In early July, the attempt to sell off our federal public lands was stopped when that language was removed from the budget reconciliation bill. I made dozens of phone calls and emails to my elected officials and bureaucrats to stop this legislation. I posted hundreds of times on social media to try to spread the word.
More specifically, I’ve written 19 posts on this Substack since last year’s national elections. My main motivation was to channel my anger into action. My writing was a way to organize my thoughts. I hoped that I could convince other people to take action with me as engaged citizens. That’s why I don’t charge any money for my scribbling. I didn’t erect a paywall so people can easily look at my posts and see the links I share for how to take action.
The least you can do for this free compulsive behavior of mine is to answer three questions. There will be two poll questions for the first two. The third one is the punch line at the end of the post. You’ll have to answer that question looking in the mirror.
Question 1:
Question 2:
I’m hopeful but realistic. In my incredibly lucrative poetry publishing career, I’ve learned that you post 1000 times, get 100 views, 10 clicks, and 1 book sale. The funnel down to action is pretty merciless. I can also tell that virtually nobody takes advantage of the links that I have made available on my posts so far. That’s why I’m asking these questions. Kind of hoping to gin up a reason to keep doing this.
But hey, I never wrote to a Congressman until 2019. I never called one until 2021. I never attended a protest in my life until 2025. I suspect that many of you are the same. But every last one of us has a phone in our pocket. It should be as simple as calling your elected officials because you’ve got a few minutes waiting in line at the post office. It’s easy and various people in the non-profit and activist world have told me that phone calls in particular are effective, even when your elected officials have the brainworms. I’ve repeatedly offered links to make it easy for you to call and email. I don’t feel like doing that today. I’ve given you plenty of chances. You’re adults.
We stopped the public land sales. But that was a small victory in one battle in a massive war. The Department of Interior is still moving forward to remove the moratorium on mining near the BWCA. Republicans are working to renew the lease for a Chilean mining company to mine copper-sulfide ore upstream of the BWCA. The MAGA EPA is trying to remove the designation of greenhouse gases as harmful. Republicans are trying to say that loss of habitat is not technically harm when it comes to endangered species. Republicans are trying to reverse the Roadless Rule, which will put 58 million acres that were previously protected at risk of development, including areas in Minnesota. In Minnesota, state legislation was passed to make input regarding mining near the BWCA only open to input from local citizens, not the state as a whole. Republicans are trying to eliminate the Antiquities Act which allows presidents to name national monuments. Republicans are trying to reverse the designation of National Monuments. Republicans are trying to allow commercial fishing in designated protected marine areas. Republicans are still trying to sell off 400,000 acres of public land (for “housing”) via the Department of Interior even though the public land sales language was stripped from the budget reconciliation bill. Republicans are gutting the budget of the National Park Service. Republicans are gutting the budget of the US Forest Service while “reorganizing” 9 regions into 4, which will decimate local management of our public forests. And in majestic hypocrisy perfected by and sought after by Republicans, they have drastically undermined US wildland firefighting staff and eliminated clean energy incentives while simultaneously writing letters to Canada complaining about wildfire smoke. This long list was off the top of my head. I don’t have the time or inclination to provide you the links to all the citations for my statements today. Maybe you could do that yourself for once.
More importantly, Republicans have federalized the DC police force and rolled out the National Guard to patrol the streets of our nation’s capital. This is based on a lie that there is a crime emergency there, when crime is lower than last year and also at a 30 year low. I notice the guard wasn’t scrambled immediately into action when January 6th happened. In fact, the Republican president pardoned around 1600 convicted J6 criminals, 400 of whom assaulted law enforcement officers with a lot more than a sandwich. Yesterday, the Republican president said he was going to get rid of mail-in ballots, which will disproportionately affect veterans overseas. He also wants to get rid of voting machines. Our Republican president really perked up yesterday when he learned that Ukraine hasn’t had elections because they were at war. You could see the lightbulb over his head for when he should start a war. They are gerrymandering districts in Texas to create new seats in the House of Representatives. If you can’t see what’s coming for the mid-terms in 2026 by this point, than my decade of raising the alarm has been useless.
Bands of armed men who won’t show their faces or identify themselves are violently abducting people off the street without judicial warrants. People, including US citizen children with cancer who have committed no crimes, have been deported in direct opposition to federal court orders. People are being denied their 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendment rights to due process. Thousands of them at this point. Temporary Protected Status has been removed from thousands of Afghans in this country who helped us during 20 years of war in a betrayal too great for any kind of hell to be sufficient. This Republican administration is lawless, unconstitutional, and un-American.
Fascism isn’t in some far away place in the distant past or the future. It’s here. They’re making sure they never have to hold elections ever again.
So…
Question 3:
What’s it going to take for you to do something?
I will email you about this. My communication to my wonderful Rep. Betty McCollum was quite personal.
You're a force, which of course I always knew.
I hope to meet you in person one day when Rich and I visit some friends in Duluth.
In response to Question 3: I’ll send you a DM on FB, because that question deserve a real answer—but what I have to say is private. Keep writing, Shmo! Your work matters and is making a difference.