One Week Down (Patreon)

Dear Patreon,

There's two ways about it, the election didn't go the way I was hoping. If the past week of political appointments and posturing is any indication, the next few years are going to be pretty rough at the federal level.

To everyone who went out and canvassed and knocked on doors and talked to their friends and voted, thank you very much for the effort. I'm sorry it wasn't enough this time around.

I'm not sure where you're at emotionally, but a few people have messaged me about feeling mad or scared or lost (or some delightful gumbo of the three) and wondering if there was anything to do about it. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, my recommendation is to try getting involved in your local community. You can sign up with a mutual aid program for food or clothing, you can be an education volunteer, you can get involved in a local organizing campaign, the list goes on. Have a little google and see what's out there. And you don't have to commit to anything, just try one out and move to another one if you're not feeling it. This sounds like (and sometimes is) a pain in the ass to get started, but I swear it's worth it.

Not much is going to get done in Washington, but at the local level you can personally put a dent in real problems that affect your neighbors and fellow citizens. The Internet has done a lot to connect people, but it has also been a major force in isolating us. Many of our fellow Americans are convinced that trying to lift some people up is a threat to them, and getting out into your community is a great way to sidestep that particular bullshit. There will be new bullshit (there always is), but you're strong. You can deal. I really hope you give it a try.

See you out there,

Rollie and the Climate Town team
P.S. We're not going anywhere.