Thursday ushered in the most right-wing federal government in the 219 year history of the United States. Whereas George W. Bush may be no worse than Ronald Reagan, the latter always had a Democratic-controlled Congress and after 1986 a Democratic-led Senate. Expect the worst from Bush’s second term in 2005, a non-election year. He has already targeted Social Security, declared war on the environment, and assigned Dick Cheney-who as a congressman opposed Head Start-to take control of domestic programs. Here are five things you can do to survive this difficult week .
1. Do not watch or listen to Bush’s inauguration speech
Only a masochist would choose to watch to our President’s delusional rhetoric about Progress and Freedom in Iraq. Pacifica radio had all day coverage of the inaugural events (94.1FM) but why any Bush opponent would choose to listen to the meaningless speeches and comments is a mystery.
The full text of Bush’s speech is available on-line and in newspapers tomorrow. But trust me: hearing Bush live will ruin your whole day so avoid this at all costs.
2. Immerse yourself in a good book or inspiring movie
Instead of deepening your depression by watching cable news or checking Internet news sites, pursue the rewards of a good book. I strongly recommend the newly issued compendium of the first two years of Peanuts, widely available in libraries and bookstores.
I have never been a huge fan of Charlie Brown and his friends, but the 1950-52 strips are absolutely brilliant and will have you laughing out loud. The book will put you in good spirits despite the events occurring in Washington D.C.
Movies are tricky. Most American films that try to inspire us by showing democracy in action-such as those by Frank Capra-have the good guys winning; such can only be viewed cynically when the forces of darkness have seized control of the national government.
I recommend Amandla!, the South African film that uses native songs to chronicle the battle to end apartheid. Its depiction of Nelson Mandela leaving prison, and the accompanying celebrations, is as emotional and uplifting as any movie scene ever conveyed. When future generations of the world study history, Nelson Mandela will get his own chapter while George W. Bush will be fortunate to get a footnote.
3. Avoid Feeling Powerless
Nothing is worse than feeling powerless to stop brutality and unfairness. Since Bush and his allies are committing such wrongs in so many arenas-foreign policy, abortion rights, domestic spending priorities, the environment, education, health care-the list goes on and on-there are plenty of battles that could use your help.
Working against injustice is great medicine for the soul. Rather than fall into despair, spend inauguration day planning an action, writing a letter, researching activist opportunities, or engaging in some other concrete action that will boost the struggles against Bush’s agenda.
4. Maintain Focus on Other Wrongdoers
Bush is not the only politician pushing to worsen the lives of most Bay Area residents. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is alone responsible for proposing a state budget that boosts prison spending, cuts education, and denies benefits to disabled persons while foregoing tax increases on the wealthy.
One of the many tragedies of the Bush Administration is that it has diverted activist energies away from abuses and unfairness at the state level. People are so focused on stopping the occupation of Iraq that battles to save the state’s public education system, among other causes, are ignored, or seem trivial by comparison.
Activists cannot allow Bush Administration wrongdoing to result in Governor Schwarzenegger continuing to get a free ride while he imposes right-wing Republican economic policies in the state. It is not George Bush who is out to trash California’s public schools, it is our Governor, yet his reactionary conduct has not been powerfully countered by grassroots action from across the state.
Let’s channel some of our inauguration day anger at Bush toward preventing the imposition of his economic policies in California.
5.Don’t Respond, Strategize
This is a major theme of my book, The Activist’s Handbook, and it will be put to the test in 2005 as never before.
With the time you are saving by ignoring inauguration day activities, consider: how can we avoid fighting only defensive battles during the next two years?
One suggestion is to combine opposition to Bush policies with an affirmative building up of the constituency bases necessary to prevail on your issues. For example, this means combining outreach against Alaska drilling/anti-choice legislation/ cuts to domestic programs or dozens of other examples with a campaign to build a broader contact list or organizational base based on those outreached.
I’m not talking about expanding a list of paper membership. I mean building a real base created through ongoing personal contacts and mobilization.
I was very happy to learn this week that Move.On is moving in this direction of building a structure for ongoing personal contacts. Expanding the base for progressive campaigns and future election can be done in many different ways, and inauguration day offers a fitting opportunity to begin the process.
If the above five steps do not relieve your depression, keep in mind that this week marks the beginning of the end of George W. Bush’s presidency.
