All week the underlying theme as been, “Don’t Panic.” This has been more in reference to education, but also from some trusted sources on social media.
We’ve been reminded, or maybe educated is the better term, that Executive Orders and Dear Colleague letters, do not supersede or make law. Just because someone believes, or wants us to believe, these types of correspondence carry the weight of law, they only do to the point where they don’t interfere or change current laws or the Constitution. For most people, they truly don’t know about the checks and balances enshrined in the U.S. Constitution because civics and government are not taught as extensively as they were in years past. (Side note: I believe this has been the intention in the long game of the elites. If the populace doesn’t know how things are supposed to work, then they don’t pay attention when it isn’t.)
The Musk administration, via the paper pusher Trump office, is trying to rule by fiat. If they say it, then it is law. Trump even went so far as to call himself king this week. He also used a quote from Napoleon, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” in what appears to give free rein to violence if done in the name of saving the country. Common sense would take this to mean the Proud Boys, the Three Percenters, and other far-right groups have permission to go all Brown Shirts on us.
With the Senate and House Republicans, along with Republican governors and state legislators abdicating their responsibilities, we may already be going down this path non-violently. Call your state legislators, your state education departments, your Attorneys’ General in Republican controlled states. Call them ask if they are following the lead of Musk Republican White House in purging diversity, equity, and inclusion contracts or passing laws to further restrict the freedoms of anyone who isn’t white or straight. Fact check on that they are doing so.
Which is why although the underlying theme may be to not panic, a part of me is panicking, but not because I don’t understand how the law and checks and balances are supposed to work. No, I’m panicking because I truly believe, at this moment in time, Musk and Republicans don’t care about laws and checks and balances unless it benefits their agenda or does harm to others.
Until I’m proven wrong, which I do hope I am, then I’m going to panic because I care about our democracy and the people of our great country who seem to be in the crosshairs of the Republican establishment and their billionaire backers.
I’ve often said we all need to be involved in saving democracy in the ways which fit our lives and our comfort levels. These can be from blogging, to reposting on social media, to calling your elected officials, to letters to the editor, to donating to organizations, to marching in the streets. Nothing is too little or too much. Here are some ways to get involved from the comfort of your own homes over the next few weeks:
- Call your senators and let them know as one of the people they represent, not to vote to pass the SAVE Act as it is a bill that will strip millions of women, and some men, who married and took the name of their spouse. Call this number and the switchboard will connect you to your representative or senator: 202-224-3121. Even if you don’t know who your members are, they will find them for you based on your address, which they will ask you to provide.
- Call the White House switchboard to express your disappointment in what is happening and that Musk must go: 202-456-1414 (switchboard) or 202-456-1111 (comments). I recommend the switchboard myself.
- Sign up for General Strike and commit to participating.
- Download the app Five Calls to help let your elected officials know you are paying attention and don’t approve. Website: https://5calls.org/
- Support the economic blackout on February 28. All day don’t buy from national chains or companies, such as Target, Amazon, or Walmart. If you must spend on that day, only buy from local small business to show the oligarchs we can survive without them and hit them where it seems to hurt them the most, their pocketbooks. This time it will be for one day. If needed, the next will be for three, and then more, until big business realize the people are more important than the politicians to survive.
Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man 