We have covered these topics before. We have called, written, and met at town halls. We may have appeared to violate some etiquette rules. We have been ignored. We have been given an explanation. Nevertheless, we purrsist.
* What Rand Poodaul said about Saudi arms deals when Obama made them.
Take Action: According to Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda, tackle one issue at a time. The more trouble it takes you to contact your politicians, the more they pay attention. So when you can manage the time and effort, put your body out there. Face-to-face meeting, town hall or protest march > calling > faxing if you can’t get through on regular phone > writing letters (because they may arrive too late) > personal email > petition or group email.
But we are in this for the long haul, so pace yourselves. Do whatever level you can do. We will be here at least once a week with the latest.
To see if your legislator is having a Town Hall meeting: Congress critters theoretically travel home to meet with constituents regularly. Check out the Town Hall Project’s list of Town Hall Meetings so that you can meet them face to face if you wish. Don’t be surprised if they are too chicken to meet everyone.
If your legislators will not have a Town Hall, have one and invite them: Indivisible Guide: Missing Members of Congress Action Plan: Hold a Constituents' Town Hall
To write your letter then fax it for free: FaxZero: Create and send faxes for free to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada (up to five free faxes per day) or GotFreeFax: Send free fax online to the U.S. and Canada (a bit easier to use, but only up to two free faxes per day).
Easy resource to find your politicians’ phone, email, etc:The AARP has an action site, Advocacy - Legislative Action Center - AARP. I know AARP isn’t perfect, but it has a nifty feature for everyone: Look down to the right, where it says “find your state legislators”. Put in your zip code. It returns federal, state AND local politicians, NOT just legislators. Federal, for example, includes contact information for Trump, Pence, your two Senators, and your Congressional representative. If you need more than phone numbers and email addresses, it has clickable links to their web pages,which should have up-to-date contact information including fax numbers, street addresses, appearance schedule, how to schedule appointments, and constituent services.
If you prefer to contact Trump via Mar-a-Lago: (If the White House gets a lot of calls, he may kill the switchboard again) Mar-a-Lago: "The Crown Jewel of Palm Beach" (click for contact information), current phone number 561-832-2600.
Consider joining Veterans for Peace: Veterans for Peace Condemns U.S. Actions in Syria
Join Veterans in DC on Memorial Day to Stop Endless War and Build for Peace
Invest in socially responsible mutual funds: Different funds define socially responsible differently, but will share those definitions with potential investors. Vanguard, for example, excludes companies that make significant “revenues from sales to the military”. Just Google “best socially responsible mutual funds”. Here’s a link to Kiplinger to get you started.
Relocate your Money: Divest from Prisons and Pressure Others to Divest: Join the Prison Divestment Movement
Please feel free to share and/or reprint this diary in whole or in part with attribution far and wide, other websites or newspapers, I give it freely. Our aim is for millions to take action.
Each week: The week’s cartoon will post after press time at the TeePublic elenacarlena store if you’d like to pick up a shirt, mug, or other items with any cartoon in the series, to help spread the word and support these efforts. If you want it and don’t see it, just Kosmail me to ask!
Thank you for taking action!
References:
CNN: Transcript of Trump's Speech in Saudi Arabia
HuffPo: Senator Chris Murphy: Just What the Middle East Needs - $110 Billion More in Weapons
Washington Examiner: Rand Paul on Arms Deal: Saudi Arabia is a Frenemy
Fresh from CNN this afternoon: Rand Paul sticks to his guns: Rand Paul to Force Vote Disapproving of $110 Billion Saudi Arms Deal
The Kentucky Republican is concerned that giving more arms to Saudi Arabia could drag the US further into the Saudi-led war in Yemen and worsen the humanitarian situation there.
New York Times: Trump, About to Visit Saudi Arabia, is Urged to Help Yemen
The Atlantic: Saudi Arabia's War in Yemen Shows the Costs of the Obama Doctrine
UK Independent: Yemen Civil War: 10,000 civilians killed, 40,000 civilians injured, UN reveals; Millions starving
New York Daily: Someone Please Show Ivanka Pictures of Starving Yemeni Children (Note: Should you be so inclined, Google “starving yemen children” and click on Images; Trigger Warning! tweet any photo therein to Trump @POTUS (tweets archived) or @IvankaTrump, with a tweet that this is what the Saudi arms sale will worsen; see if he responds to those with apparent heartfelt sadness like he did the Syrian chemical attack)
Hours Before Trump Arrived in Riyadh: AMN: Saudi Arabia Confirms Yemen's Missile Strike on Riyadh Anyone here or in Saudi Arabia feeling safer yet?
WaPo: Jeff Sessions Issues Sweeping New Criminal Charging Policy
According to the video at the link: Sessions claims that crime is increasing, but it is just the tiniest of upticks from previous years’ lowest-ever numbers:
And almost all the uptick is due to a few select cities, particularly Baltimore and Chicago; it is not nationwide:
Salon: Jeff Sessions is Bringing Back the Drug War - And Making It Worse
Sessions Reverses Obama Policy on Private Prisons
Back in the Groove Again: Private Prisons: Bad for Prisoners, Guards, Society - Good for Profits
Please consider this an open thread! Discuss these or other topics below