I’m feeling all of this, too. Between the election and this next Supreme Court cycle I’m not feeling optimistic about the state of our democracy. We have a particularly contentious gubernatorial race here in Oregon that is keeping me up at night. I have luckily had some good convos with canvassers and know many good peeps going out to canvass and hope that’s the norm here and one glimmer of hope locally. But I do hear you completely
I have only been slightly aware of all of the twists and turns of y'alls governor's race but I feel for you all, as I know there's so much at stake as to whether your state moves forward with more or less fear of your neighbors.
I also think you pulled out something interesting in your "optimism about the state of democracy" piece, which of course is that there is very good reason to be depressed not about how campaigns are run but what could be true at the end of them. I deliberately didn't write about that (not because it's not important, but just to focus on the former), but of course they're both intertwined! Thanks for all the work you keep doing!
Yep it’s been a stressful race for sure! And totally get wanting to focus on the former. The sad fact there’s a lot to be worried about. Thank you as well for all you do!
I’m an American citizen (dual citizenship) living in Canada. I’ve been an absentee voter for almost 15 years. This year was the first year I had to reapply for absentee voter status in Montana. Since I moved to Canada with my parents in 1964 I had no Drivers Licence or SSN. A bit of an issue originally but it turned out fine. So I sent in my absentee ballot request over 2 weeks ago but I can see on the voter registration page I’m still listed as “non absentee. “ I emailed the elections person and she sent me a link that doesn’t exist and when I seemed to find the page when I sent my info I got a server error.
Sorry this is so long and whiny ☹️ but it has made me so discouraged. I’ll keep at it though it’s really important to me as a woman to vote.
It doesn't sound whiny at all! This is one case where the English language term-- disenfranchisement-- is really descriptive! It's so exhausting and dehumanizing when voting isn't easy (to say nothing of all the moments- past and present- when the right to the franchise has been systematically withheld).
Update! I found an online form for requesting an absentee ballot. So filled it out, scanned it and emailed it back. Success! I’m now listed as an absentee voter. Now waiting for my ballot!
I was so angry and disappointed when Al Gore gave up. I heard him described recently as a "true gentleman" for conceding. Ridiculous. He won and he should have fought for the presidency.
It's a fascinating alternate history to consider, right? Not just what would have happened in the short term, but what lessons we would have learned from a non-concession, mass street protests, etc.
Well you’re not alone. We need to hold each other up, come what may. Because caring for other people is not profitable, not done so that we can curate and share, but because we are human. Until I die, I will do what I can to take care of others in need. Maybe voting won’t make a difference but I’ll try. Maybe donating won’t make a difference or liking a post or subscribing to a substack or knocking on doors (without adequate training) or standing in the cold with an initiative petition, whatever, but I’m NOT going to let these people who are convinced that it’s individualism or super capitalism or hating others to disrupt what my heart tells me is true. We love each other as best we can for as long as we can. We do the best we know how and learn from others along the way. We try. We get discouraged, but we keep believing in caring. Because we have heart and caring for others in our DNA. Your work is important and worth it. I know the personal cost you and your family bear. I don’t know if it will make a difference in the end. But this is WHO WE ARE.
I'm with you, Garrett. I don't think this will be the election that breaks me (how many times can one break?) but I have been to a few fundraisers this year (the first ones I've ever been to) and the whole messaging and seemingly necessary persona projections and wide-eyed energy and MONEY is just ... ugh. What other choice do we have? But ugh.
One thing I'll say about Montana this cycle: While I'm very scared for our state and what could be true in this election, I at least feel like Montana Democrats are clearer and more specific as to what's at stake in protecting against the supermajority and fending off the Supreme Court challenge. A big part of that is embedded in the brilliance of the Montana Constitution-- there's something that government did in many people's lifetime that is very good and worth protecting.
Totally agree with that. I think it helps a lot that a number of people who were part of creating that Constitution are still around, which is really lucky. Bob Brown has been really heartening, writing and speaking constantly about what's at stake.
Thank you for writing this! I was on a call for an awesome book club yesterday where we get to talk with men on death row in North Carolina who wrote a book (look up crimson letters if you're interested!) and on the call were a bunch of retired women from North Carolina who were all talking about all the awesome phonebanking and canvassing they're doing and I felt so guilty that I haven't done that much this year electorally but also it does feel so fake and helpless and sad. I will at some point end my pity party and help but the corporate consultants of it all are depressing.
Everything we do that connects us deeper with each other in real way is good work, electoral or not. You were on that call and in that book club and that matters too!
So, Garrett, how about trying to figure out how to create the community organization to plan how to get ourselves to understand how to create the plan to take care of each other? Do we start with values for today? Practicalities?
I'm certainly annoyed and disheartened at the way American politics has boiled down to money, hyperbole, and gossipy alarmist ads. But I dread the end of the integrity of our election process. The sheer number of election deniers at all levels on the ballot, the number of Americans who actually believe the 2020 presidential election was rigged, and the distinct possibility that, in 2024, the politicians will choose their voters rather than the voters choosing our leaders. That will be the death of our American democratic experiment.
Totally agree, Ted! A huge clear and present risk. And obviously, it would be wrong to blame anybody but the election deniers and riggers for the absolutely dangerous path they are careening us towards. I also think it's one of the many reasons why (along with the direct denunciations) that we really think critically about all the ways our current system disincentives everyday folks from being engaged with/caring for/feeling invested in (rather than resentful of) politics and politicians. I'd argue one reason the deniers and democracy-destructors get away with it is that so many Americans believe that all politicians are liars and crooks, so wonder why this is any great anomaly.
Ok, that album was great and a few years back I had to buy my second copy because the first, which I bought in 2004 back in Ohio, was lost somewhere in a series of moves. I bought it again because I wanted to hear the Ben Kweller song on there, and maybe the Nada Surf one?
And… it is *exhausting* to always get the message about the upcoming ‘Most Important Election of My Lifetime’, or terrifying email headlines/texts. I’m trying to shut those out and hand write colorful letters to voters instead.
THANK YOU for confirming that I didn't make this album up! I also feel like you should have gotten a special electoral hero award for buying it in 2004 IN OHIO of all states.
I bet your colorful letters rule. Thanks for tuning out the dumb stuff and making something beautiful.
It might have been before my time that you had a Game of Pricks cover as a Song of the Week but I still want to know which one it was! This is my favourite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w47Spz3ybmc
Waxahatchee (though it's not on streaming services so for the playlist I went with Lauren O'Connell's which has similar vibes. I'm into the Owen Pallett one and also have known to start an old AV Undercover rabbit hole around the time I should be going to bed and all of a sudden realize it's like 2:00 AM and I've listened to Frightened Rabbit doing Surrender like five times.
I wasn't familiar with Lauren O'Connell, but that's a lovely cover! Wishing you more music-exploring rabbit holes and few grim electoral politics ones.
I’m feeling all of this, too. Between the election and this next Supreme Court cycle I’m not feeling optimistic about the state of our democracy. We have a particularly contentious gubernatorial race here in Oregon that is keeping me up at night. I have luckily had some good convos with canvassers and know many good peeps going out to canvass and hope that’s the norm here and one glimmer of hope locally. But I do hear you completely
I have only been slightly aware of all of the twists and turns of y'alls governor's race but I feel for you all, as I know there's so much at stake as to whether your state moves forward with more or less fear of your neighbors.
I also think you pulled out something interesting in your "optimism about the state of democracy" piece, which of course is that there is very good reason to be depressed not about how campaigns are run but what could be true at the end of them. I deliberately didn't write about that (not because it's not important, but just to focus on the former), but of course they're both intertwined! Thanks for all the work you keep doing!
Yep it’s been a stressful race for sure! And totally get wanting to focus on the former. The sad fact there’s a lot to be worried about. Thank you as well for all you do!
I’m an American citizen (dual citizenship) living in Canada. I’ve been an absentee voter for almost 15 years. This year was the first year I had to reapply for absentee voter status in Montana. Since I moved to Canada with my parents in 1964 I had no Drivers Licence or SSN. A bit of an issue originally but it turned out fine. So I sent in my absentee ballot request over 2 weeks ago but I can see on the voter registration page I’m still listed as “non absentee. “ I emailed the elections person and she sent me a link that doesn’t exist and when I seemed to find the page when I sent my info I got a server error.
Sorry this is so long and whiny ☹️ but it has made me so discouraged. I’ll keep at it though it’s really important to me as a woman to vote.
It doesn't sound whiny at all! This is one case where the English language term-- disenfranchisement-- is really descriptive! It's so exhausting and dehumanizing when voting isn't easy (to say nothing of all the moments- past and present- when the right to the franchise has been systematically withheld).
Update! I found an online form for requesting an absentee ballot. So filled it out, scanned it and emailed it back. Success! I’m now listed as an absentee voter. Now waiting for my ballot!
A small victory!
I was so angry and disappointed when Al Gore gave up. I heard him described recently as a "true gentleman" for conceding. Ridiculous. He won and he should have fought for the presidency.
It's a fascinating alternate history to consider, right? Not just what would have happened in the short term, but what lessons we would have learned from a non-concession, mass street protests, etc.
Well you’re not alone. We need to hold each other up, come what may. Because caring for other people is not profitable, not done so that we can curate and share, but because we are human. Until I die, I will do what I can to take care of others in need. Maybe voting won’t make a difference but I’ll try. Maybe donating won’t make a difference or liking a post or subscribing to a substack or knocking on doors (without adequate training) or standing in the cold with an initiative petition, whatever, but I’m NOT going to let these people who are convinced that it’s individualism or super capitalism or hating others to disrupt what my heart tells me is true. We love each other as best we can for as long as we can. We do the best we know how and learn from others along the way. We try. We get discouraged, but we keep believing in caring. Because we have heart and caring for others in our DNA. Your work is important and worth it. I know the personal cost you and your family bear. I don’t know if it will make a difference in the end. But this is WHO WE ARE.
This was beautiful and by the end I let out an actual out-loud "hell yeah!"
I'm with you, Garrett. I don't think this will be the election that breaks me (how many times can one break?) but I have been to a few fundraisers this year (the first ones I've ever been to) and the whole messaging and seemingly necessary persona projections and wide-eyed energy and MONEY is just ... ugh. What other choice do we have? But ugh.
One thing I'll say about Montana this cycle: While I'm very scared for our state and what could be true in this election, I at least feel like Montana Democrats are clearer and more specific as to what's at stake in protecting against the supermajority and fending off the Supreme Court challenge. A big part of that is embedded in the brilliance of the Montana Constitution-- there's something that government did in many people's lifetime that is very good and worth protecting.
Totally agree with that. I think it helps a lot that a number of people who were part of creating that Constitution are still around, which is really lucky. Bob Brown has been really heartening, writing and speaking constantly about what's at stake.
Thank you for writing this! I was on a call for an awesome book club yesterday where we get to talk with men on death row in North Carolina who wrote a book (look up crimson letters if you're interested!) and on the call were a bunch of retired women from North Carolina who were all talking about all the awesome phonebanking and canvassing they're doing and I felt so guilty that I haven't done that much this year electorally but also it does feel so fake and helpless and sad. I will at some point end my pity party and help but the corporate consultants of it all are depressing.
Everything we do that connects us deeper with each other in real way is good work, electoral or not. You were on that call and in that book club and that matters too!
So, Garrett, how about trying to figure out how to create the community organization to plan how to get ourselves to understand how to create the plan to take care of each other? Do we start with values for today? Practicalities?
I'm certainly annoyed and disheartened at the way American politics has boiled down to money, hyperbole, and gossipy alarmist ads. But I dread the end of the integrity of our election process. The sheer number of election deniers at all levels on the ballot, the number of Americans who actually believe the 2020 presidential election was rigged, and the distinct possibility that, in 2024, the politicians will choose their voters rather than the voters choosing our leaders. That will be the death of our American democratic experiment.
Totally agree, Ted! A huge clear and present risk. And obviously, it would be wrong to blame anybody but the election deniers and riggers for the absolutely dangerous path they are careening us towards. I also think it's one of the many reasons why (along with the direct denunciations) that we really think critically about all the ways our current system disincentives everyday folks from being engaged with/caring for/feeling invested in (rather than resentful of) politics and politicians. I'd argue one reason the deniers and democracy-destructors get away with it is that so many Americans believe that all politicians are liars and crooks, so wonder why this is any great anomaly.
Ok, that album was great and a few years back I had to buy my second copy because the first, which I bought in 2004 back in Ohio, was lost somewhere in a series of moves. I bought it again because I wanted to hear the Ben Kweller song on there, and maybe the Nada Surf one?
And… it is *exhausting* to always get the message about the upcoming ‘Most Important Election of My Lifetime’, or terrifying email headlines/texts. I’m trying to shut those out and hand write colorful letters to voters instead.
THANK YOU for confirming that I didn't make this album up! I also feel like you should have gotten a special electoral hero award for buying it in 2004 IN OHIO of all states.
I bet your colorful letters rule. Thanks for tuning out the dumb stuff and making something beautiful.
It might have been before my time that you had a Game of Pricks cover as a Song of the Week but I still want to know which one it was! This is my favourite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w47Spz3ybmc
Waxahatchee (though it's not on streaming services so for the playlist I went with Lauren O'Connell's which has similar vibes. I'm into the Owen Pallett one and also have known to start an old AV Undercover rabbit hole around the time I should be going to bed and all of a sudden realize it's like 2:00 AM and I've listened to Frightened Rabbit doing Surrender like five times.
I wasn't familiar with Lauren O'Connell, but that's a lovely cover! Wishing you more music-exploring rabbit holes and few grim electoral politics ones.