ACTION - This Is a HUGE Week....Which Needs HUGE ACTIONS

Today was MLK Day.  This is a day where we take actions and not just enjoy a day off but instead do something meaningful.   I thought of you and how to help you and our country especially after such an awful last week with ACA, Russia, Trump,  tweets against John Lewis and always the interests of the oil industry being more important than humans.   And of course DJT took a swipe at NATO yesterday.   Oh, and the press may be removed from the White House.  

I spent a lot of MLK day going through my resources and culling together a list of actions we all need to do in this big week.   

Because I am on Pacific Time Zone I will get up early this week like I did last week and call various committees.   It is a pain in the ass.  But when I got in the car last week and my son asked who I was talking to at 6am and I said, "Senator Graham's office"  and explained why, well it was worth getting up.   This is real world training I'm doing over here with my teen.   

By the way, when you call  Senators you will benefit by giving them a Zip Code from their state.  I've put some zip codes together to help you when you say you are from their state. 

Anyway, there are more hearings this week on Trump Cabinet Nominees.  

As you know,  Rex Tillerson met with his committee last week and was grilled by Marco Rubio (of all people).   They have not formally accepted Tillerson.   Call Senators this week and oppose this tool of Putin's and Big Oil.   Given the fact we already have a President-Elect who is in Putin's pocket do we have to have a Secretary of State there as well?   Especially call Marco Rubio and thank him for pushing back and encourage him to vote against Tillerson. 

Go HERE for who to call and what to say against Rex Tillerson.  

On Tuesday  morning around 10am   Ryan Zinke will go before the Senate Hearing on Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources.   If you love our national parks and open lands and don't want to see everything covered in McDonalds and oil wells...then you need to call early the Senate Committe.  We need to push hard.  Go HERE on Zinke.  

On Tuesday January 17,  Betsy DeVos goes before her Senate Committee for Education Secretary.  Where to begin with the issues around Ms. DeVos?  Vouchers.  Defunding public schools.   Dismantling public, honestly if she has her way she'd send all kids to church schools.   I'm sorry how is that not a madrasa?  She's our own personal Taliban. 

Go HERE for who to call and what to say against Betsy. 

Scott Pruitt is up for EPA Secretary.  Lord.   Luckily NextGenClimate will help you call and give you the laundry list of issues about Pruitt.   Go HERE and follow the steps. 

And then there is Russia.   The hacking of the US Elections is not about hacking the actual machines but instead hacking the DNC and pitting HRC against Sanders, etc.   They generated fake news and in general caused mischief so their pick for US President,  Donald Trump, would win.    And they did it.    Where is the outrage by the GOP?  For god sake if the roles were reversed and Putin was helping Clinton there would be GOP jihad.   We need to call our Senators & Representatives for a formal investigation.  Go HERE to learn who to call and what to say. 

And there is ACA (ObamaCare), we are still trying to slow down the dismantling.   Here is what Elizabeth Warren says we should do.  

If by the way you can't get through to Senators and Congress because they aren't picking up their phones or their mailboxes are full...take some tips from a pro how to break through. 

Now what are you going to do on Inauguration Day?  You are NOT going to watch any TV.  Keep your TV off all day.   I will turn my TV on at 10pm only to Watch Bill Maher.   No MSNBC because they are covering the pomp all day and evening.  Do not partake.   We want it to be the lowest rated Inauguration in modern history.   Trump is already desperate and posting free inaugural tickets on his FB page.  Sad.  

Do you know about Concert For America? It is at the The Town Hall in NYC and it will be live streamed.    Play it at your house, play it at your work.   Enjoy it.  

I will be doing volunteer work the day before and on the Inauguration Day.  I will also be writing checks to my causes that are about to go under fire by a new White House.   

Marches on Saturday, January 21

There is the big march in DC the day after the inauguration and at the same time there are marches all over the United States (& the rest of the world).

Have you checked your city for a local march?  Have you told your friends in other states that there are marches close to their home?

Here’s the LINK to the marches. 

And by the way--

Does anyone remember this tweet from Donald Trump in 2012 when Obama won?   5 years later I guess we'll take him up on his thought and we'll march!  

These are difficult complicated days and it is easy to get overwhelmed especially right now with the confirmation hearings along with the usual ADHD Trump whims.   I encourage you to take this on bit by bit.  If you can't call all the senators you want to call it is understandable.  We do need to pace ourselves.  But do call someone this week.  Do consider going on a march.  Do consider sending a check to a cause.  Consider doing some volunteer work.   Consider being kind to anyone who pops up in your world.   Strength and kindness should not be underestimated.   

And also here is a bit of music to inspire you as we remember what really is great about America which is up lifting and kind and generous and inspiring.  Nothing that we see in our President Elect.  That's okay, we just need to see it in our community going forward.