{"id":367842,"date":"2018-07-03T15:02:59","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T14:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/what-we-must-do-now\/"},"modified":"2018-07-03T15:02:59","modified_gmt":"2018-07-03T14:02:59","slug":"what-we-must-do-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/what-we-must-do-now\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Must Do Now"},"content":{"rendered":"<div itemprop=\"articleBody\"><meta itemprop=\"image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/sites\/default\/files\/views-article\/thumbs\/resist.jpeg\"\/><meta itemprop=\"wordCount\" content=\"653\"\/><\/p>\n<p>My friends, this is a dark hour. Intolerance, cruelty, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and environmental destruction have been let loose across the land.<\/p>\n<p>Trump controls the Republican Party, the Republican Party controls the House and Senate, and Trump may soon control the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p>But here\u2019s the thing. Only 27 percent of Americans are Republican, according to the Gallop Poll.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/W3CcITVyqTw\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the vast majority of Americans disapprove of Trump. He lost the popular vote in 2016 by 2.8 million. Since then, his approval ratings haven\u2019t exceeded 45 percent.<\/p>\n<p>The GOP itself is no longer a political party, anyway. It is now little more than Donald Trump, Fox News, a handful of billionaire funders, and rightwing Christians who oppose a woman\u2019s right to choose, gay marriage, and the Constitution\u2019s separation of church and state.<\/p>\n<p>Yet Trump is about to make the second Supreme Court nomination of his presidency. And that second nominee \u2013 like Trump\u2019s first, Neil Gorsuch \u2013 is likely to be young enough to remain on the Court for the next 40 years.<\/p>\n<p>If confirmed, Trump\u2019s new justice would join four other Republican-appointed justices to form a majority that will interpret the U.S. Constitution and laws in ways inimical to the values of a majority of Americans.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Trump\u2019s new justice is all but certain to join the four other Republican-appointed justices in overturning <em>Roe v. Wade<\/em>, a 1973 compromise on abortion that still has the support of <a href=\"https:\/\/t.umblr.com\/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnewsletters%2Fpolitico-pulse%2F2018%2F06%2F29%2Ftwo-thirds-of-americans-dont-want-to-overturn-roe-v-wade-267641&amp;t=OTE2ZjNmOGQwNTJhMzIwNDgwZDE3MjM1Mzc0MTRkOTMxZjM3YzcyOCxWRGxhcWFnMA%3D%3D&amp;b=t%3AhQ9Ds4P3Iv6D7mgEr8WMqg&amp;p=http%3A%2F%2Frobertreich.org%2Fpost%2F175479985355\">two-thirds<\/a> of Americans.<\/p>\n<p>Trump\u2019s new justice is likely to do the same in revoking same-sex marriage, also now supported by about two-thirds of Americans.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t have to remind you that this comes after Republicans essentially stole a Supreme Court seat by refusing to consider President Barack Obama\u2019s nominee, Merrick Garland.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to everything I\u2019ve noted above, Republicans also now control both chambers in 32 states (33 if you count Nebraska) and 33 governorships.<\/p>\n<p>In many of these states they are entrenching their power by gerrymandering and arranging to suppress votes.<\/p>\n<p>Enough. The question is what are we \u2013 the vast majority \u2013 to going to do about this?<\/p>\n<p>I have six modest suggestions.<\/p>\n<p><em>First and most importantly, do not give up.<\/em> That\u2019s what they would like us to do. Then they\u2019d have no opposition at all. Powerlessness is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Please do not succumb to it.<\/p>\n<p><em>Second, in the short term, contact your senators and urge them to oppose Trump\u2019s nominee to the Supreme Court.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If your state has a Republican senator, you might mobilize and organize your friends and neighbors to do whatever they can to get that senator to reject Trump\u2019s Supreme Court nominee. Or, at the least, postpone consideration of that nominee until after the midterm elections, so there\u2019s a chance to change the composition of the Senate.<\/p>\n<p><em>Third, make a ruckus. <\/em>Demonstrate. Engage in non-violent civil disobedience. Fight lies with truth. Join the resistance.<\/p>\n<p>Many grass-roots organizations are doing great work, and could use your help. Among them are: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.umblr.com\/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FIndivisibleTeam&amp;t=NTYwMzhjM2FmYzI5Y2Y5YjNmMGYyMDhiNmU4MWJiZDUwYWUxMTI1MyxXOXVoc0NVeA%3D%3D&amp;b=t%3AhQ9Ds4P3Iv6D7mgEr8WMqg&amp;p=http%3A%2F%2Frobertreich.org%2Fpost%2F175340484790\">@IndivisibleTeam<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/t.umblr.com\/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fswingleft&amp;t=YTliZGIzMGE4Nzk5MTU5ZmU4ZjExNTUxNzc4N2MyZjU0NjcxNzYyYixXOXVoc0NVeA%3D%3D&amp;b=t%3AhQ9Ds4P3Iv6D7mgEr8WMqg&amp;p=http%3A%2F%2Frobertreich.org%2Fpost%2F175340484790\">@swingleft<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/t.umblr.com\/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FUpRiseDotOrg&amp;t=MzA0ZmQ1MTU4MWEyMjc5Y2ExOWE2MjAzNGFmZjQ4ZjllMjA2OWUxOSxXOXVoc0NVeA%3D%3D&amp;b=t%3AhQ9Ds4P3Iv6D7mgEr8WMqg&amp;p=http%3A%2F%2Frobertreich.org%2Fpost%2F175340484790\">@UpRiseDotOrg<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/t.umblr.com\/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FMoveOn&amp;t=NDE0ZjBhOTVjNzkzZGRiN2RlNGVhNmRmY2MxYTk1MzNiNzFlZGViZSxXOXVoc0NVeA%3D%3D&amp;b=t%3AhQ9Ds4P3Iv6D7mgEr8WMqg&amp;p=http%3A%2F%2Frobertreich.org%2Fpost%2F175340484790\">@MoveOn<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.umblr.com\/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FSister_District&amp;t=ZDEzNDEzMDA4N2UxMDhkZmNmMTIxNjJmZWZmOWUzNGI1ZDQ1M2E5ZCxXOXVoc0NVeA%3D%3D&amp;b=t%3AhQ9Ds4P3Iv6D7mgEr8WMqg&amp;p=http%3A%2F%2Frobertreich.org%2Fpost%2F175340484790\">@Sister_District<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/t.umblr.com\/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fflippable_org&amp;t=NmFhNzcwODNhOTc3MGUyYjg4OWQ3NGQ4MTFiNzhkNDk4ODc4YzY4YixXOXVoc0NVeA%3D%3D&amp;b=t%3AhQ9Ds4P3Iv6D7mgEr8WMqg&amp;p=http%3A%2F%2Frobertreich.org%2Fpost%2F175340484790\">@flippable_org<\/a>. I\u2019m sure I\u2019ve left out many others. Check with your friends, and check online.<\/p>\n<p><em>Fourth, don\u2019t engage in divisive incrimination over \u201cwho lost\u201d the 2016 election. <\/em>There\u2019s no point in Hillary loyalists, Bernie supporters, Jill Stein voters, and others turning on one another again, and blaming each other for the outcome. We must be united.<\/p>\n<p><em>Fifth, vote this November 6 for people who will stand up to the Trump Republican\u2019s rampage<\/em>. Mobilize and organize others to do so, too. If you live in a \u201cblue\u201d state, contact friends and relations in \u201cred\u201d states and urge them to do the same.<\/p>\n<p><em>Sixth, help lay the groundwork for the 2020 presidential election<\/em>, so that even if Trump survives Robert Mueller\u2019s investigation and a possible impeachment proceeding, he will not be reelected.<\/p>\n<p><em>Finally, know that this fight will be long and hard<\/em>. It will require our patience, our courage, and our resolve.<\/p>\n<p>The stakes could not be higher. We\u2019re talking about the future of our democracy, and the wellbeing of our children and their children\u2019s children. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<b>Via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/views\/2018\/07\/03\/what-we-must-do-now\">Common Dreams<\/a>. This piece was reprinted by <a href=\"http:\/\/rinf.com\">RINF Alternative News<\/a> with permission or license.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My friends, this is a dark hour. Intolerance, cruelty, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and environmental destruction have been let loose across the land. Trump controls the Republican Party, the Republican Party controls the House and Senate, and Trump may soon control the Supreme Court. But here\u2019s the thing. Only 27 percent of Americans are Republican, according [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":367843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[519],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-367842","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-newswire"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=367842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367842\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/367843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=367842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=367842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=367842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}