appointing a climate skeptic to the EPA; removing the US from the Paris Climate Treaty; appointing Steve Bannon (founder of Breitbart) as chief of staff; and appointing Sarah Palin as Secretary of Interior. No matter how centrist and connected you think Hillary Clinton was, this is much, much worse.
- Comfort the disenfranchised: We all know people in our circles who are experiencing (and rightfully so) real fear and anxiety of what this administration means for their very existence. Reach out and reassure them that they are not alone. We can take solace in the fact that the majority of Americans did not vote for a platform of misogyny, racism and intolerance. Let’s stay connected and remember we’re on the right side of history.
- Accept the results of the election: Our democratic process may not be perfect but our system does ensure a peaceful transfer of power. We don’t have to like the results of the election; but we should honor the voices of our fellow Americans. It is particularly hard since Hillary won the popular vote. We can and should have constructive discussions about whether the electoral college is antiquated. In fact, there is a lot about our election process that deserves discussion.
- Don’t stay silent: Just because we accept that Trump is our incoming President does not mean that we can not object to his ideas and platform. We can hold peaceful protests to voice our concerns about real issues like climate change, income inequality, police brutality and LGBT equality, etc. They have not taken our voice away.
- Get involved locally: There are so many groups working in the region: Susquehanna Valley Progressives is just one. ACLU, Lewisburg Prison Project, Otzinachson Group of the Sierra Club, League of Women Voters, Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society, Shale Justice. All of these groups need new people to get engaged and move their missions forward. Can you help?
- Don’t miss Susquehanna Valley Progressives last program of 2016: Slaying the Gerrymander: Ensuring Fair Representation (December 5th at 7:00 pm at the Degenstein Library). This talk will is particulary poignant considering the results of the election. 97% of US House members were re-elected. This despite Congress having the lowest approval ratings of all time. What is wrong with this picture? Don’t sit this one out. We need to start understanding the system so we can take our democracy back!
- Get Money Out: There is a national movement to overturn Citizens United and end the flow of money influencing our elections. In coming months, SVP will be working to pass a state resolution that calls on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to 1) overturn Citizens United and 2) guarantee voting as a right. Can you help?
- Understand Trump Voters: Our neighbors voted overwhelmingly for Trump. How can we reach them? How can we understand why they voted the way they did? Can we find common ground?
Please share your ideas on how we can move this area forward. There are still progressives in this country that want to move this country in the right direction.