I was thinking about writing a blog this month and realized that I was too busy working for the election.  So I’m writing about that.  It’s less than five weeks to the mid-term elections on November 8th.  These elections are crucially important.  If the Democrats win, laws affecting all of our lives can be passed.  If not, we return to Trump and his Republicans’ failed policies.

     Some of the most important laws are, first, reversing the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.  The Republican fiction that this “just gave power to the states” has been negated by two events.  First, a number of states have denied abortion in all cases, including rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother.  Other states prevent doctors from intervening unless the mother is near death, even if the fetus has died.  Second, Lindsey Graham and the Republicans have proclaimed that they will pass a nation-wide abortion ban.  Regardless of your personal feelings about abortion, do you believe you really have the right to determine this policy for all Americans?  The Supreme Court does.  Judge Alito’s opinion included the theories of Sir Matthew Hale, considered a misogynist even in his own time, the 17th century.  In addition to outlawing abortion, Hale argued that women could be burnt as witches and that husbands could rape their wives.  Judge Clarence Thomas went even further.  He argued that the court should rule against same-sex marriage and outlaw contraception.  (I’m not making this up.)  He did not rule against inter-racial marriage, however, since he is a black man married to a white woman.  What hypocrisy!

     It is not only abortion that is on the ballot this year.  A number of Republicans, and even their amazingly vague platform, have argued that states have the right to overturn federal elections (one of Trump’s main tactics in 2020) and against renewing both Social Security and Medicare.

     So what have I been doing to counter this – and what can we all do?  First, I have been donating money to Democratic candidates.  First, for the Senate, second for the House, and third, for Governors.  I think we have a good chance to take the Senate, in part because of the caliber of many Republican candidates, like Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania.  We have a more difficult time taking the House, largely because of Republican gerrymandering, but it is still possible.  We won the House in 2020 and the same gerrymandering was in effect.  Finally, there are some tight and important governor’s races: in Florida, Texas, and Georgia.  Christ vs. Desantis in Florida, O’Rourke vs. Abbot in Texas, and Abrams vs. Kemp in Georgia.

     So what can we do?  First and most important, DONATE MONEY!  Now is the time!  Second, write postcards to people in swing states, urging them to vote.  Both Indivisible and MoveOn will send them to you.  Personally, I’m writing to folks in Pennsylvania.  It’s not too late to do this and it makes a big difference.

         Finally, we can canvas, especially if we live in swing states.  I did this in previous elections, but can’t right now.  But you all can – or convince those you know in those states to do so.  This election is vitally important to all of us.