I am "lucky." I am currently unemployed, so I have some time on my hands. But I also feel like everyone who spends any time posting here probably could be doing more towards winning for reform, progressive, liberal, democratic/Democratic victories in primaries and in the general election. What are you doing? Can you do more?
I am job hunting and being stay-at-home father for my son (age almost 10 and a handful with ASD but also wonderful). My main source of income is unemployment with occasional supplements from folk like you who buy from my Amazon Store, or from folk who hire me freelance for tutoring/resume writing/etc. or for science editing (D. Michaelson). I am loving spending so much time with my son, but I also am dedicating time towards advancing reform and liberal politics both locally and nationally.
Below is what I am doing. What are you doing and how can people help? Can anyone help the efforts I am pushing? Arguing meta minutiae on Daily Kos is all very well, but ultimately, we need to win elections...including primaries! We have one week to reform Albany and about 2 months to win nationally...and I am sure you have some stuff to add. So add it here. We can all help eachother. See below for what I am doing and my challenge for you to beat me.
What am I doing for my local primary and the national election?
I have raised almost $1800 for candidates nationally, and over $500 for candidates in my local elections in NYC. I would love to make that $1000 for local candidates in the next week (the only time we have to elect BETTER Democrats here in NY State). I also would love to raise more than $2500 for the national candidates. Can you help out?
I have managed to get two recommended diaries in the past 2 days highlighting first the NYT endorsements and then the very liberal Americans for Democratic Action endorsements in NY State. Read my recommended list diary scolding of Kossacks for too much meta mixed with my coverage of the NYT endorsements. And read my exclusive, first in the nation coverage of the endorsements of a major liberal organization in NYC, NYC Americans for Democratic Action (I posted before some candidates knew they were endorsed). Can you write some diaries highlighting key primary and general election candidates in your area?
Tomorrow I will be working (in a non-partisan manner unrelated to any candidate) for the Ny State Board of Elections helping residents in nursing homes vote by absentee ballot. This will make me some money and replace a day of unemployment, but most importantly I will help empower people to vote who otherwise might have trouble. If anyone out there wants to help people vote, let me know and I will try to hook you up with your local Board of Elections. Without our help, there are many out there whose votes will not count.
Thursday and Friday this week I will be doing footwork for one of my favorite local candidates, Jo Anne Simon, running for Assembly in my district. Handing out lit and doing office work. Are you able to even a couple hours footwork for your local candidates?
Saturday I am training to work the polls as a poll worker (non-partisan and not affiliated with any candidate). It will be a LONG day, but I know how important it is to make sure the polls run smoothly. It is also another chance to make some extra money and replace a day of unemployment, but helping democracy run smoothly is what matters to me most. What are YOU doing on the primary day in your local area? Helping democracy? Helping a local candidate?
After the primary, I am hoping to get a paying job through November with someone running in the general election against a Repub. But it depends on if he raises enough money.
Of course a full time job will take precedence over some of this. But I have been finding ways to help even when I had a full time job. We all can do at least an hour or two a week, maybe more, to push what we believe in. Blogging on Daily Kos isn't enough. We need to do more.
What are you doing and how can we help?