Hello, again, hello.

Yes, you can expect repeated Gen X pop culture references.

Dec 14, 2024

Hey, everybody!

As promised I have rebranded this blog and started a new one that is dedicated to Minnetonka. So this one will now focus on what’s going on at state (MN) and national levels.

Image created from graphics available at DemCast.com

I mentioned in my last blog, that I was deep in my feels. That hasn’t completely gone away. I’m just sort of suppressing it all so that I can carry on. Anyway, it seems like I’ve attended 1 million sessions where we analyzed what happened in November, discussed lessons learned, and plotted a way forward. It is sometimes hard for me who spends a lot of time in organizer and activist spaces to realize that not everyone experiences the same level of immersion as I do. So I will attempt to share information that you may not have already heard.

What Happened?

So it’s clear that there were some mistakes made and opportunities missed.
The presidential election results may have been inevitable
- Worldwide over the past 2 years, there was a trend. National incumbents were voted out regardless of ideology or time in office.
- Inflation as a result of the pandemic was blamed on current administrations and people voted for “change”.
- So the U.S. isn’t special, we followed the trend.
That doesn’t mean that there aren’t lessons to be learned or actions to be taken.
- Dems lost the messaging war and did not reach low-information voters
- Field strategies that took for granted the loyalty of certain populations were flawed.
- These things and more will need to be considered when engaging with voters in the future

So What Do We Do Now?

Buckle up Buttercup because it’s going to be a bumpy ride. There are, however, groups that are taking and will continue to take action. Find one of those groups. How do you know which group to join? Well, I’ll mention (again) a few that I’ve worked with but let me back up a minute. When it comes to this sort of work, you will often see three types of activities.

Protests, marches, rallies.
Advocacy
Organizing for power-building

All three have a place in advancing the work:

Protests, marches, and rallies can increase public awareness around an issue, signal to those in power that the issue is important, and energize people to take action around an issue
Advocacy involves bringing issues to decision-makers and convincing them to act.
Organizing for power-building involves working directly with affected communities to build demonstrable power and building a co-governing relationship with elected officials.

Ideally, an organization will do all three. If you look at its body of work and it consists of mainly protest that is not followed up by action, then I would say go ahead and attend the rally but don’t make your political home with that organization.

A’ight Which Groups Have an Action Plan

There are many. In Minnesota, there are several organizations that do good work and have participated in coalition work. There are two in particular that I keep returning to and have had a peak behind the curtain so to speak.

Faith in Minnesota(FIMN)/ISAIAH

Relational organizing and power building
We believe in a multiracial democracy, a caring economy, and a just climate future where everyone has what they need to thrive and every person is treated with dignity and respect. We organize around achieving this vision.
Note: While it started as a faith-based organization, ISAIAH/FIMN has grown to include childcare centers, barbershops, and others with no religious affiliation. You do not have to be a person of faith to put your faith in Minnesota and Minnesotans.
Oh, yeah, we have a plan or rather we have plans.

https://faithinmn.org/

Go here to see my previous substack where I detail some of the 2023 MN Legislative wins that ISAIAH/FIMN helped advance. As well as more in-depth descriptions of FIMN and Indivisible West Metro (IWM).

Indivisible

Check out the Indivisible Guide which was created with input from IWM’s own Greg Laden. As it says in the subtitle it contains: Strategies, Tactics, & Tips For How Everyday Americans Can Fight Back Together Wherever We Live. So Indivisible also has plans.
You can also find National Actions on the Indivisible Website.

What about local Indivisibles?

Local Indivisibles are going to vary in size, focus, and activities. Some may mainly fall into the rally/protest category but many will be doing organizing and activism. Go here to find an Indivisible near you.
- What if there is no Indivisible group near me?
  - You can find information and support on starting a new group on the Indivisible website.
- What if my local Indivisible is inactive, or barely active?
  - Consider joining and helping to rebuild/refocus (again resources can be found on the Indivisible website).
  - Look for other groups near you
  - Start a new group
  - Join Indivisible West Metro
    - Granted, if you live in Arkansas, we aren’t going to have any local actions that affect you, but you’re welcome to take part in our educational programs and any actions that might apply.

I’m toying with the idea of having a topic or theme in each newsletter that may not be directly related to politics. This month I want to share information I’ve been seeing regarding denial of insurance claims and steps that can be taken.

ProPublica Claim File Helper
Obligatory disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, medical doctor, or insurance professional. The following screenshot was shared in a private FB group. I went to the BlueSky account and it appears to be an actual account and not a bot. I cannot verify the soundness of the advice given, although it seems to align with the ProPublica information.