I write to my Congressman...a lot! I sure wish it made a difference.

 I received this response from my MN6 Congressman, Tom Emmer, who serves as the House Whip (the guy that twists other Republican representatives' arms to wrangle the votes needed to pass legislation.  He's the ambitious type...so he likes to be on the good side of those who hold the reins of power.  I have no expectation that he will stand up when the "leader" strays from good governance, prudence or decency.  So far, he hasn't proven me wrong.  It's only interesting to see how he shapes the narrative to support whatever nasty, cruel and self-serving thing that comes down the pike.

After another round of dismantling agencies that included impacts to a special concern of mine: library services, I wrote about my concerns and this was his response:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Service funding cuts. As your Representative for the Sixth Congressional District of Minnesota, your views are very important to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond. As you know, on March 14, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the dismantling of seven federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The executive order instructs the institute to eliminate non-statutory components and functions and to provide a report to the director of the Office of Management and Budget. The IMLS was created in 1996 and provides grant opportunities and assists with policy development for America's museums and libraries.  The IMLS was instructed by the Trump Administration to eliminate all non-statutory components. While public libraries and museums are important public institutions that provide valuable resources to Americans across the country, recently, we have witnessed the IMLS veer away from its intended mission and include politics in institutions across the nation. Our nation's libraries and museums should be nonpartisan while providing information and resources for Americans across the country.  As a nation, we face a $36 trillion national debt, and I believe it’s essential to make sure every taxpayer dollar is being spent wisely. I remain committed to working with President Trump and my colleagues in Congress to ensure fiscal responsibility and effective governance. I welcome any additional thoughts on how Congress can work together to advance legislation important to Minnesotans as well as the entire country. As your Representative for the Sixth Congressional District of Minnesota, your opinions on the Institute of Museum and Library Service funding, and any other issue, are vital to shaping my understanding and work on this important issue. Thank you for taking the time to contact me, and if I can ever be of help in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out again. Sincerely, Tom Emmer

 

So,  I'm a teacher, and I read it as such.  Check out the signature...work on your penmanship, Tom.

It's composed well enough to get a decent grade, but is entirely unsatisfactory in it's tone and content. My opinions are quite irrelevant to Tom, so I wish he would stop implying that they matter.  I'm glad he responds to his constituents, I just wish he cared more about what we have to say.  Despite the almost certain unlikelihood that I can impact any change, he's going to keep hearing from me.  This is my response to his letter:

I received your response to my concerns about the administration’s executive actions to damage and diminish library and museum services that are so essential to the people of America.  Without the full and robust services that our cultural institutions provide and the supervision of the Library of Congress by an experienced leader, the vibrancy of America's intellectual and democratic capacity plummets.  

Your contention  that "we have witnessed the IMLS veer away from its intended mission and include politics in institutions across the nation. Our nation's libraries and museums should be nonpartisan while providing information and resources for Americans across the country," is smoke and mirrors and is a profound insult to the professional librarians and curators who approach their work with a thoughtfulness and respect that the current administration completely lacks.   Trump instead wants to close off any sources of information that would question his right to be an authoritarian and stifle those that hold true fidelity to facts, history and accurate information.  

His actions have nothing to do with controlling the national debt as evidenced by the unnecessary and expensive parade to stroke his ego on June 14 and the proposed exorbitant tax breaks for the wealthy that will significantly increase our debt.  

Your arguments have no credibility and I am thoroughly fearful for our ability to maintain a well-educated and free democracy under the repressive and vindictive leadership of Trump and his compliant and unethical compatriots, such as yourself.  Please consider the irreparable harm that your actions are causing to your fellow citizens and to those that will come after us. 

Andrew Carnegie, whose benevolence helped build over 2500 libraries, said, "A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert."

 

 

When your Congressman is the House Whip

If you don’t know Tom Emmer yet, you will. He is the ambitious congressman from the Sixth District of Minnesota. You may remember the former occupant of that office, the colorful Michele Bachman. While she has not remained as visible as I expected after she left office, she remains as disconnected from reality as ever.

If you ever attend a prayer service at her place of worship, check first if they provide weapons or if you have to bring your own.

So, now you know the political milieu in which I live. I remain unrepresented with Emmer in her place. (20 plus years of Republican entrenchment)

He was educated as a lawyer and spent some time handling lawsuits for municipalities against police officers (you don’t hear him discuss that!) Soon he moved into elected office—city council, state representative, and then a run for governor, which he narrowly lost to Mark Dayton. After that loss he had a right wing talk show and got elected to congress in 2015. He worked his way into power as chair of the fundraising National Republican Congressional Committee and then became Whip, the 3rd highest ranking Republican whose job it is to wrangle the votes needed to pass legislation—arm twisting may be involved and in the Trump future, that could include kneecaps and other appendages. Tom’s your man. He also gets some airtime to defend the regime’s policies. Do you think he has the right stuff? Is that smile a winning smile that will catapult him to his next step up?

I’m going to exercise my free speech rights, as Trump has declared to be so vital and tell Tom what I think. I hope you voice your concerns to your representatives—regularly and loudly. We entered Bizzaro World on January 20, but we cannot accept any of it as normal. It is dangerous, unamerican and wrong!

Here’s what I wrote to Tom:

Tom, your interview on ABC was not convincing.  You want us believe that The Justice Department went too far in convicting criminals that committed heinous crimes against police officers, our Nation’s Capitol, and the peaceful transfer of power, and thus there is justification to free them to once again break the law?  You are okay with a blanket pardon of insurrectionists?  Really?  And a weak whataboutism on Biden’s pardons will cover up the sins that Trump has already committed in letting out a man who has threatened to kill his son? Others who are already organizing to do something subversive again?  Your shame will be part of history.  Maybe your sons and daughters have not been threatened like Joe Biden’s family has, but if they had been, what would you do?  You are a hypocrite of the highest order.  I hope the next four years make you question every single day your choice to stand by the most corrupt person to ever hold office.  You bow and scrape and make excuses and then support vile actions that destroy lives and important institutions.  Keep smiling Tom.

A MAGA Checklist

I recognize that there are some real opportunities for people in the Trump era to contribute to his success in transforming our country—remember, ask not what your country can do for you, yadda yadda…

1. Withdraw your money from your savings/retirement accounts and invest it in a Trump Meme coin. What the heck is that? Most people don’t have a clue because you can’t hold it and you certainly can’t eat it, wear it or sleep under it. However, you will probably lose the bulk of your investment. How does that make America great? You don’t think that was ever the point, do you? Making DJT richer was the point, so yay!
2. Now that you are poor, you can take one of those jobs that immigrants use to do before they were all deported. I’d stay away from the meat packing plants…those places stink, maybe maid service, if you don’t have a bad back; making beds can be a real strain.
3. This next task may make some time, but get out your sharpie and your Bible and start crossing out those annoying passages that talk about love and concern for the least of us. Anything about humility or compassion has got to go. You can probably just rip out whole sections to save time…most of it is pretty boring, like that renegade female bishop, Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Buddy preached at the National Prayer Service on Inauguration Day. Boring is out…retribution is in!
4. Women, do something about your hair! Is it long and wavy and alluring? Does it accentuate your full lips and ample bosom? Hair extensions and plastic surgery…get going, ladies! There is a look. You can’t be the head of Homeland Security without it. That and a real nasty puppy-killing streak!
5. Forget about the niceties of etiquette and manners. You do not have to hide your disdain for your liberal neighbors and coworkers. Tell them they are boring and stupid. Remind them that you have guns, and the police are probably on your side or you can get a pardon. Make sure their kids can hear; their teenagers already think they are dweebs, so you have nothing on your conscience.
6. There is so much more to do, I can’t list it all! Trump is doing his best, but he can’t do it all on his own! Bring out your inner nastiness and hate and get going. Together you can be the ones that destroy democracy and the environment in one fell swoop!

And So It Begins…

Yesterday, before sunrise, my oldest son, a major in the reserves, boarded a plane bound for Dallas, to prepare for a technical mission to Kuwait where he will be second in command. Hopefully, I’ll see him again at Thanksgiving time. I will miss him, but perhaps not as much as his wife and six-year old son will.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” he said, “I’ll probably be safer there than I would be here.”

Despite being stationed in a spot next door to Iran, I agree with him. We are, as of 12:00 pm EST in what will be a war zone. Perhaps there will not immediately be drone attacks or tanks rumbling down our street, but the war against democracy and decency is engaged.

Normally I don’t engage in hyperbole, but surely I am doing so now? No, I don’t think so. The executive orders signed on his first day were an attempt at shock and awe. It not assured that they will all be put in place, so no one should roll over and just accept them. Governor DeSantis is already using “the Gulf of America” is an announcement, but we don’t have to. Yet…the adversarial tone has been set, and Project 2025 has commenced. It’s scary, but it’s not inevitable. Take the battles one by one, look for your fellow resisters—they are close at hand.

Countdown: One Day

Are you old enough to remember December 31, 1999?  It was the day before "Y2K" and there was widespread concern about what could have been a major technology breakdown to computer systems as the two-digit year changed from a "99" to "00".  Would it impact our financial systems using antiquated computers and cause a collapse or a panic?  

For most of us, less immersed in technology than we are now, only 25 years later, the idea lived in a somewhat mysterious and far-removed place, allowing fears to grow based on lack of actual knowledge about the real parameters of the problem and its solutions. The result was mostly a nothing-burger that didn't have long-lasting impact on the average person.  Life went on and technology advanced.  We were lulled back into a state of confidence.

I recall that night quite clearly.  We were at our friends' house on that New Year's Eve, outside in their hot tub on a very chilly Minnesota night. We were watching our almost grown children run around with sparklers adding more twinkles of light to the night sky full of stars.  Amid the uncertainty, there was so much possibility; hope and anticipation for the future.

Tonight, I will not look for sparklers in the night sky.  I will not be holding wonderful possibilities amid the uncertainty.  It is a different kind of precariousness that I anticipate--bad things will happen, there is no doubt, but the scope and scale of those bad things cannot be clearly delineated from where I sit today.

We have seen the capitulations to Trump by politicians on the right, starting back in 2015 and increasing day by day.  We have seen their strongly-held principles fall by the wayside:  Senator Joni Ernst?  Once an advocate for women in military leadership and all aspects of military operations, including combat; working tirelessly for their protection from harassment and discrimination.  

Now, cowed by political pressure to accede to support a candidate for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, that is the antithesis of all that she had worked for, she has abandoned her mission.  She had been an abused woman who had regained her power, only to be put in her place by misogyny, with no one having her back. She was abandoned and found she really didn't have the right stuff on her own.  How does she sleep at night?  Does she think that maintaining her office will save her or give her any leverage?  How strong was her fear to make her acquiesce so quickly?  

Most of the women I know don't have combat experience or a position of power and prestige.  If Ernst can fall so easily, what are the options for our sisters of color?  The poor and the pregnant?  The immigrant or the undereducated?  I see women among the early and easy targets, along with the marginalized LGBTQ+ communities.   

But...

I also know that women are stronger, smarter and more resilient that the ardently masculine give us credit for.  I look forward to see the women's resistance movement grow.  I look forward to being part of it. Perhaps, if we can get through the dark days ahead, equality can become closer to reality.  It will take a lot of resolve and courage and there will be a lot of regrettable loss and pain. 

If we were actually just watching a Netflix series, or a big-budget reality show, the next four years could be fascinating!  The multitude of colorfully evil characters would be triumphant and the heroes would take time to emerge; they would be thwarted on every turn and we might give up watching, feeling the hopelessness of a happy ending.  

We would also know that the series would continue to get high ratings from our neighbors who couldn't get enough of the bad guys' successes.  Even it was only a show, neighborhood gatherings or meetings and lunchtime at work would be fraught with tension. 

I can't imagine an easy scenario of the next few years.  I doubt if Berliners in 1933 Berlin could either.  They saw their cosmopolitan city lighted and draped with the flags and banners of the Third Reich.  It glittered, it gleamed, and then it fell in ruins as the bombs fell.  

Some days we'll want to grab our popcorn, but most days we'll want to cry.  Let's stick together and make it through and help someone else through as well.

Countdown--33 days: Putting Women in "Their Place"

I just read a friend's post on Facebook, noting that, for the first time in 20 years, there are no women selected by the Republicans to lead committees in the US House of Representatives; but there are also no black men...just a lot of white dudes and one Florida rep. whose maternal grandparents immigrated from Mexico.

You might  begin to think that there was a plan in place to disenfranchise women who have gotten altogether too uppity over the years!  Why do I say that? Consider the Supreme Court's callous disregard for 50 years of legal precedent granting women autonomy over their reproductive rights, and the talk you hear about repealing no fault divorce, taking away the vote from women, limiting access to mail-order abortion drugs and the Comstock Act.  

If you haven't heard about that, you might want to add it to your background knowledge.  It's a "zombie law", meaning that  though it was long considered unconstitutional or unenforceable, it was never repealed and, with enough momentum, could be resuscitated and enforced. That rebirth could result in a nationwide termination of access to abortion, regardless of state laws. 

Then, there is the prominence and growing power of Christian Nationalism and Dominionism, both attempting to tie religious fervor with political power and all committed to determining the "proper role" for women in society.  Clue: it's not in the White House or other seats of authority.

We could get our feminine undies in a bunch if we continue down this path, but I want to veer off just a little.  I've been thinking all day about a particular woman; the senator from our neighboring state of Iowa, Joni Ernst. 

I'll have to admit, this is a new focus...the junior senator, in office since 2015, has annoyed me with her affection for conspiracy theories (about Covid and other things), opposition to climate protections, her ties to the Koch brothers, through their support of her campaigns and her opposition to reproductive rights, but it never rose to the level of keeping me awake at night. Maybe it should have. 

I had found a modicum of respect for her when she worked across the aisle with Kirsten Gillibrand,  the NY senator, to overhaul the military's handling of sexual assault cases, taking the investigative power out of the chain of command, thus removing the bias that has existed that prevented cases from being properly prosecuted.  

Senator Ernst had achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Army National Guard and had served as a commanding officer in a combat unit.  Her 23 years of service and numerous medals earn her a measure of respect and provide her with experience that benefited the Armed Services Committee she served on.

She was also a sexual assault survivor; a rape victim in college, faced sexual harassment in the military, and life with an abusive husband that she divorced in 2019.  

Her values and views on education, human rights, gun control, health and reproductive care--all diverge sharply from mine; but when it comes to the military and the need to have intelligent, capable and sound leadership in the Department of Defense--she should be in the right place on that, right? 

She had experienced abuse at the hands of men in power, and she had worked to alleviate it.  She had been in command and should understand the challenges, demands and responsibilities of leadership. 

Along comes Pete Hegseth:  When even your mother recognizes that you are abusive to women, red flags are waving.  When co-workers recognize that you are drunk on the job--more red flags.  When your resume for the job you are seeking, is as flimsy as toilet paper and your past experience in leading a small

organization was corrupt...you get the picture, don't you, Joni?

This man is not fit to run the military that you served honorably.  While those under his purview could be dishonorably discharged for extramarital affairs, he is the poster child for bad behavior towards his first two wives.  Drunkenness and alcohol abuse face similar consequences; dismissal and/or criminal charges. Hegseth could set the tone for a casual disregard of protocols and military standards that could reach every level of command. 

You know what you should do, Joni.  But, you won't.  Your reelection is threatened.  You come out with a statement of support for the man who will make a mess of the military.   

I said this might keep me up at night...but maybe not as much as it should you, especially since you will have a front row seat on the debacle.  You will turn in your values, for a tenuous seat on the Trump express.

Hopefully you'll think about the 228,000 women serving in active duty--a quarter of a million women, who just became a lot more vulnerable.  If I know what he thinks about women in combat and in command, then so do you. You maybe protecting your future, but at what cost to your integrity and what cost to those women's safety and opportunity for advancement?  At what cost to our national security and the security of the world?  

You have a few weeks to lose sleep over your decision.  I have trouble imagining how people can reach the point where you are--how many times you must have compromised decency for power.  You could be a hero; what a shame that you believe the only thing that your voters will appreciate is your capitulation to a tyrant.

We really are lost.

Step 17:

Forget what I just said...being lost doesn't mean we can't be find our way again.  

It's a time for recognizing true values and holding on to them...don't be a Joni.  Now is not a time to give in to the easy out; the going along with the bluster and the bully.  Resistance is not futile--it is vital! 

Countdown 47 Days: A Cold Wind is Blowing

 "I met a girl who sang the blues

And I asked her for some happy news

But she just smiled and turned away..." 

American Pie by Don McLean, 1971    

When I was young I was fascinated with photography; by a camera's ability to capture a slice of time, so fleeting and ephemeral, and yet there to be recalled on some future date, even when the players and the place have been altered or have disappeared. 

Granted, the photos I was able to take with our old Kodak Duaflex left much to be desired; small in format, the black and white images grainy  and sometimes disappointing after the long wait for the film to be developed.  But the possibilities that photography offered!  

I think I often looked at the world as if I was looking through a camera lens, composing a scene to capture a view of the world, or going in for a close-up.  People talk about a photographic memory, and I was nurturing mine.  This is not to say, that I have perfect recall, far from it, but my memories of people and places were often composed and frameable.  Sometimes that process let me choose to leave the mess and the unpleasant outside the frame, but I might just as easily zoom-in and capture the smallest details.  

The second major "grown-up" purchase that I made after graduating from college and getting a job was a Canon SLR camera.  (The first was a white 1973 Mustang to replace my 1951 black Chevy) I took that camera on a bus tour of Europe.  I shot my first roll of film in England.  Curious as to why I was able to keep shooting pictures after the supposed last picture on the film, I discovered that I had failed to load the film properly! Humbled, certainly, but glad I still had a chance to take pictures of Shakespeare's home in Stratford-on-Avon and the rest of my trip.

Indeed, the possibilities of photography have grown and expanded since my first adventures with lens, aperture and focus, often in mind-blowing ways, that we, creatures of this modern age, too soon take for granted.  

Today, I click on a link that took me to the Associated Press's 100 Photos of 2024 and I felt the full impact of photographic possibilities.  I was thrust into the lives of thousands; into their struggles and pain in such a visceral way.  Mothers mourning their dead sons, families cooking a meal in the roofless shells of their bombed out homes, I caught a glimpse through a window of the the storm-wrecked landscape after a tornado and saw the caved-in roof of a home after the hurricane.  How good to see happy Ukrainian children's faces on the first day of school and other occasional images of beauty, but those 100 pictures told stories that needed to be told and are often heartbreakingly tragic. 

How do we deal with all this?  On this cold winter day, with the temperatures dropping to the single digits here in Minnesota with wind chills below zero, I am still safe and warm; but I am reminded that so many do not have comfort or safety in their lives.  We will not often find the "happy news", but will we just "smile and turn away?"

Today, I sat for awhile, like Pope Francis did (in one of the 100 images), and let the tears flow.  Sending love to a broken but still beautiful world.

STEP 16:

It's okay to cry.  Your feelings are valid.  Be grateful for your willingness to feel sorrow and empathy.

        

Countdown 57: It's Sunday, Check in With Your Spirit

 Perhaps you are a regular church-goer, deeply connected to a particular faith tradition.   I remember attending a friend's father's funeral and learning that this 95 year-old man had been baptized, confirmed and married in that church.  He had sung in the choir for 50 years and served his fellow congregants in so many meaningful ways throughout his life. I know that he was a good man and his faith and this particular congregation had informed his life in positive ways.

For many of us, that is an unlikely scenario.  We are a mobile society and even if we wanted to, it could be difficult to remain connected to a single place or a single viewpoint in a changing world.  The role of religion in society is morphing from what I experienced as a child.  According to a Gallup poll in 2023, 47% of Americans considered themselves religious, 33% considered themselves spiritual but not religious and 2% consider themselves to be both, adding up to 82% that have some kind of spiritual belief system.  That leaves 18% who say they are neither.  

A quarter century earlier in 1999, 90% had a spiritual belief system and just three years later, in 2002, it had dropped 3 percentage points and the trend continues downward.  Couple that retreat from spirituality with the rise of politically infused Christian Nationalism which seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and America’s constitutional democracy. 

Christian Nationalism presents a powerful message of the need for spiritual warfare in a cosmic battle between good and evil.  Imagine the pull of being part of the end times army!  Hundreds of participants in January 6th were adherents of the New Apostolic Reformation movement and there are other Christian Nationalist church organizations, which once were fringe, but now are gaining prominence.  Pete Hegseth, the local boy gone radical spreader of Fox news propaganda is a member of an aligned congregation in Tennessee.  

The strength of religion as a force for good is losing its hold on Americans, of all ages, but particularly among younger Americans at the same time that it is being perverted into a force for power and domination by the self-proclaimed righteous Christian Nationalists, basking in their close connections to governmental power.

Hopefully there are still many churches that provide solace, inspiration and community and if you are lucky enough to belong to one, it can be a real treasure in the years ahead.  

If you feel disconnected from church you may still feel the pull, strongly or just a quiet nudge in the back of your mind to find connection to something bigger, deeper, more profound than the chaos of the world around you.  For your consideration, I share this compilation

STEP 15:

Finding your spiritual core" means discovering the deepest, most authentic part of yourself that connects to a sense of meaning, purpose, and higher power, often achieved through introspection, meditation, spending time in nature, and engaging in practices that resonate with your personal values and beliefs, allowing you to understand your place in the world and live with greater alignment and fulfillment.


Key aspects of finding your spiritual core:
Self-reflection:
Deeply examining your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to identify what truly matters to you and what gives your life meaning.


Spiritual practices:
Engaging in activities like meditation, prayer, journaling, spending time in nature, or connecting with a spiritual community to access a deeper sense of self.


Identifying core values:
Recognizing the fundamental principles that guide your decisions and actions, such as compassion, integrity, honesty, or service to others.


Exploring your purpose:
Questioning your reason for being on earth and what contribution you want to make to the world.


How to start exploring your spiritual core:
Meditation:
Practice mindfulness to quiet your mind and connect with your inner self.


Journaling:
Write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to gain insights into your values and beliefs.


Nature walks:
Immerse yourself in the natural world to feel a sense of connection to something larger than yourself.


Gratitude practice:
Actively focus on the things you are thankful for to cultivate a positive mindset.


Volunteer work:
Serving others can help you discover your purpose and connect with your community.


Seek guidance:
Consider talking to a spiritual leader, counselor, or trusted friend for support and different perspectives.


Important points to remember:
It's a personal journey: Your spiritual core will be unique to you and may evolve over time.


Be patient: Finding your spiritual core is a process that requires time and consistent effort.


Embrace curiosity: Be open to exploring different practices and beliefs to find what resonates with you.


Don't compare yourself to others: Focus on your own individual path and growth.

Countdown 58: Food for Thought Yesterday and Tomorrow, Just Plain Food Tonight

 Our fundraising online auction is set to go live tomorrow, so that has been my focus.  Instead of trying to provide you with "food for thought" I thought I'd just share some photos of food I've taken in marketplaces I've visited...a little bread, some fish, a few veggies.  It's the best I can do tonight!  Thanks for reading!

Countdown 59: Birthdays

Today, November 22,  is my cousin Pam's birthday--she's the one with the bow in her hair, a couple of years older than me to her.

Look at those cute blondies with their lace collars and  fresh innocent faces, their whole lives ahead of them, with no clue that both of them would share future birthdays with tragic events in American history that had yet to unfold when their moms posed them together for this picture.

November 22, 1963 was a Friday, just like today, 6 days before Thanksgiving.  Students (and teachers, too) were looking forward to a short week ahead, then freetime and good food.  All those pleasant thoughts would fall by the wayside in the early afternoon when the nation all held their breath listening to Walter Cronkite announce that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, Texas and pronounced dead at 1:00 pm CST.  The country would basically shut down, Broadway and the casinos in Vegas as well.  Regular TV programming was replaced with news broadcasts and many businesses shuttered their doors.  The entire country was in mourning and the funeral the following Monday was watched by 41.5 million households; the largest viewing audience ever recorded at the time.

If you were alive in 1963 and over the age of 5 you probably remembered where you were.  I was in my  eighth grade social studies class, middle row, towards the back.  There's so much that could be said about this event and its impact on America.  Sixty-one years later there is still an unsettled air of conspiracy and unsolved mystery surrounding it, despite the finality of the Warren Commission's investigation and report.

For years my birthday only had pleasant historical connections; Joan of Arc was born on my birthday, which is also when Christians celebrate the Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings,  the day after the 12th day of Christmas.  Have you figured it out?  My birthday is January 6th.

On January 6, 2021, a Wednesday, my husband and I and our best friends, the Hansons (all of us retired) met at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis and enjoyed a walk around the lake.  I remember stopping by a gathering of Minions who were still out celebrating the New Year.  These cute little toys had been posed by a tree and I wanted a picture to send to my grandson, who was enchanted by the little yellow guys. After our walk we ordered a pizza and had a winter picnic in the back of our van.  A silly, frivolous and fun way to spend a birthday.  Then we turned on the radio.  All the frivolity was gone.  Again America was plunged into darkness.  But this time, the unified sense of mourning that had indelibly imprinted Pam's birthday was replaced with a rending of America's heart.  The heartbreak continues.  

We are connected to the events of our country, in so many ways, big and small, tragic and banal.  Our fates are intertwined. I hope we can heal our broken hearts.  

Countdown 60:

Yesterday I wrote about how our words matter. Tonight I’d like to share something I wrote for a church service several years, which also speaks about the power of words and all the passages that inspired me.

Today’s readings by Mary Oliver and Martin Luther King are both personal reflections on death. I was not yet aware of that on Friday when I was attending a funeral. The mother of a close college friend had died gently at age 95 and her family was at peace with her passing; it would be a celebration of a good life, well-lived. 

Before the funeral began I was talking with another college friend. She was telling me about a book she was reading about Margaret Fuller in preparation for a Road Scholar trip this spring with a focus on the Transcendentalists, including a visit to Walden Pond. She had really been enjoying their essays and poetry. 

With that nudge I asked her if she had ever read the poetry of Mary Oliver, who had passed away just the day before at age 83. Since she hadn’t, thanks to my trusty (but silenced)    i-Phone I shared some lines and quotes from her work, their beautiful strength resonating with my friend as well.

Just before we would get back on the road I checked my email to see if I had received today’s readings so I could practice during that ride and I felt a tingle of awe that the words I’d just been sharing with a friend would be shared again today with you. 

I light the chalice today for the wonder of words that connect us; in gratitude for the wisdom of those behind the words and in hope that our live’s purpose will be supported and strengthened by the messages we hear today.

FIRST READING 

from Mary Oliver

When death comes

like the hungry bear in autumn;

when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;

when death comes

like the measle-pox

when death comes

like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:

what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything

as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,

and I look upon time as no more than an idea,

and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common

as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth,

tending, as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something

precious to the earth.

When it's over, I want to say all my life

I was a bride married to amazement.

I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I don't want to wonder

if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,

or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world

SECOND READING 

from Martin Luther King, from his final sermon 

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize— that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school.

I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others.

I’d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question.

I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry.

And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.

I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison.

I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won’t have any money to leave behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that’s all I want to say.q

Countdown 61: Words Matter

 Did you grow up hearing this chant?--

Sticks and stones may break my bones,

But words will never hurt me!

Everyone of us who's ever been mercilessly teased or bullied or seen it done to others, knows that is as far from truth as it goes.  Words are powerful enough to raise us to the heights of ecstasy or reduce us to the depths of despair.  

Wherever many people come together and words are their common currency, the language used can make a difference between safety and danger, respect and disregard, success and failure. So it is that in schools, particularly, it is wise to have policies regarding derogatory speech.

Forest Lake, a city near me, besides being the hometown of controversial prospective Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has also had viral exposure of a failed school board candidate's rant at a board meeting about her free speech rights being violated by limits on the use of the word "retard": after all, it is in the dictionary, and it applies to fire supression materials.  (Note to this mom: even on fire drill days, students do not discuss fire retardants over pizza or chicken tenders at lunchtime.) "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

What got to me just as much was her comments about pronouns.  Ah, if only she were capable of either  self-reflection or humor, but alas.  In support of her religious freedom, she informed the board that her children have been told that "THEY are not to use pronouns.  THEY are not to identify THEMSELVES by pronouns." You see the problem here, right?  That tricky English language, just seems bent on destroying our freedom with its inherent structures.  Her kids may just decide that participating in classroom discussions is too fraught with grammatical pitfalls to open their mouths ever again. After all, even their mom couldn't get through a two-minute speech without using pronouns, and she was righteously angry.

I'm afraid I can get righteously angry and less than rational too, and although I can often feel justified in that anger, that's not always the case, and I have to remind myself that self-reflection is a frequently neglected virtue that I should practice if I want to do good in this world.

I've mentioned previously that I've been working on a major fundraising project, which includes crafting a lot of words for public perusal.  A few of them sparked a controversy (small, but not insignificant) about inclusion/exclusion at the event.  When the need for change was presented to our committee, I have to admit to a little irritation, a little frustration--do I really need to deal with this?  But, we engaged in the process--some explanations and background, some persuasion, some alteration and what emerged after multiple emails was something much better.  Because, of course, words matter.  In this case, because the community this fundraiser serves matters and respect for everyone is important. 

I'm reminded of the first of the Four Agreements from the book of the same name by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Be impeccable with your word.

That's it, only five words, but a statement full of influence and a call to take a closer look to what we say and what we write,what our intent and purpose is behind those words.  

It means to speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

STEP 13

Going forward, remember the power of your words and use them wisely.  Think before you speak, especially when you are angry or frustrated. You already do that you say?  Try doing it even better.  Your words matter!

Countdown 62: Take a Trip to Planet Sark

 If you came to my house, you should be prepared for cat hair.  Along with the five humans, there are four cats that claim residence in our home, and even allow us to sleep on their beds, use their furniture and of course, attend to all their other needs. 

Among those needs is one of a particularly "discreet" nature.  This evening, after completing the task, I walked out the front door to deliver the package to the garbage, without turning on any lights.  There is an automatic light and I trusted that it would turn on...still, I thought to myself as I confidently strode through the darkness--"To boldly go..." (once a Trekkie, always a Trekkie)

I'd like to think that the light of future will still shine for us, although it may be dark now; that we can boldly go where America has not gone before, and survive the phaser fire, the Klingon attacks, the Romulan skirmishes and the encounters with other hostile alien lifeforms (you know who I'm talking about) and emerge as peace seekers and peace makers from a planet that is highly advanced and globally unified.  I won't live long enough to experience that planet, but I hope my descendants can.

Until then, I think I'll take a trip to Planet Sark, the home of the endlessly exuberant artist, Susan Kennedy, or as she has renamed herself: Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy--SARK for short.  

She's been writing, drawing and speaking for 40 years and hasn't lost her sparkle.  I discovered her years ago and was especially taken with one of her pieces, called "How to Be an Artist." I tried to check off everything on the list.  

Our ongoing mission is a challenging one and some days we'll need a little R &. R. The crew of the Enterprise went to Risa (what happens on Risa stays on Risa), but me, I think I'll go to Planet SARK!

STEP 12:

• Make little signs that say "Yes!" and post them all around your house
• Take moonbaths
• Have wild imaginings, transformative dreams and perfect calm
• Open up, dive in, be free
• Drive away fear
• Get wet
• Hug trees!

Countdown 63: News, News, What Are We Going To Do About News?

 John and Paul wrote the song, "A Day in the Life" as the final track in their 1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.  Some consider it one of their masterpieces.

It's opening lines are: 

I read the news today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well, I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph

I read the news...OH BOY and now I never want to read it again!

I've been kind of a news junkie; feeding a need for good news, hope, possibility of a future to grow old in with peace.  I want to hear the truth, but I want the truth to be uplifting because that means we're heading in a good direction.  Now each day's news comes with a dark cloud over it's head, like Joe Btfsplk, the jinxed character from the old comic strip, Li'l Abner.

Another threat, another crazy appointment, another analysis of why the Democrats lost, another look at a bleak future.  I know I need to keep informed, but it's a time to examine both the quality and the quantity of news that I ingest.  I'm quite sure that I watched too much at times and I'm equally sure that I will need to keep informed in the future, when I'm ready for it.  

The vendetta that Trump waged against truth and the reporting of truth from the very start of his first term has had widespread repercussions. The concept of "fake news" took root.  That authoritarian desire to diminish the power of the press and undermine both the concept and the source of truth is working.  While journalism can be a noble trade, with any number of reporters having faced death or imprisonment in pursuit of important stories that need to be told; media ownership is a business.  We have seen how Jeff Bezos undermined the Washington Post's editorial staff to quash their endorsement of Vice President Harris.  We saw how media outlets of every political persuasion "sane-washed" Trump's craziness and held Kamala to a different standard, we saw political theater which kept the cable news broadcasting around the clock sensations.

Yes, Democrats need a clear-eyed examination of their losses and to find better strategies going forward.   But,  that is not where the blame belongs.  Kamala ran an exceptional campaign and she is a person of good character and substantial experience.  If character really mattered, there should have been a landslide victory for her.  That there was not, speaks less of the Democrats problems and more of the profound problems in American society in 2024.  

What I think is essential for us to deal with is the willingness of so many millions of the electorate to be misled about the candidates and the mass media, as a whole, to be so willing to mislead them.  

Ignorance and greed is steering the ship of state and we will quickly run aground. So many forces have been chipping away at the foundations of our system of government for years and all of the traditional guardians of democracy have been either lazy or complicit.  That includes Congress, the Supreme Court, the media, corporations and Wall Street and the educational system.

I read the news...oh boy.

STEP 11:

Think on this for awhile, find some sources that I can trust, share them with others: what to do about news is a work in progress.

Countdown 64: It's Still a Beautiful World

 I've had a busy day...way too much time on my computer, so I'm going to share some wisdom much greater than any I could muster up.  These words have always given me both roots and wings...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann ©1927

...and if that isn't enough for one night, here is a picture of a kitten reading a book

Countdown 65: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 Seasonal music on the radio, decorations and gift displays in the stores...it's the holidays!  And, if we believe the songs, "it's the most wonderful time of the year!"  In some ways, it certainly is; full of special memories and sweet anticipation, happy bustle, satisfying traditions and tasty treats.  

But we know that there has always been a dark side to the holidays, where many people struggle with financial and emotional issues and loneliness can be especially poignant.  

I remember the high expectations that my mother-in-law had for these events and how the stress of holidays would worsen her asthma and she would end up in the hospital.  One Thanksgiving stands out.  Her daughter was getting married in a small ceremony at the groom's mother's house the day after Thanksgiving.  Mom was hospitalized and would not be able to attend.  I found that out just in time to rush back to the school I worked at and borrowed our video equipment--at that time, a first generation reel-to-reel recorder.  We'd make sure she'd at least get to see a movie of the nuptials.  

It soon got even more interesting.  My side trip to school cut into the time I had to help finish the painting we were doing in the living room.  We were rolling the last wall when my husband's brother and his family of 5 arrived from Nebraska.  They'd be staying with us and sharing our Thanksgiving turkey the next day and attending the wedding the day after.  

Then we got the call.  There had been conflict between the groom and his mom.  No wedding at her house now.  My sister-in-law asked if they could have the wedding at our house; oh, and can you set two more plates for Thanksgiving?

The challenges that holidays hold are nothing new, but this year's celebrations could be especially fraught.  How can we handle time with relatives that we may have profound political differences with so close after the election?

I'd like to remind you of one really salient point that could shape your decisions about attending or inviting.  If your family/friend is satisfied with their vote, any argument you make against their choice has a 99.9 % chance of failure.  If political talk is inevitable; disaster or distress is extremely likely.  Minds will not be changed over turkey and stuffing, but relationships could be destroyed.

When caustic Fox personality, Jesse Watters, is uninvited from his Mom's Thanksgiving dinner, it should be acceptable for all of us to put our comfort, safety and peace of mind over societal expectations. 

Questions we can ask:

• Can I attend a holiday event and feel safe?
• Do I really want to be there?
• Will I have to compromise my values more than I am willing to do?
• Even if I really care about these people, can I spend all day with them comfortably?
• Can I emerge from the day with nothing more serious than a little indigestion from too much pie?

I'm going to say that it is okay to alter the guest list.  It's okay to set limits and expect people to respect them and to ask them to leave if they don't.  It's even okay to say no altogether  this year.  We do not know all the things that the future holds, but if holidays are meant to be "wonderful" we should do what is necessary to preserve the goodness inherent in the season, and in ourselves.  

STEP 10

• Make holiday decisions that support your well-being and your values
• Be more reflective about all aspects of the holidays that we celebrate this time of year
• Are all of our Traditions still meaningful?
• There is an abundance of cheap consumer goods that tempt us with glitz and glitter...how much do we really need to spend on gifts and decor? Can we make our holidays more sustainable?
• What are really thankful for and how can we best realize that gratitude in the world?
• Can you make your holidays richer and more fulfilling and less stressful and overwhelming?
• When things change, make the changes work for you.

Countdown-66 days: A walk in the park, holiday meal-planning and a game of Clue

 Today held some quiet pleasures (a walk, conversations with family and plans to get together, a stimulating game of Clue (Miss Scarlet in the hall with the candlestick) that I took time to enjoy; and some concerns about the upcoming holidays that I'll sleep on tonight and examine tomorrow.  

Here's the quiet reflections on Lochness 

Countdown: 67 days; Trying to keep away from despair

 The clown show continues...the most unfit, unqualified and dangerous people are getting their rewards with juicy cabinet posts.  I don't want to list them right now or do the research on exactly what special destruction they each plan to wreak on the American people and our formerly great country.

What concerns me, is that the only thing standing in the way of their appointments is the Republicans in the Senate.

Oh, boy...that's not a lot of reassurance.  The time that they could have stepped up and done the right thing was long in the past.  John F. Kennedy would be hard pressed to find a "profile in courage" on the Senate floor today.  

Sustained courage is needed from all of us--just not every minute of everyday.  I've spent my day working on a major fundraising effort for which I am a co-chairman--I think I deserve a pat on the back for being focused and productive.  

Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash

Find something that you did today that deserves appreciation...that good meal you put on the table, the bills you paid, the kind word that you had for the cashier, the fact that you got out of your pajamas before noon; something.  

STEP 8 Look for the Positive

• In a crazy world there is still beauty and joy--recognize and acknowledge something good everyday.
• Find a pretty journal and record a daily blessing or 1 or 2 things you are grateful for.
• It's okay if you take a day off now and then from being positive--learn some new swear words and practice saying your whole blue vocabulary list really fast. 
• Back in college I learned 5 words that roll of the tongue pretty easily...I use them sparingly (S-D-P-H-F) but they can be surprisingly effective for blowing off steam!

Countdown: 68 days...Remembering when I was President

 Someone mentioned Thin Mints the other day, and I regretted that we hadn't stocked up on those tasty chocolate wafers when we had had a chance from the girls in green. I also never had a chance to be a Girl Scout myself, growing up in the country instead in town.  

I did, however, belong to 4-H, and when I was 16, I was elected president of the "Busy Beavers 4-H Club" and got to sit in the middle of the officers at the table in the front of the gym at my old elementary school.  I don't think my duties extended much beyond presiding over these bi-weekly meetings and I expect I had a lot of help from the adult leaders (my mom being one of them). I don't remember agonizing over agendas or responsibilities or basking in triumphs of inspirational leadership.  

The power of the office was minor and I wore it lightly.  I never took time off to go golfing, used my office for monetary gain or incited insurrections.  Leveraging power to deviate from the norms never crossed my adolescent brain.

Just think how comfortable we've been most of our lives adhering to the social constructs, taboos and behavior norms that formed the sea we swam in and the air we breathed.  Even in my rebellious moments when I rolled my skirt up over my knees in response to dress codes, all my friends did it too.  We may have pushed the limits, but we understood what the limits were and knew we might face consequences for our actions.  Guilt and shame were part of our vocabulary and our experience.  We made mistakes and were set straight by parents and teachers and maybe even by Mrs. Anderson from across the street.  

Life had predictability and boundaries.  We might not have liked the rules and the expectations, but in a way they gave us a sense of safety and security.  If I was feeling uncomfortable somewhere and wanted to leave, saying my parents expected me home at 10 would be believed.  Parents were like that. Rules were like that.

But now, many of us are feeling rudderless and adrift in a tempestuous sea.  There may be rules, but we don't understand them and they don't seem to be applied fairly.  Unfair rules have long been part of life for many segments of our society, but as a nation we still honored the idea of rules and norms, goals and aspirations, if not always the practice.  We called it Democracy.  We called it the American Dream.  We called in our Beacon to the World.

Trump has shattered norms, broken rules and laws, committed serious breaches of decency, honor and tradition and time and again, he has avoided consequences and now has been rewarded with the highest seat of power.  This is seriously out of whack. Somehow, the American conscience has become uprooted from reality and from the principles that have been a consistent thread throughout our history.

This uprooting means that a ne'er-do-well sexual offender like Matt Gaetz (a Butthead look-alike) can be considered a viable candidate for Attorney General and a Fox News bloviator, Pete Hegseth (multiple adulterer) would be the perfect Secretary of Defense and rid our military of the scourge of "wokeness." The circus is in town.

 When people are able to accept "Up" as "Down" and "In" as "Out" something has to give in their psyche.  We see that there is mental gymnastics going on at a nationwide level.  Many people have to be feeling cognitive dissonance and need to practice a lot of self-justification to hold on to their beliefs.  If we point out flaws in their thinking or judgment, they can't safely acknowledge that truth.  We become the target--we are the ones that are wrong.  Responses can be ostracism (exclusion from the group, family, etc.) anger and rebukes or differing levels of threat. 

STEP 7: Seek to Understand The New Mindset of America

• Learn about logical fallacies...right wing rhetoric provides a smorgasbord of these.  My source for great critical thinking materials is The School of Thought https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com
• Detect the "tells" in conservative arguments--what strategies do you hear?  Blame?  False Equivalencies?  This is advice I found on the Rational Voices Facebook Page.

• 

  
  
• Avoid arguments that can put you at risk without reward.  Figure out when engagement is useful and potentially effective; don't make yourself a target unnecessarily.
• Recommended reading: Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)
    Renowned social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson take a compelling look into how the brain is wired for self-justification. This updated edition concludes with an extended discussion of how we can live with dissonance, learn from it, and perhaps, eventually, forgive ourselves.

Why is it so hard to say “I made a mistake”—and really believe it?

When we make mistakes, cling to outdated attitudes, or mistreat other people, we must calm the cognitive dissonance that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so, unconsciously, we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral, and right—a belief that often keeps us on a course that is dumb, immoral, and wrong. Backed by years of research, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) offers a fascinating explanation of self-justification—how it works, the damage it can cause, and how we can overcome it.

“Entertaining, illuminating and—when you recognize yourself in the stories it tells—mortifying.”—Wall Street Journal

“Every page sparkles with sharp insight and keen observation. Mistakes were made—but not in this book!”—Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness

Countdown 69 (continued)

 What if the German people in the 1930's had been able to look into the future and see all the death and destruction that lay ahead for them and the world?  Would they have remained complacent followers or would they have taken more decision actions while they still had a chance?  

We can't know for sure what the Trump administration will do to reach their stated goals, but we have some pretty certain clues of what they would like to do and are already selecting people to accomplish them.  

When it comes to immigration, one of the key planks of the platform, Tom Homan, former ICE director has been selected as "border czar." Don't expect compassionate conservatism from this man.  The Forbes article linked to his name is brief, but chilling...as ICE.  Mass deportations, workplace arrests, family separation, zero tolerance, and frequent use of defiant swear words.  I didn't catch any nuanced concerns about the impact this would have on agricultural production or building trades when millions of workers are deported.

When it comes to the climate, take a brief look at Lee Zeldin, former New York representative who is tapped to be the EPA chief, with a goal to " restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry..." Such priorities could be why the Sierra Club considers him to be "unqualified."

We could go on about Steven Miller, Elise Stefanik, Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem; a real Rogue's Gallery of appointees is forming.

I had indicated earlier that I was going to talk about effective actions we can take.  Am I suggesting that we take on the all of these agencies, with all of their powers and bring them down?  Well, not exactly.  Several days ago I talked about planning our charitable giving to do some of this fighting for us with their knowledge and legal clout. It's for our own protection that we learn who the players are, what their agendas are and support organizations that are likely to be the most successful in combating the negative outcomes. 

I'm suggesting that we work where we are.  In a very short time, the newly elected people in down ballot races will be sworn into office; at your city hall, county commission, school board, state legislature.  It's time to get to know who they are and where they stand on issues that matter to you.  

Is your city going to ease regulations that could impact your water supply?  Is the school board going to ban books, cut staffing in important positions, or discriminate against marginalized students?  In Minnesota, there will be a Democratic governor (welcome back Tim), a senate with a one member advantage for Democrats and a split House which will have to share leadership.  Individual members can have significant impact if they do not all follow the party line. 

Here's where we can have a personal impact.  Some legislators are savvy operators, but not all.  Many
work in obscurity.  Council meetings generally don't compete with popcorn and Netflix on the couch, so unless there is a big issue on the agenda, you won't have trouble finding a seat.  Elected officials will generally be glad you are there, especially if you display cordial curiosity and not hostile belligerence.

Show up, listen, introduce yourself.  Then do it again.  Speak in the public forum if you have something to say. Invite others (offer a ride and a beverage or snack) Maybe everything will be great.  Now you know. Write and thank them for good governance, or keep going back and expect better.

Step 6: Become Informed About Local Government

1. Consult a government website to learn the names and contact information of all the officials that have direct influence on you and your community.  In Minnesota you can consult  https://mn.gov/portal/government/state
2. Send a letter or email to those officials to let them know, as one of their constituents, you'll be watching them and expecting them to live up to their oaths.  Get on their mailing lists.  Encourage like-minded neighbors and friends to do the same.  It doesn't matter which side of the aisle they are on...knowing they are being scrutinized is fine. Send both compliments and complaints. 
3. For national officials there are a number of websites that do a good job of data gathering about proposed laws and lawmakers committee work and voting trends.  I get a regular email from https://www.govtrack.us/ with the votes of my Senators and Representative and there is a wealth of other information as well.  Some of it will require a little research to understand, but a lot of the charts and graphs are downright fascinating to study.
4. Remember the tagline of the Washington Post..."Democracy Dies in Darkness". While they may have fallen down on the job, we don't have to.  We can shine a light on what is happening where we live and make a difference.