In the battle to preserve democracy, we are the cavalry

Many have watched with anger and dismay as Donald Trump has taken a wrecking ball to the government, the economy, foreign policy, and the basic ideal of what it means to be American. As there is no cavalry coming to protect us from a president with unchecked power, it is up to us to fight back against the corruption, incompetence, and abuses of power.

But the question many ask is: What can I do?

The short answer is plenty.

While it is understandable to feel hopeless or think of giving up, the hard reality is that preserving democracy takes work. And it requires everyone to have some skin in the game if they don’t want to live under an authoritarian regime.

There are many ways — both large and small — in which citizens can contribute.

As someone who has volunteered during every election cycle since college, and author of You Are Not Alone: Your Roadmap to Effective Political Action, I want to share what I have learned over the years at this crucial moment.

First, we must stay informed and engaged. That means subscribing to respected news sources: this news organization, the New York Times, your local newspaper, the BBC, PBS, NPR, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, the Associated Press, Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter, Punchbowl News, and Techwork.

Second, get involved. Today. Not tomorrow or next week. Everyone may choose a path that aligns with their interests and resources. Some may have time. Others may have money to donate to organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, Democracy Now, and others.

We must stay informed and engaged.

Other ways include running for local office or school boards. Or you can help with voter registration drives led by Headcount, Rock the Vote, the League of Women Voters, and Vote1234.

Third, host a virtual fundraiser. Leading up to the 2020 presidential election, the Parties for Democracy (PFD) initiative raised $450,000 in just three months, supporting highly vetted grassroots organizations with proven track records, including the Lincoln Project, Activate America, Fair Fight, Democracy Forward, Commit to Democracy, and Vote Forward.

The virtual PFDs require considerably less time to plan compared with an in-person party, yield higher turnout, and raise, on average, $10,000 per party in one hour through videoconferencing. Moreover, virtual PFDs can reach friends and family across the country and are thus not limited to local friends and family.

Fourth is to let your voice be heard. The country was founded on free speech and peaceful assembly. Show up at protests or town halls of elected officials by consulting the websites of your elected representatives or local advocacy groups. Or call or write to your local, state, and federal elected officials.

Politicians respond to money and public opinion. A groundswell of public action and voices is the best way to get their attention.

Lastly, engage with your neighbors. Social media can be toxic and not a good use of time, but face-to-face conversations with friends, family, and neighbors can be more effective. Going to transit stops and shopping centers to engage in conversation with folks to spread the message that what is happening is not normal, is in fact dangerous, and harmful to the health, strength, and prosperity of the country and people.

A number of groups are involved in helping people bridge the partisan divide, including Braver Angels, In This Together America, and Committee of Seventy, while Netimpact helps individuals become engaged citizens.

You can also set up at your local farmers market and connect patrons to opportunities to plug in by either donating money or time to the many effective grassroots organizations operating in battleground districts to help bring about a more diverse government. The current mission involves focusing on the 17 Republicans in swing districts facing reelection in the midterms to give Democrats control of the House to act as a check against Trump’s unchecked power.

Community is medicine.

Our goal is to reach out to their constituents and have them call their congressional representative and encourage them to stand up to Trump. My fellow volunteers not only enjoy connecting with our neighbors, but we are also regularly and consistently thanked for the guidance and direction we provide to advance the cause.

The other question many ask is whether their activism will make a difference.

Absolutely.

A postmortem analysis by the grassroots organization Activate America showed that for the races in which they invested, it positively affected the outcome by 2% to 4%, which advanced the margin of victory in several close races.

In a country that is evenly divided, that can be all the difference. Especially when you consider Trump won Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania by just 230,000 votes combined.

We may not realize that when we support and strengthen democratic institutions, whether at the local, state, or federal level, we are answering the call to country. Everyone who believes that democracy has a significant role to play as we come together to defeat the most dangerous threat to our country in our lifetimes. As we position our movement for a significant impact now, we can experience wins as we move into the future.

Community is medicine. By forming or joining an Indivisible group or supporting the many other grassroots organizations, you and your concerned friends and family can contribute to positive change while assuaging your concerns in the company of kindred supporters.

Gary Lucks is the author of “You Are Not Alone: Your Roadmap to Effective Political Action” and founder of the Resistance Action East Bay Indivisible Group.