Thank you, Rev. Barber, Marc Elias and Jonathan Wilson. I was so moved when Attorney Elias said he initially got his inspiration from Reverend Barber, as I have. You are both hero's in my heart. Blessings to you.
The one thing I can do is place my body at as many rallies and protests as possible and encourage others to do the same. We must have 3.5 to 4 percent of the adult population on our streets across the nation to save our democracy. Please join me wherever and whenever you can.
I’m 70yo and out there on the streets when I can, email my senators and representative and call their offices. I watch online zoom and live YouTube videos. I bring my homemade sign and stool with me when I go to protest. We’re never too old to do something.
Erica Chenoweth’s study of successful resistance movements shows we need at least 3.5 percent. In 2024 the 18+ US population was 258,418,544. So we need 9,044,649 people on the streets. And if we have 1,000+ sites demonstrating we need about 9,000 at each site. Of course, LA, DC, NYC, Chicago and other large blue state cities can help the lower turnout in red states and smaller communities. But let's all go for at least 9,000!
1. Do my best to live my life with compassion and integrity, in a way that aligns with my values. I started a Compassion Circle in my community. I hope it will be a seed that flourishes and spreads. https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org
2. Share information about movements, actions, and leaders who are working to hold government accountable to the people – like Repairers of the Breach, Indivisibles, 50501, etc. Join a movement, either local or national!
3. Show up for protests.
4. Write my senators and house reps to demand action or thank them for action on issues of injustice.
5. Write letters to the editor or op-eds.
6. Canvass, phonebank, post card for issues and candidates who will work for democracy and equity.
7. Give what I am able financially to people who are doing the work.
8. Be resilient so I can meet the moment and lead by example with people in my sphere.
The only way to get the attention, time and money for those things that every citizen deserves is by doing the following, THIS IS THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION:
We all need to agree on what kind of country we need America to be. Maybe it's time for every representative and every citizen to come up with their own top 10 list of needs (not wants but bottom line necessary for life needs). I'll start with my top 3: 1) Transitioning America out of its Republic and into a Democracy. 2) Guaranteeing every citizen's unalienable rights to life regarding clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter. 3) Lowering our country's abuses of power. The reason for number one on my list is: No one will ever care more or know more about you than you. The reason for number two on my list is: Clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter aren't luxuries, they're all necessary for sustaining life. The reason for number three on my list is in order to lower the risk of abuses of power three basic rules need to be followed, all of which are far more achievable in a Democracy than they are in a Republic: 1) those with the most power should be watched the closest, 2) those with the most power should have their power for the least amount of time, 3) power should be spread out among as many individuals as possible. This reasoning is why I believe it's necessary to amend the U.S. Constitution as follows:
Art.1/Sect.1: After the words "vested in" add "and evenly split between the citizens that have chosen to represent themselves and,"
Art.4/Sect.4: Replace "Republican" with "Democratic" and add "The United States government further recognizing its responsibility for protecting the lives of its own citizens shall provide a permanent safety net that will prevent any citizen from becoming homeless for any reason or length of time and to include not going without life sustaining supplies of clean water and healthy food for any reason or length of time (i.e. evictions for non payment of rent shall not be allowed before the renter has fully established themselves in another rental unit).
Amendment XXVIII: Since logic, common sense and scientific facts all make it obvious and undeniable that smoking and vaping has only a negative effect on the physical health of everyone that is either directly or indirectly involved with this recreational activity and, without practical means of protecting or preserving the health and civil rights of all that may be involved; it shall be illegal for anyone of any age to smoke or vape anything anywhere.
Numbers 1 through 9 below further justify the above amendments:
1) Grant every citizen the right to represent themselves, providing a quicker, more peaceful means of resolving our problems while creating a system of government that better reflects the wants and needs of its own citizens.
2) Create a country of less ignorant, less naive, more engaged citizens that are more willing to take responsibility for their own actions.
3) Reduce potential abuses of power by spreading the power out among the entire voting population and allowing the citizens to keep a closer eye on the elected and appointed.
4) Force the government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the lives of its own citizens by providing the necessary safety net as described above in the amended version of Article 4/Section 4 of our U.S. Constitution.
5) Lower the rate of money related crimes and suicides caused by homelessness.
6) Help grow the economy by freeing up money that can be spent on all the other things that people need while encouraging entrepreneurialism by eliminating the fear of homelessness if you fail.
7) Give people the ability to stand up for themselves by eliminating the threat that unless they accept the miserable, dangerous or lousy paying job that no one else wants they'll be homeless.
8) Help create a more empathetic system of government and society by eliminating homelessness which is being used as a cruel form of punishment and control in order to maintain a sufficient supply of cheap, slavishly obedient laborers.
9) Take away an abusers' ability to use homelessness as a threat against someone who isn't capable or prepared to live on their own.
Since changing our form of government from a Republic to a Democracy overnight will most likely create kaos and violence, a transitional plan will be needed. This transitional plan should start us off by mandating that the votes of the citizens be taken nationwide, that the results be limited to ratifying, amending and repealing only those issues that most directly affects every citizen's rights to life (i.e. clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter) and, shall apply to every citizen throughout this nation.
Of course none of this will ever happen until enough of us truly believes that America needs to be a Democracy so pass this on to everyone you can including https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
One thing I can do is reference the reclamation of this moral moment, the call of prophetic faith, as I start my own substack writings regarding a new way of coordinating the electric grid. I've known for a while that it was getting close to time to start sharing my message (the fruition of 15 years of work). And while on the surface its all about technology, in its bones its about turning over the tables of the money changers: about shifting from scarcity to abundance, about putting technology and money in their proper place as instruments to serve instead of as false gods, and about honoring and celebrating each and every human being as equally worthy, and also of honoring our sacred earth.
I want to stand up and be another voice articulating the dream, being part of the rising song of all of us.
Thank you for this inspiration.
ALSO, like many others here, I plan to put my body in the street for joyful celebration and peaceful protest.
This is a very hopeful and inspiring presentation. It was just what I needed tonight. It's not about religion, it's about morality and the moral character of the leaders we chose.
I joined Indivisible and became one of the founding members of our WA District 8 Rallies and Protest Committee so I will do that work and I have begun my own Substack so that I can share what I have found inspiring - the moral moments are deeply reinvigorating.
Thank you Jonathan - do you or Rev Barber have contacts here in Western WA - I am in Issaquah. Would love for our Rallies and Protests to coordinate with efforts by the clergy. Appreciate any and all suggestions.
Thank you and Rev. Barber are doing. You both are such blessings for all of us in these days.
The problem with America is it's a Republic that refuses to transition into a Democracy.
The only way to get the attention, time and money for those things that every citizen deserves is by doing the following, THIS IS THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION:
We all need to agree on what kind of country we need America to be. Maybe it's time for every representative and every citizen to come up with their own top 10 list of needs (not wants but bottom line necessary for life needs). I'll start with my top 3: 1) Transitioning America out of its Republic and into a Democracy. 2) Guaranteeing every citizen's unalienable rights to life regarding clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter. 3) Lowering our country's abuses of power. The reason for number one on my list is: No one will ever care more or know more about you than you. The reason for number two on my list is: Clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter aren't luxuries, they're all necessary for sustaining life. The reason for number three on my list is in order to lower the risk of abuses of power three basic rules need to be followed, all of which are far more achievable in a Democracy than they are in a Republic: 1) those with the most power should be watched the closest, 2) those with the most power should have their power for the least amount of time, 3) power should be spread out among as many individuals as possible. This reasoning is why I believe it's necessary to amend the U.S. Constitution as follows:
Art.1/Sect.1: After the words "vested in" add "and evenly split between the citizens that have chosen to represent themselves and,"
Art.4/Sect.4: Replace "Republican" with "Democratic" and add "The United States government further recognizing its responsibility for protecting the lives of its own citizens shall provide a permanent safety net that will prevent any citizen from becoming homeless for any reason or length of time and to include not going without life sustaining supplies of clean water and healthy food for any reason or length of time (i.e. evictions for non payment of rent shall not be allowed before the renter has fully established themselves in another rental unit).
Amendment XXVIII: Since logic, common sense and scientific facts all make it obvious and undeniable that smoking and vaping has only a negative effect on the physical health of everyone that is either directly or indirectly involved with this recreational activity and, without practical means of protecting or preserving the health and civil rights of all that may be involved; it shall be illegal for anyone of any age to smoke or vape anything anywhere.
Numbers 1 through 9 below further justify the above amendments:
1) Grant every citizen the right to represent themselves, providing a quicker, more peaceful means of resolving our problems while creating a system of government that better reflects the wants and needs of its own citizens.
2) Create a country of less ignorant, less naive, more engaged citizens that are more willing to take responsibility for their own actions.
3) Reduce potential abuses of power by spreading the power out among the entire voting population and allowing the citizens to keep a closer eye on the elected and appointed.
4) Force the government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the lives of its own citizens by providing the necessary safety net as described above in the amended version of Article 4/Section 4 of our U.S. Constitution.
5) Lower the rate of money related crimes and suicides caused by homelessness.
6) Help grow the economy by freeing up money that can be spent on all the other things that people need while encouraging entrepreneurialism by eliminating the fear of homelessness if you fail.
7) Give people the ability to stand up for themselves by eliminating the threat that unless they accept the miserable, dangerous or lousy paying job that no one else wants they'll be homeless.
8) Help create a more empathetic system of government and society by eliminating homelessness which is being used as a cruel form of punishment and control in order to maintain a sufficient supply of cheap, slavishly obedient laborers.
9) Take away an abusers' ability to use homelessness as a threat against someone who isn't capable or prepared to live on their own.
Since changing our form of government from a Republic to a Democracy overnight will most likely create kaos and violence, a transitional plan will be needed. This transitional plan should start us off by mandating that the votes of the citizens be taken nationwide, that the results be limited to ratifying, amending and repealing only those issues that most directly affects every citizen's rights to life (i.e. clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter) and, shall apply to every citizen throughout this nation.
Of course none of this will ever happen until enough of us truly believes that America needs to be a Democracy so pass this on to everyone you can including https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Thank you, Rev. Barber, Marc Elias and Jonathan Wilson. I was so moved when Attorney Elias said he initially got his inspiration from Reverend Barber, as I have. You are both hero's in my heart. Blessings to you.
Thanks for all you do
The one thing I can do is place my body at as many rallies and protests as possible and encourage others to do the same. We must have 3.5 to 4 percent of the adult population on our streets across the nation to save our democracy. Please join me wherever and whenever you can.
I’m 70yo and out there on the streets when I can, email my senators and representative and call their offices. I watch online zoom and live YouTube videos. I bring my homemade sign and stool with me when I go to protest. We’re never too old to do something.
Erica Chenoweth’s study of successful resistance movements shows we need at least 3.5 percent. In 2024 the 18+ US population was 258,418,544. So we need 9,044,649 people on the streets. And if we have 1,000+ sites demonstrating we need about 9,000 at each site. Of course, LA, DC, NYC, Chicago and other large blue state cities can help the lower turnout in red states and smaller communities. But let's all go for at least 9,000!
1. Do my best to live my life with compassion and integrity, in a way that aligns with my values. I started a Compassion Circle in my community. I hope it will be a seed that flourishes and spreads. https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org
2. Share information about movements, actions, and leaders who are working to hold government accountable to the people – like Repairers of the Breach, Indivisibles, 50501, etc. Join a movement, either local or national!
3. Show up for protests.
4. Write my senators and house reps to demand action or thank them for action on issues of injustice.
5. Write letters to the editor or op-eds.
6. Canvass, phonebank, post card for issues and candidates who will work for democracy and equity.
7. Give what I am able financially to people who are doing the work.
8. Be resilient so I can meet the moment and lead by example with people in my sphere.
8 things! Forward together, not one step back.
The only way to get the attention, time and money for those things that every citizen deserves is by doing the following, THIS IS THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION:
We all need to agree on what kind of country we need America to be. Maybe it's time for every representative and every citizen to come up with their own top 10 list of needs (not wants but bottom line necessary for life needs). I'll start with my top 3: 1) Transitioning America out of its Republic and into a Democracy. 2) Guaranteeing every citizen's unalienable rights to life regarding clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter. 3) Lowering our country's abuses of power. The reason for number one on my list is: No one will ever care more or know more about you than you. The reason for number two on my list is: Clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter aren't luxuries, they're all necessary for sustaining life. The reason for number three on my list is in order to lower the risk of abuses of power three basic rules need to be followed, all of which are far more achievable in a Democracy than they are in a Republic: 1) those with the most power should be watched the closest, 2) those with the most power should have their power for the least amount of time, 3) power should be spread out among as many individuals as possible. This reasoning is why I believe it's necessary to amend the U.S. Constitution as follows:
Art.1/Sect.1: After the words "vested in" add "and evenly split between the citizens that have chosen to represent themselves and,"
Art.4/Sect.4: Replace "Republican" with "Democratic" and add "The United States government further recognizing its responsibility for protecting the lives of its own citizens shall provide a permanent safety net that will prevent any citizen from becoming homeless for any reason or length of time and to include not going without life sustaining supplies of clean water and healthy food for any reason or length of time (i.e. evictions for non payment of rent shall not be allowed before the renter has fully established themselves in another rental unit).
Amendment XXVIII: Since logic, common sense and scientific facts all make it obvious and undeniable that smoking and vaping has only a negative effect on the physical health of everyone that is either directly or indirectly involved with this recreational activity and, without practical means of protecting or preserving the health and civil rights of all that may be involved; it shall be illegal for anyone of any age to smoke or vape anything anywhere.
Numbers 1 through 9 below further justify the above amendments:
1) Grant every citizen the right to represent themselves, providing a quicker, more peaceful means of resolving our problems while creating a system of government that better reflects the wants and needs of its own citizens.
2) Create a country of less ignorant, less naive, more engaged citizens that are more willing to take responsibility for their own actions.
3) Reduce potential abuses of power by spreading the power out among the entire voting population and allowing the citizens to keep a closer eye on the elected and appointed.
4) Force the government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the lives of its own citizens by providing the necessary safety net as described above in the amended version of Article 4/Section 4 of our U.S. Constitution.
5) Lower the rate of money related crimes and suicides caused by homelessness.
6) Help grow the economy by freeing up money that can be spent on all the other things that people need while encouraging entrepreneurialism by eliminating the fear of homelessness if you fail.
7) Give people the ability to stand up for themselves by eliminating the threat that unless they accept the miserable, dangerous or lousy paying job that no one else wants they'll be homeless.
8) Help create a more empathetic system of government and society by eliminating homelessness which is being used as a cruel form of punishment and control in order to maintain a sufficient supply of cheap, slavishly obedient laborers.
9) Take away an abusers' ability to use homelessness as a threat against someone who isn't capable or prepared to live on their own.
Since changing our form of government from a Republic to a Democracy overnight will most likely create kaos and violence, a transitional plan will be needed. This transitional plan should start us off by mandating that the votes of the citizens be taken nationwide, that the results be limited to ratifying, amending and repealing only those issues that most directly affects every citizen's rights to life (i.e. clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter) and, shall apply to every citizen throughout this nation.
Of course none of this will ever happen until enough of us truly believes that America needs to be a Democracy so pass this on to everyone you can including https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Marc Elias is so inspiring. 🙏💪❤️🇺🇸
One thing I can do is reference the reclamation of this moral moment, the call of prophetic faith, as I start my own substack writings regarding a new way of coordinating the electric grid. I've known for a while that it was getting close to time to start sharing my message (the fruition of 15 years of work). And while on the surface its all about technology, in its bones its about turning over the tables of the money changers: about shifting from scarcity to abundance, about putting technology and money in their proper place as instruments to serve instead of as false gods, and about honoring and celebrating each and every human being as equally worthy, and also of honoring our sacred earth.
I want to stand up and be another voice articulating the dream, being part of the rising song of all of us.
Thank you for this inspiration.
ALSO, like many others here, I plan to put my body in the street for joyful celebration and peaceful protest.
Forward together!
This is a very hopeful and inspiring presentation. It was just what I needed tonight. It's not about religion, it's about morality and the moral character of the leaders we chose.
I joined Indivisible and became one of the founding members of our WA District 8 Rallies and Protest Committee so I will do that work and I have begun my own Substack so that I can share what I have found inspiring - the moral moments are deeply reinvigorating.
Deeply grateful for the infrastructure you and others at Indivisible are building. Forward together!
Thank you Jonathan - do you or Rev Barber have contacts here in Western WA - I am in Issaquah. Would love for our Rallies and Protests to coordinate with efforts by the clergy. Appreciate any and all suggestions.
Thank you and Rev. Barber are doing. You both are such blessings for all of us in these days.
So a football coach can pray on a football field with impunity, but citizens are arrested for praying in our capitol?
very good point
Thank you for your courageous stand, and for sharing this. Marc Elias is a justice warrior, it's lovely to hear of his connection with you too.
I love Marc, he is an inspiration for us all ! We must follow his lead and strive for a better world through democracy and the search of truth.
One nation under God, as long as we don't actually pray in the national capitol.
Marc Elias is a Willing Warrior and a National Treasure…
We need more people like him!!!
I’m trying to do what I can…
Such an inspiration, we all must help in this subject.
I can share the letter with my congressional member
Thank you!
Thank you for your inspirational thoughts and encouragement. Philippians 1:3
We lost our democracy when we started committing genocide in Gaza.
The problem with America is it's a Republic that refuses to transition into a Democracy.
The only way to get the attention, time and money for those things that every citizen deserves is by doing the following, THIS IS THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION:
We all need to agree on what kind of country we need America to be. Maybe it's time for every representative and every citizen to come up with their own top 10 list of needs (not wants but bottom line necessary for life needs). I'll start with my top 3: 1) Transitioning America out of its Republic and into a Democracy. 2) Guaranteeing every citizen's unalienable rights to life regarding clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter. 3) Lowering our country's abuses of power. The reason for number one on my list is: No one will ever care more or know more about you than you. The reason for number two on my list is: Clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter aren't luxuries, they're all necessary for sustaining life. The reason for number three on my list is in order to lower the risk of abuses of power three basic rules need to be followed, all of which are far more achievable in a Democracy than they are in a Republic: 1) those with the most power should be watched the closest, 2) those with the most power should have their power for the least amount of time, 3) power should be spread out among as many individuals as possible. This reasoning is why I believe it's necessary to amend the U.S. Constitution as follows:
Art.1/Sect.1: After the words "vested in" add "and evenly split between the citizens that have chosen to represent themselves and,"
Art.4/Sect.4: Replace "Republican" with "Democratic" and add "The United States government further recognizing its responsibility for protecting the lives of its own citizens shall provide a permanent safety net that will prevent any citizen from becoming homeless for any reason or length of time and to include not going without life sustaining supplies of clean water and healthy food for any reason or length of time (i.e. evictions for non payment of rent shall not be allowed before the renter has fully established themselves in another rental unit).
Amendment XXVIII: Since logic, common sense and scientific facts all make it obvious and undeniable that smoking and vaping has only a negative effect on the physical health of everyone that is either directly or indirectly involved with this recreational activity and, without practical means of protecting or preserving the health and civil rights of all that may be involved; it shall be illegal for anyone of any age to smoke or vape anything anywhere.
Numbers 1 through 9 below further justify the above amendments:
1) Grant every citizen the right to represent themselves, providing a quicker, more peaceful means of resolving our problems while creating a system of government that better reflects the wants and needs of its own citizens.
2) Create a country of less ignorant, less naive, more engaged citizens that are more willing to take responsibility for their own actions.
3) Reduce potential abuses of power by spreading the power out among the entire voting population and allowing the citizens to keep a closer eye on the elected and appointed.
4) Force the government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the lives of its own citizens by providing the necessary safety net as described above in the amended version of Article 4/Section 4 of our U.S. Constitution.
5) Lower the rate of money related crimes and suicides caused by homelessness.
6) Help grow the economy by freeing up money that can be spent on all the other things that people need while encouraging entrepreneurialism by eliminating the fear of homelessness if you fail.
7) Give people the ability to stand up for themselves by eliminating the threat that unless they accept the miserable, dangerous or lousy paying job that no one else wants they'll be homeless.
8) Help create a more empathetic system of government and society by eliminating homelessness which is being used as a cruel form of punishment and control in order to maintain a sufficient supply of cheap, slavishly obedient laborers.
9) Take away an abusers' ability to use homelessness as a threat against someone who isn't capable or prepared to live on their own.
Since changing our form of government from a Republic to a Democracy overnight will most likely create kaos and violence, a transitional plan will be needed. This transitional plan should start us off by mandating that the votes of the citizens be taken nationwide, that the results be limited to ratifying, amending and repealing only those issues that most directly affects every citizen's rights to life (i.e. clean air, clean water, healthy food and safe shelter) and, shall apply to every citizen throughout this nation.
Of course none of this will ever happen until enough of us truly believes that America needs to be a Democracy so pass this on to everyone you can including https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/