4 Steps to Take Action as an Independent, Post-Election, Take 1
I don’t really know wtf I’m doing either, but let’s figure it out.
Facebook is wrong about me. Just because I’ve clicked on a bunch of Washington Post articles does not a liberal make.
It’s just been a weird year.
The truth is that I’m historically an independent. One of those odd people who votes Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, for taxes and against taxes, who researches every proposition (which is a serious time investment in California!) and who makes decisions based on individuals and issues, instead of a party line.
So many of my Facebook friend’s posts about how it’s time to get local candidates in office to stop momentum or keep momentum…are just not speaking to me. I’m not in anyone’s club.
Fellow independents … we need to make our own plans for how we are going to react to the volatility of the post-2016 election season.
Here are my recommendations on where to start.
1 — What Issues Will Be Your Focus?
Yes, there are some freaky things going on, and you’re probably scared or frustrated about a host of issues. You probably have a ton of really pissed off Facebook friends (probably from both sides). But you cannot take action on every issue. It is physically impossible.
Focus.
What are you good at? What skills, talents, specialties do you have to offer?
What issues effect you personally and the people you love?
What are your particular pet peeves? What has been a passion of yours for years?
Pick a few top issues.
- My #1 issue is First Amendment rights.
- My #2 issue is access to education for all (not just schools, but also libraries, internet access, etc.).
- My #3 issue is health care costs.
- My #4 issue is protecting and maintaining national parks, wilderness areas, and other federal lands.
2 — Pick an Organization
Look at your issues and pick one or two organizations who are already working on those issues.
Assuming you don’t have horrible financial problems, become a member.
Get on their email list. Read their alerts. Go to a meeting or conference. Talk to people.
My organization for my top issue is the ACLU, and specifically the ACLU Chapter of Northern California.
(It’s a great idea to pick an organization with a local chapter, or get involved in at least one local organization. Small/local is an opportunity to get involved in person and it can be a more direct way to effect people & the issues.)
I may also get involved in another local similar organization, but I’m starting with ACLU first. I plan to get involved in organizations for my other top issues, but my thought is to start with one issue at a time, and ramp up.
3 — Listen to “Them.”
Yep, “Them” is in quotes, because I mean both sides of the aisle, and because I mean everyone — politicians, pundits, press. News sources (legit and somewhat wacky).
Figure out who are your representatives all the way from your local city council-member all the way up to the U.S. President. (If you don’t know, you can find this info online — just google “who is my U.S. congressperson?” etc.) I also pay attention to politicians in the power structure at the state/federal level, and ones who are prominent on issues important to me.
I’m not saying you should *believe* everyone. But it is important to know — what’s the chatter? What do they are they *saying* (even if they are full of crap)? What are they trying to spin?
Now that you’ve already picked your issues, you can focus on those topics in your monitoring, which makes it less overwhelming.
I set up Twitter Lists and curated some different groups (for Politicians, Press, News, etc.) so I don’t have to follow everyone all the time (don’t need that in my life, yeesh!!). I’m not reading everything, of course — just skim on a regular basis.
Also good to join email lists (could be part of the organization in step 2) that send alerts about any important laws/regulations/news that might happen in your issue area.
4 — Take a First Action Step.
Don’t *just* listen — take action.
Not because you “should” but because it is easy to get stuck in listening. This is a Newton’s First Law problem — if you don’t get moving, you never will.
Yes, giving money is an action.
But what else can you do?
One of the great things about joining an organization is that they already know what you can do and they will tell you — and since you hand-picked them, it will likely be something you are particularly interested in, already.
I’ve already signed up to go to an ACLU event where we will be lobbying state representatives (after we learn the day before what the issues are and how to lobby). I’m excited not only to participate, but to be educated in how to lobby — should be very helpful for all future activist work.
How about you — what’s your plan?
