Fire is Catching!
The Movement to Save Democracy is Igniting
It was a beautiful Spring afternoon. A light breeze reminded me that it was still Colorado, and that the weather could change in an instant, but today, it didn’t matter. My older children and I thought we had left early enough to get to the rally in plenty of time for a decent view, but we were wrong. The field was filling up fast, with lines wrapped around the block, all waiting to get through the metal detectors. We snaked through the park for nearly two hours before we finally made it to the entrance. Some people had just decided to stay behind the fence, while even more were pouring in from every direction. There were 34,000 of us, united by one goal—end the oligarchy.
In the group surrounding us were libertarians, disenfranchised republicans, young people who had never been involved in politics, and of course, democrats. We were together in unity. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders were the spark I needed after attending the town hall of Senator Michael Bennett and Representative Brittany Petterson. It was passion, it was purpose, it was a PLAN.
As Bernie and AOC tour the US with this message of action, it is becoming more evident that the people, we the people, are craving leadership and transparency. The message was clear - our two party system has failed us for years. Greed and power have been the motivation for our leaders for decades, knowing that keeping us divided keeps us distracted so we cannot see what is really happening. They don’t care about serving the people, only themselves.
This is no longer just about red and blue - it’s about US. What is the government doing TO us, not FOR us. We employ our government which makes them subject to US, not the other way around. The urgency was finally acknowledged, and the crowd's synergy ignited a powerful momentum.
“Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us”—there's no escaping the consequences. Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling the government, destabilizing the market to seize more wealth, and ushering in a new era of hate and white supremacy. This is a direct attack on democracy—and it must be stopped. We cannot sit idly by while they exploit the system for their own gain, threatening the very foundations of our society. It’s time to take action, stand united, and fight for a future built on justice, equality, and true democracy.
A Plan to Reclaim Our Democracy
There is a way for us to rise up, make our voices heard, and take back control of our government and its policies.
Build Community. We've lost the power of coming together—sharing a meal, offering kindness, and standing united in purpose. The internet and social media have done more to divide us than to bring us together. We don’t know the names of our neighbors. People barely acknowledge each other. We seldom engage in community events. Instead, we isolate ourselves in individual bubbles, reinforcing our perspectives through algorithms and curated news. How do we break this cycle?
Take the time to get to know your neighbors. Knock on their door, introduce yourself, and bring a small gift—perhaps some food—with your contact information included.
Volunteer with an organization that speaks to you. Check out the website of your favorite non-profit or go to www.volunteermatch.org. It connects individuals with volunteer opportunities based on location and interests.
Find a group that has similar interests to you like Meetup. It's a platform where people can find and join local groups to meet up around shared interests, including volunteering, networking, hobbies, and more. You can visit their website at www.meetup.com.
Get Involved. You can’t do everything, but you can do something.
Attend Local Government Meetings: Attend city council meetings, school board meetings, or town halls. These are great opportunities to hear from local leaders, voice concerns, and participate in community decisions.
Volunteer for Political Campaigns: Whether it's for a local candidate or a national cause, volunteering can help you connect with others who share similar values and provide a hands-on way to support change.
Join or Start Advocacy Groups: Joining or start advocacy groups that focus on specific issues you are passionate about, such as climate change, education, or criminal justice reform. These groups can help amplify your voice and impact policies.
Engage with Elected Officials: Contact your elected officials through phone calls, emails, or social media to voice their opinions on important issues. Personal connections with representatives can influence policy decisions. Two easy ways to do this from the comfort of your home is to use Resistbot at
https://resist.bot and 5 Calls at https://5calls.org. These organizations offer platforms to help you contact your elected representatives and engage in civic activities.
Run for Office: If you are passionate about making change, consider running for local office. You can start by volunteering for smaller positions and work your way up, ensuring you have a strong connection with your community.
Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about current issues and government processes through news outlets, books, and online resources. Spread this knowledge within your community, helping others become more civically engaged.
Join a Political Party or Movement: Get involved with a political party or grassroots movement that aligns with your values. Attending events and meetings can help you stay involved and understand the inner workings of politics.
Support or Organize Protests and Petitions: If there’s an issue you feel strongly about, support or organize peaceful protests, rallies, or petitions to advocate for change. Public demonstrations are powerful tools to draw attention to important causes. Show Up!
Serve on Boards or Committees: Many communities have advisory boards or committees that need volunteers to help guide decisions on issues like zoning, health, education, or the arts. It’s a great way to influence local policies.
Participate in Public Commenting: Many government agencies allow citizens to submit comments on proposed policies or regulations. Encourage people to participate in public comment periods to have their voices heard in the policymaking process.
Hold Your Elected Officials Accountable.
Stay Informed and Educated
First and foremost, make sure you’re staying informed about what your elected officials are doing. Keep track of their voting records, speeches, and decisions. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to hold them accountable.
Read up on their voting history and what they’re saying in the media.
Follow them on social media to keep up with their actions and statements.
Make sure you're getting your news from trustworthy sources.
Hold Them to Their Campaign Promises
If they made promises during their campaign, hold them to it. If they’re not delivering, it’s time to remind them of what they committed to.
Keep track of what they said they’d do and ask about it when you contact them.
Politely remind them of their promises and ask for updates.
Vote, Always
Voting is one of the easiest yet most powerful ways to hold your elected officials accountable. Don’t just show up for presidential elections—make sure you vote in local and state elections too.
Be sure to vote in every election, and encourage others to do the same.
Take the time to research the candidates before casting your vote.
Speak Out on Public Platforms
Social media is a powerful tool—use it to voice your opinions and hold your representatives accountable in a public space.
Share your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram and tag your elected officials.
Use hashtags to draw attention to important issues and spark conversations.
Sign Petitions and Join Campaigns
Get involved in petitions and grassroots campaigns that are working to hold your officials accountable or influence their decisions.
Start a petition or sign one if you feel strongly about an issue.
Encourage others to join the fight for accountability.
We are at a critical turning point in our history. The time for passivity is over. It’s no longer enough to sit back and like snarky memes. This is the moment to transform your anger and frustration into tangible action. Yes, it’s daunting. But ask yourself—what’s worse? A few hours of discomfort now, or the long-term devastation of living under an authoritarian regime? Don’t let yourself look back and regret not stepping up when you had the chance. If we don’t act now, it will be too late. The time for change is now. Get involved.