Throw in the Towel?
by C.A. Matthews
by C.A. Matthews
All things must
come to an end. Eventually. That's just how life works in our linear temporal existence here on Earth. But is there ever a point where we should step in and
usurp the universe's timing for something to end? Is there ever a point where
we should put an endeavor to rest early before its memory becomes so worn and
tarnished that we can barely look back at it without tears and regrets?
You're looking
at one such endeavor.
The heyday of
Bernie Sanders' first "fringe" run for the White House are past.
Those of us who jumped on the Bernie bandwagon early on in 2015 have climbed to
the mountaintops and then plunged down to the deep dark valleys more times than
we care to admit. We all knew that Bernie's ideas were "mainstream"
and would capture the public's imagination.
But little did we know how the
"mainstream" media would at first ignore his race, then ridicule him
personally, then outright blame his followers for Trump's victory. Our idealism
blinded us to the reality of how "money talks" and how much the mess
we're in can be placed on the doorstep of the Citizens United ruling.
This blog used
to get tens of thousands of hits per week back when. No joke. Somewhere along
the line the opposition (in the form of David Brock's "Correct the
Record" trolls) started to block and get our promotional posts banned on
social media platforms. The site visits dropped, but then they recovered, as
progressives huddled together in the cold, cruel world that is Trump's America.
We knew we were filling a niche and had readers who depended upon us being
there for them in these dark times.
But with the
demise of Google+ and the death of Net Neutrality, the last nails have been
hammered into the coffin that is The Revolution Continues blog. If the hit
counters are to be believed (and that's problematic in and of itself--they
could be hacked), then we have gone from a weekly audience of a well-packed
basketball arena for a Bernie rally down to a mid-sized auditorium or less. Is
the struggle to produce/procure a weekly piece worth it for so few? We think
so, but the time, toil and effort are draining. One wonders is it worth all
the stress.
There are
progressive candidates worth promoting, discussing and disagreeing with. There
are a myriad of progressive causes that need our attention and help to get
their message out. Are we still able to fulfill our purpose without a large
advertising budget so we can buy the advertising we need to spread the word
that we used to get free of charge?
All we know for
certain at this point is this: the opponents of Net Neutrality and the scourge
of corporate-welfare capitalism have a lot to answer for!
Giving a
collective sigh, we push on. This week the inspiration wasn't there for any
of our diehard core of bloggers and hence this sad and sorry piece.
There is much
to get righteously angry about today in the news: little children dying in
#TrumpCamps, more people dying of preventable illnesses because Medicare For All
is still a figment of our imaginations, saber-rattling in the Gulf of Oman to
start another dirty little war for oil…
And, of course,
Bernie Sanders is back in the running, bigger and better than ever. We hold our
collective breaths and wait, cautiously optimistic the corrupt DNC won't thwart
his run for the White House again by anointing the corporatist/friend of
segregationalists former V.P. Joe Biden instead. It's early days yet, so we won't put the
cart before the horse. We're hopeful if Bernie doesn't get the nod at least
Tulsi Gabbard might… Nah, they'll just thrust Creepy Uncle Joe down our throats
and tell us to vote "blue no matter who."
The Greens have
yet to settle on any one candidate, but their national convention is a month
off. Without the specter of corporate lobbyist money, the Greens will at least
have a fair and democratic process to decide whom they wish to front for
president. There could be a pleasant surprise awaiting us in the near future.
We're holding
on until then. The towel is in our hands, and we've not thrown it in quite yet.
Give us a little love--give us some feedback in the comments section below. We'd love
to hear what you want to hear more about.
The Revolution
Continues… until it doesn't.
***
From the League of Women Voters:
Tuesday, June 25, marks six years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision which overturned essential provisions of the VRA which has led to countless attacks on the voting rights of Americans.
Together, during the
week of June 24-30, allies around the country will come together to show
how this decision unleashed a torrent of voter discrimination and
electoral chaos nationwide. We’re planning a massive call in day tomorrow (Tuesday, June 25) to Congress asking them to fully restore the Voting Rights Act. And we encourage calls throughout the week as your schedule allows.
Over the past six years since Shelby County v. Holder,
we have seen many states and localities use every tool available to
make voting harder. Politicians have worked to roll back hours for early
voting, purge voter rolls of qualified voters, and even pass strict
voter photo ID bills that make it harder for people to register to
vote.
But Congress can act today by moving the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4 / S. 561)! Will you call your elected officials demand action on this important legislation?
The Voting Rights Advancement Act was introduced to address the voting discrimination unleashed in the wake of the Shelby County v. Holder decision. Now let’s get to it and move forward on consideration of the bill.
Demand action from your members of Congress today! Call your members of Congress (202-224-3121) and tell them that our democracy needs a fully restored Voting Rights Act today.
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Yours in the fight,
Celina Stewart
Senior Director of Advocacy and Litigation League of Women Voters
***
From Food & Water Watch:
Since settling with Ray Kemble in July 2012, Cabot has accrued 243 violations for its fracking in Ray's home county — why are they still allowed to frack?
Support Ray and help fight Cabot! I wanted to share a quick update on Cabot Oil & Gas’ efforts to silence people fighting fracking. We are continuing to support Ray Kemble as Cabot’s lawsuit against him slogs on. He didn’t do anything wrong by educating people about the dangers of fracking, and Cabot’s lawsuit is unjustified bullying. (You can stand with Ray and support his legal fight, too.) Meanwhile, Cabot is actually breaking rules. Since July 20, 2012 (the day Cabot settled the suit Ray brought against them for poisoning his water), Cabot has accrued 243 violations for its fracking operations in Susquehanna County alone, where Ray lives.1 This is unacceptable.
You can donate to stand up to Cabot and keep supporting Ray’s fight.
Onward together,  Wenonah Hauter Executive Director Food & Water Watch
1. One Courageous Man Is Standing Against Cabot Oil, But He's Not Alone, Food & Water Watch, June 21, 2019.
***
Can you give a blogger a lift? How about helping them pay for a ride to the upcoming Green Party National Meeting in Salem, Mass. so The Revolution Continues can report on the action? Please donate a buck or two to our travel fund via the Paypal link below. Thanks!
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