1-13-25 Newsletter

 

* * * HAPPENINGS * * * INCO COMMUNITY MEETING  Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11-12:30 Astoria Senior Center, 11th at Exchange, Astoria Along with Indivisibles across the country during this Weekend of Service, we'll gather to pay it forward. Color us excited about our service project! AGENDA  Weekend of Service project - Bruce Protecting the vulnerable Watching local governments - Julia Running for office Communications and social media - Sherise and Denise Partnering with local groups  COIN (Oregon's Indivisibles) - Cheryl  What's on your mind?   ****** COIN LEGISLATIVE WATCH TEAM TRAINING This training begins immediately following the INCO meeting on January 18 at the Senior Center. To learn more or volunteer to be on this team, contact Cheryl Conway at conwayct2007@hotmail.com.  ***** INCO's Day of Service and Support Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  •  Inauguration Day Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9 a.m. Columbia River Coffee Roaster (CRCR) - formerly 3 Cups Coffee House 279 West Marine Drive, Astoria We'll gather for community and connection. This day and time align with the inauguration in Washington DC. INCO has a colorful service project to help our neighbors and brighten our spirits! We'll be painting the outside doors of the units of Astoria's Columbia Inn, an emergency shelter run by Clatsop Community Action (CCA).  One of INCO's goals this year is to protect people at risk from the Trump administration, which fits this project. Per the CCA website:  "Since October 2023, the Columbia Inn has served as an emergency shelter in Clatsop County, prioritizing specific demographics. It caters to families with homeless children, individuals and families fleeing domestic violence, youth aged 18-24, those with mobility-affecting disabilities, and underserved communities like Latin(x), 2SLGBTQIA+, and Veterans.”     We'll meet on Monday, January 20 at Columbia River Coffee Roaster to enjoy coffee, finalize our painting plans, and share support and concerns. This will be way more enjoyable and productive than watching the inauguration. HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Sign-up for this painting project at INCO's January 18 meeting, come to the January 20 gathering, or contact incoregon@gmail.com. 💙 THE NEW SUPERHEROES "At root, however, we must acknowledge that what we are experiencing is not normal. Indeed, it is unprecedented in the history of our nation. Feeling overwhelmed, confused, anxious, or angry is a normal human reaction. Indeed, not experiencing those feelings (to some degree) is not a normal human reaction. ".... Watching billionaires surrender to Trump from fear or greed should make us feel like superheroes of the resistance. We do not have the insulating wealth of Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg. And yet, we have found the courage and moral clarity to stand our ground against Trump's agenda.  "Compared to you, Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg are small, petty, pathetic creatures who will be remembered as collaborators in the same way the Vichy government of France is remembered as a puppet regime of the Third Reich. ".... We are standing on the bulwarks of democracy, defending the rule of law. We have no time for the naysayers and issue spotters. We have real work to do. Stay strong, keep the faith, and keep your eyes on the horizon!" -- Robert Hubbell, Today's Edition, January 8, 2024  THE LOS ANGELES FIRES ".... Consider the immense technological, cultural, and legislative invention that has come from the Golden State. The state is home to 39 million Americans. Its economy ranks fifth internationally, behind the US, China, Germany, and Japan. On a per capita basis, California's GDP is greater than that of all of these countries. "....There is no scenario in which America succeeds with a failing California. Only an imbecile would root for California to fail or burn, and tragically, there is no shortage of fools in America rooting for both." INCO encourages you to read "The Great Fire," by Steve Schmidt, in Robert Reich's column, January 10, 2024. CONSCIENCE AND COURAGE "Against that backdrop, today’s sentencing hearing, as strange as this may sound, gives me hope more than it gives me pause. It leads me to believe the damage Donald Trump has done and will continue to do to our system can be repaired through individual acts of conscience and courage." INCO encourages you to read the entire Civil Discourse article, "Sentenced," by former US Attorney Joyce Vance, January 10, 2025. "HOW HITLER DISMANTLED A DEMOCRACY IN 53 DAYS" The author says "he used the constitution to shatter the constitution." Read Timothy W. Ryback's article in The Atlantic here.  DEFENDING THE RULE OF LAW Welcome, Indivisible Tillamook Coast Action! Thanks to our friends in Tillamook who shared this list with us. The Tillamook Democracy Project is merging with the new Indivisible group there.  Using our legal system will be one of the most effective ways to challenge unconstitutional and illegal actions by the Trump administration. Here is a list of organizations to consider supporting.    ACLU    aclu.org Southern Poverty Law Center    splcenter.org Natural Resources Defense Council    nrdc.org Democracy Docket     democracydocket.com Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics    citizensforethics.org Democracy Forward/Democracy 2025    democracyforward.org National Lawyers Guild     nlg.org Center for Reproductive Rights    reproductiverights.org Lawyers for Reproductive Justice    ifwhenhow.org The Lawyering Project    lawyeringproject.org National Women’s Law Center    nwlc.org PROJECT 2025: BLUEPRINT FOR TRUMP AND THE GOP Historian Timothy Snyder wrote ON TYRANNY: TWENTY LESSONS FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY after Trump's election in 2016. INCO encourages you to read this brief important book. Lesson 2:  Defend institutions.    • Project 2025 Explained -- An in-depth analysis of the MAGA playbook by Indivisible • A long list of major features of Project 2025 from Robert Hubbell in his Today's Edition newsletter • The 920-page Project 2025 document is here. Find a topic that interests you in the Project 2025 table of contents.   TRUMP'S D.C. CASINO "Because Trump believes nothing, he holds out the tantalizing prospect that he could do anything, and many people are willing to take him up on the offer. ".... Ironically, after failing as a businessman in Atlantic City, the president-elect has finally succeeded in creating a casino at the White House where everyone wants in on the action.' -- Yair Rosenberg, "Trump’s Secret Weapon," The Atlantic, January 9, 2024 FUN STUFF -- Bob Eckstein, The New Yorker, January 8, 2025 * * * * * * *  -- The Borowitz Report, January 12, 2025 INCO INSIGHTS  “It takes all of us to look after all of us.” — Sasha Miller Indivisible defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. 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 here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter  •  January 13, 2024 Website Email Facebook Copyright © 2025 INDIVISIBLE North Coast Oregon, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or signed up at a community group meeting. Our mailing address is: *|766 Lexington Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103:HTML|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

1-6-25 Newsletter

 

OUR COMMUNITY "But one thing I learned from the election? We have a community of people who care. We can’t give up or ignore what’s happening around us. It can be better as long as we stay involved. "We’re in this together." -- Joyce Vance, Civil Discourse, January 1, 2025 * * * HAPPENINGS * * * KEEPING AN EYE ON THE OREGON LEGISLATURE What's happening in the legislature? What are the proposed bills? Are they good for Oregonians? What should INCO and COIN recommend? These are some of the questions Indivisible volunteers on the COIN Legislative Watch Team seek to answer. You can volunteer to do this important work from home. Find out more at this Zoom event to introduce new volunteers and those who are considering volunteering. INTRO TO COIN'S LEGISLATIVE WATCH TEAM Tuesday, January 7 at 11:00am, via Zoom.  Contact Cheryl Conway at conwayct2007@hotmail.com for the Zoom link. Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network includes about 40 Indivisible groups in Oregon. * * * * *  SAVE THE DATE INCO Community Meeting Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11-12:30 Astoria Senior Center, 11th at Exchange, Astoria We enjoyed meeting in this bright, spacious room and look forward to seeing you in 2025! * * * * *  SAVE THE DATE INCO's Day of Service and Support Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9 a.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  •  Inauguration Day Look for details coming soon. BE PREPARED - AND ENCOURAGED Over a decade as a high-profile journalist, Asli Aydintasbas covered Turkey’s descent into illiberalism and shares valuable lessons about Trump and American politics. Highlights below. INCO encourages you to read the entire article. 1. Don't Panic - Plutocracy Takes Time. "It's important to remember that [America's] decentralized system of governance - the network of state and local governments - offers enormous resilience." 2. Don't Disengage - Stay Connected. 3. Don't Fear the Infighting. 4. Chaismatic Leadership is a Non-Negotiable. 5. Skip the Protests and Identity Politics. "Street protests and calls to defend democracy may be inspirational, but they repel conservatives and suburban America. Any grassroots action must be coupled with a clear, relatable eonomic message and showcase the leadership potential of Democratic mayors and governors. Identity politics alone won't do it." 6. Have Hope. REMEMBER JANUARY 6, 2021 "January 6 should be the day we recommit to democracy, every single year. It must not become they day we forget about it." -- Joyce Vance, Civil Discourse, January 5, 2024 "The peaceful transfer of power lies at the heart of American democracy, but Trump sought to overturn the result of the 2020 election and has not been held accountable. "We must never forget his treachery. ".... The FBI estimates that between 2,000 and 2,500 people entered the Capitol Building during the attack, some of whom participated in vandalism and looting, including the the offices of members of Congress. Rioters also assaulted Capitol Police officers. They occupied the empty empty Senate chamber while federal law enforcement officers defended the evacuated House floor.  "Within 36 hours, five people died. One was shot by Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, three died of heart attacks or strokes, including a police officer who died the day after being assaulted by rioters. Many were injured, including 174 police officers. Four other officers who responded to the attack died by suicide within seven months. ".... That Donald J. Trump — the same person who instigated a coup four years ago tomorrow, when Congress last gathered to certify an election — will become President on January 20 is an assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our democracy." -- Robert Reich, on Substack, January 5, 2026 POLITICAL ILLITERACY “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics. The imbecile doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies.” ― Bertolt Brecht, German playwright and poet PROTECT PEOPLE Monday, January 13th from 6-7:30 PM PST, via Zoom  Hosted by the Rural Organizing Project (ROP) From ROP: "Rural Oregon is getting in formation to protect immigrants, the bodily autonomy of trans people and women, and any of our neighbors whose basic rights and freedom come under attack! ....Our ability to protect people starts with having a strong and healthy group, so let’s build those skills together."  REGISTER HERE.  PROJECT 2025: BLUEPRINT FOR TRUMP AND THE GOP Historian Timothy Snyder wrote ON TYRANNY: TWENTY LESSONS FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY after Trump's election in 2016. INCO encourages you to read this brief important book. Lesson 1: Do not obey in advance. (See the cartoon below.)   • Project 2025 Explained -- An in-depth analysis of the MAGA playbook by Indivisible • A long list of major features of Project 2025 from Robert Hubbell in his Today's Edition newsletter • The 920-page Project 2025 document is here. Find a topic that interests you in the Project 2025 table of contents.   CENSORSHIP AND SERVILITY "I want to make sure everyone sees the cartoon by Washington Post cartoonist Ann Telnaes that was banned by her paper, leading Telnaes to resign from her position there. It’s not enough for the powerful to be bowing to President-elect Donald Trump even before he gets into office; they feel the need to censor discussion of their servility and conformism." -- Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Lucid, January 5, 2024 FUN STUFF INCO INSIGHTS "Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere." – Erma Bombeck, American humorist and columnist Indivisible defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. 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 here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter  •  January 6, 2024 Website Email Facebook Copyright © 2025 INDIVISIBLE North Coast Oregon, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or signed up at a community group meeting. Our mailing address is: *|766 Lexington Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103:HTML|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.