This is who we are now

 This is a true story. And it is a heartbreaking one.

In our community, there was a young man who would stop by our Dem office for a cup of coffee. We keep a Keurig there and encourage visitors to help themselves. He took us up on it.

The first time he came in, he was wearing a MAGA hat. After a while, we told him he was welcome to the coffee, but he needed to take the hat off while he was in the office. He did.

Over time, we got to know him. We heard pieces of his story. He worked part-time as a dishwasher. He relied on disability funding, food assistance, and subsidized housing. And he voted for Trump.

When we had the chance to talk with him, he tried to explain why. He felt pressure from his friends. His father supported Trump. He felt boxed in, like the choice had already been made for him.

And then the consequences stopped being abstract.

He lost his job. He lost his housing assistance. His SNAP benefits were gone. He was homeless, sleeping in the park. For some, this may look like the FO part of FAFO. But when the person living it is vulnerable, isolated, and already hanging by a thread, it feels less like a lesson and more like a failure.

Who are we, as a society, if we allow the people with the fewest resources to lose access to the most basic necessities? Who decides that food, shelter, work, and medical care are only for those who can afford them? And then tell ourselves and others they should have known better?

He came into the office to say goodbye. He was heading west with a cousin. Their plan was to stay in a shelter, look for work, and hope they could eventually find a place to live. That was the plan: leave the community where he had come in for coffee and go looking for survival somewhere else.

When we stop caring for those who struggle to care for themselves, who are we?

Land of the Free because of the Brave

At home, we have a coaster that reads, “Land of the Free because of the Brave.”

It is a lovely sentiment. I know it’s meant to stir gratitude for our servicemembers who have defended this country and helped our allies around the world.

But the question I have to ask is harder than the slogan: are we truly the Land of the Free?

My husband served 22 years in the US Navy and there is no doubt that this country is full of brave people. I have seen that bravery up close. We know people who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving. But bravery alone does not guarantee freedom. Freedom is not measured by how proudly we say the word; it is measured by whether we, the people can live it.

If our movements are be tracked by surveillance cameras, if women can be monitored for reproductive decisions, if our reproductive rights are eliminated, if our right to vote is made harder to exercise, and if our freedom of speech is treated as a threat rather than a right, then we need to be honest about what that means.

It means freedom is not being protected equally. It means some people are freer than others. And a country cannot honestly call itself free while basic rights are being stripped away from the people who need those rights most. My favorite meme is this: Men’s rights don’t change from state to state.

 

If we want to call ourselves the land of the free, then freedom has to be more than a slogan on a coaster, more than a phrase we repeat on holidays, and more than a tribute we offer to the brave.

Freedom must mean the right to vote without unnecessary barriers. It must mean the right to make decisions about our own bodies. It must mean the right to speak up without fear. It must mean the right to live without being constantly watched. The brave have defended this country. Now the rest of us must show up and be brave enough to defend the freedoms that make it worth protecting. 

Hey Michigan, today is our day to vote!

Today is our day to vote.

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. If you are in line by 8:00 p.m., stay in line—you still have the right to vote.

Find your polling place, check your registration status, view a sample ballot, or track an absentee ballot at Michigan.gov/vote.

Questions about candidates or what is on your ballot? Review your sample ballot before you go so you can make informed choices.

Bring a photo ID if you have one. If you do not have photo ID, you can still vote by signing a brief affidavit at the polling place.

Need to register or update your address today? Visit your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency. Your clerk can also answer questions about absentee ballots and local voting procedures. We have SAME DAY REGISTRATION to vote. 

Need assistance at the polls? Ask an election worker. Accessible voting equipment and help are available for voters who need them.

Please be kind to the poll workers. We are certified every two years and are here because we are committed to serving our communities—not for the money.

Questions about voting? Visit Michigan.gov/vote for official Michigan voter information.

GOTV!

 Well, it’s political season, which means many of us are getting calls and texts from candidates and campaign volunteers about the upcoming primary.

A couple of friendly reminders: if you receive a text and do not want more messages, simply opt out. 

If you receive a phone call, please remember that the person on the other end is likely a volunteer. We may be calling during dinner time or when you are trying to relax, but we are donating our time because we care deeply about getting out the vote.

The person calling could be Paul. It could be me. We are calling and texting to help GOTV in August.

If you answer, please be kind. Thank them for calling, thank them for their work, and let them know if you have already voted or plan to vote. And if you are not up for a conversation, no problem—just let it go to voicemail.

Show up and vote on August 4th! 

Stop the f*cking election lies. Stop it.

Quite the timely post. I am an election worker and the chair of my precinct. It’s good to remind you of these safeguards. 

I spent the last hour with my fellow poll workers: we are in different parties and all with one goal. Ensure our voters are processed fairly, quickly, and expeditiously.

In Oscoda, we have consolidated precincts from four to two.  We have our AV board ready to go. Our precincts must be comprised of Democrats AND Republicans; we must have a balanced team. 

Voting is a PUBLIC PROCESS. If you want to walk into a polling place, there will be a place for you to sit and observe. You can’t interfere or speak to anyone, but you can watch! 

Equipment testing is July 21 at 1pm. This is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 

Public Accuracy test is July 21 at 3pm. Again, this is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 

Only people registered can vote in my precinct. They have to be in my e-pollbook as a registered voter. If they have received a ballot by mail, it will show up in my e-pollbook and I will NOT issue them a ballot until we check on the status of their ballot. (This happens: like homework, people lose their ballots, a dog destroyed one, etc). 

On election day, NOTHING is connected to the internet. Not my e-pollbook, not our tabulator, not my ICX machine, only my phone when I can get a signal. 

When closing out our precinct, every report is SIGNED BY ONE DEMOCRAT AND ONE REPUBLICAN. 

Every tabulator tape is signed by EVERYONE WORKING. All the parties. 

Every report is signed by EVERYONE WORKING. All the parties. 

When locking ballots, the serial number is recorded in our report and is SIGNED BY ONE DEMOCRAT AND ONE REPUBLICAN. 

When sealing the envelopes – one each for the local clerk, county clerk, and Board of Canvassers, the seals are SIGNED BY ONE DEMOCRAT AND ONE REPUBLICAN.

The receiving board, who checks our work, is comprised of ONE DEMOCRAT AND ONE REPUBLICAN.

We also have trained poll challengers. Challengers can be in the area to watch us work. We don’t know their party affiliation and we are always happy to have someone watch. 

Whatever you hear tonight, know this: it’s BULLSHIT. 

And if you buy the lies, I need you to CALL ME and explain EXACTLY how the alleged fraud worked. Because it can’t.