3-14-2022 Newsletter

 

Senator Merkley met with INCO activists at his town hall at the college, May 25, 2019.

CLATSOP COUNTY TOWN HALL • SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY Saturday, March 19, 2022  at 2:30 p.m., via Zoom "I invite all Clatsop County residents to join online, on mobile devices, or on the telephone to discuss what we need to do to strengthen our state and our nation."  Zoom on a computer, smartphone or tablet: click here or use this link:  https://senate.zoomgov.com/j/1618467823?pwd=S1JKdjZQLzZXa2dEQW1CY3pwYzVRUT09#success On the phone:  Call 669-254-5252    Enter meeting ID: 161 846 782     Enter participant ID: #    Enter passcode: 86224072#

DIGNITY AND DEMOCRACY  If you need a dose of hope and a reminder of democracy's belief in human dignity, check out this recent column by American historian Heather Cox Richardson.

This photo of Ukraine was taken before the war by Heather Cox Richardson's friend, Nadia Povalinkska, who recently fled her home in Ukraine.

CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 1: incumbent Mark Kujala, Warrenton District 3: incumbent Pam Wev, Astoria; Nathan Pinkstaff, Astoria District 5: incumbent Liane Thompson, Arch Cape; Steve Dillard, Seaside This election is May 17. Final date to register to vote is midnight, Tuesday, April 26.

SHARE YOUR VALUES. INSPIRE OTHERS.   WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR! Democracy vs. authoritarianism Voters vs. voter suppression and voter apathy May 17 primary election    Letters to the Editor in every issue of the Astorian from now until November can inform voters and promote voting. Write a few sentences or more, up to 250 words. Send to editor@dailyastorian.com, along with your name, address, and phone. BE A LETTER-WRITER

WHEN GOVERNMENT IS LEGITIMATE "If history is any guide, we are at the point when voters of all parties must push back, to say that we do, in fact, believe in the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence, that all people are created equal, and that our government is legitimate only if we have a say in it." -- Heather Cox Richardson, historian, March 12, 2022 newsletter

WHY INDIVISIBLE EXISTS  "Republicans are following a step-by-step plan to transform elections and the electorate." "1. First, undercount the number of Black and brown people who are in the country, in order to skew congressional districts and the Electoral College.... 2. Use census data to racially gerrymander states.... 3. The next step is to erect barriers to when, how and if people can cast a ballot.4. Then allow big money to operate virtually unchecked to influence the electorate.... 4. Then allow big money to operate virtually unchecked to influence the electorate.... 5. Reject as many ballots as possible.... 6. Change “the referees” of elections, as States United Action put it.... 7. Finally, have a Supreme Court stacked in such a way that it is hesitant to step in and beat back these restrictions...." More details in this New York Times opinion piece by Charles Blow.  If you can't open it, contact incoregon@gmail.com to receive an email copy of it.

HAPPENINGS  INCO Warrenton Community Group Zoom meeting. No meeting in March. Contact incoregon@gmail.com for more information. Saturday, March 19 - INCO Astoria-North County Community Group Zoom meeting, 11 am - noon. If you are new to this group, contact incoregon@gmail.com by March 18 to get the Zoom link. Tuesday, April 12 - INCO South County Community Group Zoom meeting, 6:30 pm - 8 pm. Please RSVP to Kathleenannmacdonald@yahoo.com thru Monday, April 11 for your Zoom link. Every Friday - INCO Write to Voters (WTV), via Zoom, 3-4 pm. Informal chat while we write letters and postcards to voters. If you are new to this event, contact incoregon@gmail.com to get the Zoom link.  Write postcards for Jamie. Be part of a statewide effort to support Jamie McLeod-Skinner for Congress from Oregon's revamped District 5, by writing voters with her campaign postcards. To get postcards, talking points, stamps, and voter addresses, please contact incoregon@gmail.com   Write To Voters - Elections and issue campaigns need you year-round. INCO encourages you to sign up to write to voters at www.postcardstovoters.org. For general Get Out the Vote letter campaigns, sign up at Vote Forward. For prepped postcards, stamps, or information, contact incoregon@gmail.com.

INSIGHTS  "Nevertheless, I should never have allowed the gates of the town to be opened to people who assert that there are higher considerations than those of decency."    -- J. M. Coetzee, WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS

--Michelle Rial, "Am I Overthinking This?" calendar

Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com.  Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter  March 14, 2022