Nearly three quarters of Americans are experiencing stomach grinding because of our political dumpster fire. No idea what the other quarter is thinking about.
Let me share my cure:
- turn off the radio and news feed.
- Go to your local democratic party headquarters website (here’s mine: https://www.mobilize.us/forsythcountydems/event/672614/
- Sign up for a shift as a poll greeter.
- Go by the headquarters and pick up the hand-outs.
- Pick up a yard sign while you’re there.
- Talk to one of the humans there.
- Do it.
You’ll experience healing surprises. My favorite: I’ve never seen Democrats this organized. Websites, apps and in-person offices are all cheerfully functioning with logic, energy and friendly hopeful people. I was even able to donate for a yard sign by app. Cool.
TC and I did our first shift as poll greeters at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in East Winston yesterday on the first day of early voting. Perhaps a hundred voters and a few choir members came through, nearly all in cheerful spirit. A pod of sorority sisters from Winston-Salem State University did selfies with the Harris signs (guessing they might have voted for their sorority sister?) Two sheriffs showed up. I thought they were there to protect us, but they went inside to vote (we thanked them for both looking out for us and voting). More than a few veterans, some disabled from their service in one of our wars, came in.
A high spirited young couple came by after attending the overflow crowd at the nearby rally where Tim Walz and Bill Clinton cranked it up. They left a bit early to a) vote and b) grab a beer.
Oh, and TC and I voted, too. As I fed my ballot into the machine, I accepted my “I voted” sticker from the poll worker who looked a lot like me. I thanked him for his service and he said he had done it for years and looked forward to helping the process every election as it lifts his spirits.
There was a time when you’d be hanged for each and every one of those steps. After all, it has only been 295,607days since King John signed the Magna Carta on June 15, 1215. I think we’re starting to get the hang of this democracy thing.
I noticed the sun was shining.
