GUYS. THERE WAS DRIVE-THROUGH IN ANCIENT ROME. FINDING OUT THIS ALONE IS WORTH THE COST OF MY MASTERS IN HISTORY.
[From Daily Life of the Ancient Romans by David Matz]
*rolls up to the window* yeah gimme a number V combo
“I’ll have two number IXs, a number IX large, a number VI with extra ambrosia, a number VIII, two number XLVs, one with cheese, and a large goblet of wine.”
hail, I am Gaius Furius, welcome to Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives
72% of 18 to 24 year olds voted in the UK elections yesterday.
Today, Theresa May faces a hung parliament (there is not clear winner with a majority) and a DECREASED number of seats when she called this election because she thought she could strengthen her majority.
And that, kids, is why we should vote. We make a fucking different. Today we could have been facing a country where our internet is monitored, our human rights are stripped away, and the most vulnerable in our society are disgustingly exploited by the government. Instead, now, there is HOPE.
We had a fun/absurd national moment watching Comey testify today, but now that’s over and as citizens there’s basically nothing we can do to affect the Russia investigation (unless you’re plotting a honeypot mission to Mar-a-Lago in which case: godspeed, heroines). But we CAN do something about (one of) the other terrible thing(s) happening, which is Mitch McConnell wrangling the ACA repeal through the Senate.
Remember when the House passed a monstrosity of a health care bill and we were all sure it was DOA in the Senate? Reports suggest not much has changed in the Senate version of that bill which, even though it doesn’t exist yet (or does and is being kept under wraps), good ol’ Mitch has taken steps to fast-track (skipping committee and going directly on the Senate Calendar for a vote). Ben Wikler has put out the all-call; if you prefer your action on Twitter, this is the link.
–> We need another sustained public outcry against taking a health care bill to the Senate floor that bears any resemblance at all to the House bill.
HERE’S YOUR TO-DO LIST:
1. Program the Capitol switchboard # into your phone: (202) 224-3121
2. Make as many calls as you possibly can every day. Set a phone reminder.
3. Recruit friends from these states to call. ALL reps need their phone lines tied up, but these reps could be the swing votes.
4. Ask for the Health Legislative Assistant for your senator. Here are their names! TELL YOUR STORY. Or your dad/grandma/sister/friend’s story. Healthcare touches us all. It’s their job to listen to this stuff specifically.
5. Go to your local Congressional office: demand to be seen, wait there, take photos and videos, post them online. Don’t wait to see the wave of action to be inspired–start the wave yourself. Everybody can be a hero every day in the Age of Trump.
6. Get creative! Get tambourines and a bullhorn. Make loud signs. Bedazzle your jean jacket with “Save the ACA.” Or just pick up the phone. We are all GLOBALLY EXHAUSTED, and it hasn’t even been 5 months. But we have the power to make enough noise to break through the insanity out there [& in our brains] and make sure health policy remains humane, and represents the best of America, not the worst.
HELLO EVERYONE!!! MY GOD WE’RE SO TIRED, BUT PUTTING IN WORK ACTUALLY HELPS US BE LESS TIRED, OR AT LEAST THE SAME TIRED IN A GOOD WAY. MITCH MCCONNELL STILL WANTS TO FAST-TRACK THE AHCA THROUGH THE SENATE WHICH WILL LITERALLY KILL MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. Inform him, his colleagues and allies that that would be a mistake.
The Senate is planning on fast-tracking the repeal of the Affordable Care Act in 3 weeks. The bill is being drafted in secret without any input from patients or doctors. The Democrats are not being allowed to participate. There will be no hearings, no town halls, no input from voters. And the “moderates” in the GOP are signaling that they will support taking away healthcare from millions of Americas.
TN – WV – LA – ME – AR – AZ – CO – SC – NV – AK & OH
If you do not not live in these states: go to Facebook and type in “Friends in [name of state].” Messenger your friends, send them this link and ask them to call. If they cannot call, have them fax from their cell phones using ResistBot (https://resistbot.io). If they cannot fax, have them email their Senators. And then ask them to pass this info on to their friends and families in those states and ask them to do the same.
Also consider emailing a letter to to the editor for the local papers in your state & send them your story, mentioning your Senator.
If you don’t use Facebook, search through your contacts for people from those states and do the same.
If you are burned out and overwhelmed: please consider reposting on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, LJ/DW.
Deadline: we have three weeks. The vote will happen the third week in June (June 26-June 30).
4 Sample scripts below
Sample Script: “SCRIPT FOR SENATORS: Hi, my name is…and I’m a constituent from… [give your zip code]. I am calling because I am very concerned about the millions of people like me who could lose health care and essential services if the AHCA becomes law. (Insert personal details as you feel comfortable: I receive care through the ACA or Medicaid, I have a pre-existing condition, I have a disability/a child with a disability, I work in health care or in schools, etc.) I ask that the senator aggressively oppose ANY legislation that makes it harder for constituents to access affordable insurance or cuts funding for Medicaid and vote against any bill that offers a tax cut to the wealthy at the expense of working Americans, the sick, and disabled. Thank you for your time”
Sample Script: “Hello, my name is ….. and I’m a constituent from… [give your zip code] . I’m calling to demand that Sen. X do everything in his/her power to block Trumpcare. Trumpcare will destroy Medicare and Medicaid, defund Planned Parenthood and take health care away from people with pre-existing conditions. Tens of millions of Americans could lose their health coverage if the Senate advances Trumpcare. I expect Sen. X to do the right thing and protect Americans from this deadly and reckless bill. Can I count on Sen. X to vote no on Trumpcare? Thank you for your time.”
Sample Script: “
Hello, my name is ….. and I’m a constituent from… [give your zip code] .
I’m calling (SENATOR) to oppose any health care bill that (List your favorites from below)
Don’t cut $880 BILLION from the safety-net Medicaid program;
Don’t reduce premium subsidies for moderate-income families
Don’t charge older Americans a huge increase, up to 750% increase above their current bill.
Don’t discriminate against people with pre-existing health conditions;
Don’t take away essential health benefits from insurance coverage; and
Don’t defund Planned Parenthood;
Don’t make women pay more than men;
Don’t put annual and lifetime caps back on the table;
Don’t cut Special Education funds for special needs kids (funded by Medicaid!);
Allows corporations to stop providing coverage without fines.
A Middleground 