DEFENDING DEMOCRACY AT HOME AND ABROAD
Democracies everywhere are under assault, and the United States is no exception.
QUICK READ: We are experiencing many of the same problems as those countries whose democratic institutions are withering away or have died. We must impress on Congress and President Biden the need to act quickly and decisively to reverse our slide into authoritarianism before it is too late.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
In the decades before 2011, democracies were on the rise worldwide. Since then, the situation’s been reversed. Witness the rise of authoritarian regimes in Brazil, Belarus, Miramar, Sudan and Turkey. Polities like Hungary and Hong Kong are moving in that direction.
Countries sliding into authoritarianism share many disturbing characteristics:
Rise of dictators whose power rests on a cult of personality,
Using the military to quell pro-democracy demonstrators,
Suppressing the vote,
Politicizing the judiciary
Arming right-wing militias,
Promoting racism, religious intolerance, and misogyny,
Encouraging social media’s spread of disinformation,
Paralysis of democratic forces.
So does America, where Trump and his followers unleashed these same anti-democratic practices, while coddling dictators abroad, like Putin.
Despite Trump’s loss, the assault on our institutions continues at all levels. While Republicans prepare to hijack the 2022 and 2024 elections, Democrats remain largely paralyzed.
To prevent these unthinkable outcomes, Democrats must:
Fight to pass John Lewis Voting Rights Bill and the Freedom to Vote Act, no matter how long it takes,
Legislatively control the unfettered license of social media to post lies subverting democracy,
Legislatively disarm the militias and promote gun control,
Rebalance the Supreme Court.
Provide additional assistance to bolster democracies under siege abroad.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please lead the way in securing passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, and don’t give up until you’ve succeeded. It is also imperative that you convince President Biden of the urgent need for him to regularly use his bully pulpit to educate all Americans about the perils we face and the steps that must be taken to reverse our slide towards autocracy.
(If this issue moves you personally, tell your Members of Congress why)
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please lead the way in securing passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, and don’t give up until you’ve succeeded. It is also imperative that you convince President Biden of the urgent need for him to regularly use his bully pulpit to educate all Americans about the perils we face and the steps that must be taken to reverse our slide towards autocracy.
(If this issue moves you personally, tell your Members of Congress why)
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Join the effort to protect democracy and work across the aisle to support both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
(If this issue moves you personally, tell your Members of Congress why)
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please push Democratic Senators to keep trying to pass both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. It is also imperative that you convince President Biden of the urgent need for him to regularly use his bully pulpit to educate all Americans about the perils we face and the steps that must be taken to reverse our slide towards autocracy.
(If this issue moves you personally, tell your Members of Congress why)
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please stop subverting efforts to protect our democracy and publicly support both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
(If this issue moves you personally, tell your Members of Congress why)
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please push Democratic Senators to keep trying to pass both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. It is also imperative that you convince President Biden of the urgent need for him to regularly use his bully pulpit to educate all Americans about the perils we face and the steps that must be taken to reverse our slide towards autocracy.
(If this issue moves you personally, tell your Members of Congress why)
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please push Democratic Senators to keep trying to pass both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. It is also imperative that you convince President Biden of the urgent need for him to regularly use his bully pulpit to educate all Americans about the perils we face and the steps that must be taken to reverse our slide towards autocracy.
(If this issue moves you personally, tell your Members of Congress why)
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please push Democratic Senators to keep trying to pass both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. It is also imperative that you convince President Biden of the urgent need for him to regularly use his bully pulpit to educate all Americans about the perils we face and the steps that must be taken to reverse our slide towards autocracy.
(If this issue moves you personally, tell your Members of Congress why)
ACTION 3: Other ways of fighting back
Below are opportunities to fight for our country in which you might be interested. So, as John Lewis said, go and make some “good trouble.”
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday.
Want to help GOTV with the Newberg school board recall vote? The vote is on Tuesday so the shifts are between now & then. RBS & RDB: Volunteer Sign-up
Freedom to Vote Act Phonebank with Common Cause · Common Cause
Oregonians must protect democracy in the House by replacing retiring US Representative Peter DeFazio with another Democrat, and replacing Democrat Kurt Schrader, the “Manchin of the House,” with a progressive.
Demand your primary news source drop “bothside-ism” for truth.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon
Center for Common Ground is starting new Reclaim Our Vote campaigns: TEXAS Primary is First! Writing to 730,000 Black registered voters in Texas, urging them to vote in the upcoming March 1st Primary. Only 1 in 25 Texas voters participate in primaries Postcards For Texas with Center for Common Ground
Act for Democracy has a meeting on Tuesday, January 25, at 5:00 pm. Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan will be the guest
Join Indivisible Oregon’s Policy Team. Email Bobbie Isaacman at bobbieisaacman@gmail.com
FURTHER READING:
The Democratic Threat to Democracy
The Five Biggest Threats our Democracy Faces
Democracies everywhere are backsliding. To survive we must unite
Authoritarian Repression Anywhere Is a Threat to Democracy Everywhere
How to think about the threat to American democracy
For a deeper dive into this worldwide slide into autocracy: Barbara F. Walter, How Civil Wars Start (New York: Random House, 2021)
