Want to support Kamala but don't know where to start? This is my high-impact, low-stress, high-joy action planAdapt it to your energy level and budget, no matter where you live
I’m back from my summer Substack/social media break! It’s been a while since we last spoke… did anything happen while I was away? Oh, you know, the universe tilted toward joy in a matter of days, but otherwise, not much.
I KID! I haven’t been very visible online for the last several weeks, but I’ve been totally plugged into the shift in energy — perhaps even more than usual as I wasn’t battling as many Internet distractions. The Presidential election, which in July felt like lugging a sack of boulders to the top of Mt. Doom, now feels like a fistful of sparklers. There’s an electricity in the air — a blast of effervescent joy, like pure oxygen. The memes, the Dad jokes, the music remixes, the laughter! Wait! I know this feeling! It’s hope! I never imagined a vibe shift of this magnitude was possible! That said, I’m under no illusion we’ll float on a cloud of euphoria all the way to the White House. Vibes don’t win elections, and this one’s gonna be a brawl. But joy is powerful fuel, my friends. I’m putting mine to use to help Kamala get elected. But! In a different way than I have in past years. The previous two election cycles took a significant toll on my mental and physical health. I refuse to go to that dark place again. This year, I’ve come up with an election action plan that prioritizes impact while safeguarding my energy and bolstering my sense of connection and joy. If you, too, want to get involved but don’t want to get buried, I hope this plan will save you time, energy and brain cells. My Low-Stress, High-Impact, High-Joy 2024 Action Plan to Help Kamala Harris Get ElectedChoose one step or all; adjust to suit your budget and energy level. This plan focuses on donations, but even small donations are meaningful. Whatever you decide, take action as soon as possible. Early money goes farther than late money. These orgs and campaigns need immediate support, and the Harris/Walz campaign has to make up ground given the accelerated timeframe. Onto the plan: 1. I donated to the Harris/Walz campaign.Easy. Feels good.
2. I donated to Democratic candidates running for state legislature in a swing state.Here’s the rationale: Most issues we care about are controlled by state legislatures. The states make their own laws about reproductive rights, gun safety, LGBTQ rights and more, and they also control their own election machinery. Because of how the Electoral College works, voters in swing states (also known as “battleground states”) will almost certainly decide who wins the Presidency. Therefore, getting out the vote in these states helps Kamala and federal candidates as well. Plus, your state campaign donation goes further than federal campaign donations because state campaigns are more targeted and don’t require national advertising.
I chose Arizona. I lived there as a kid and spent life-changing vacations in the Grand Canyon as a teen. If the candidates I’m supporting win their elections, they’ll flip the Arizona legislature! If you don’t want to research individual races, you can easily support swing state candidates with a single donation through the organization Swing Left. Their strategic funds distribute your donation among important, winnable campaigns in each state, including Kamala’s.
3. I donated to the Movement Voter PAC to help fund on-the-ground organizing in swing states and districts.The most effective get-out-the-vote operations are local. Local volunteers know their neighborhoods and how best to connect with voters. One of my savviest activist friends recommended Movement Voter PAC as a trusted and powerful way to support these efforts from out of state.
4. I chose a hyper-local candidate to talk up to my friends and neighbors.This is the highest-impact step in the plan. I’m spending my in-person time in my sphere of influence supporting a local candidate. For me, it’s a Portland City Council candidate (Nat West), but for YOU, it would be a candidate running for your city-, county- or state government. Here’s what so great about focusing on a local candidate. Nat’s a friend I *truly* believe in, so I can speak from the heart without feeling like I’m twisting anyone’s arm. It’s a win across the board, joy-wise, because I get to talk to my neighbors about a choice that directly affects us, I get to help them make an informed voting decision, I get to support a friend’s campaign (he really cares about this), AND I feel more connected to our democratic system overall.
5. I’m buying cute campaign-themed tee shirts and wearing them all over town.Conversation starters! Fashion fun! I’m supporting two independent makers who are also my friends! With a bonus donation to Kamala! 
FINALLY, I’m unsubscribing from all campaign-related email and texts, skipping most political opinion and news, and steering clear of fraught, cynical and/or us-and-them conversations about the election. I’m staying informed without allowing myself to get overwhelmed.
I hope this gives you a few ideas for how to get involved, even if it’s just a small donation or helping one friend vote. This election is too important to watch from the sidelines. If you have a friend who needs a ready-made action, plan, feel free to forward this post.
Questions? Observations? Ideas? Links to more cute tee-shirts?
Notes of note
Thank you for reading. If you’d like to support the work that goes into this newsletter, consider upgrading to a paid subscription. As a thank you, you’ll get unlimited access to the comments, the archive, occasional private posts, and my heartfelt gratitude. ♡ If you’d like to pitch in but upgrading is a hardship, consider liking ❤️ and sharing posts that resonate. I’ve set up a referral program to thank you with paid benefits when new readers sign up (free or paid) based on your referral. To participate, click “Share” or use your unique referral link in texts and social media posts. Thank you for your support. More on the website: Mailbag | Archive | About
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Friday, August 23, 2024
Want to support Kamala but don't know where to start? This is my high-impact, low-stress, high-joy action plan
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