Good news for people who want to do good: Day 320

President Obama says we need more women in power

President Barack Obama offered up an idea that is hard to argue with in our current political and social climate: we need to elect more women.

At an event in Paris, Obama was invited to speak about issues such as the current state of our country and how our role in the world, particularly on the topic of climate change, is changing under Trump.

But when asked about leadership qualities for future candidates, Obama also made it clear that perhaps part of the problem is simply too many men and too few women in the upper echelons of power because “men seem to be having some problems these days.”

“Not to generalize, but women seem to have a better capacity than men do, partly because of their socialization,” he continued.

There is a distressingly long list of examples that support Obama’s point — but there is also inspiring proof that women across the nation agree with him, and are ready to make it happen.

ACTION ALERT: Keep pushing back against the tax scam!

Republicans forced their terrible tax scam bill through in the dead of night, and now they are doing everything they can to jam it through the remaining steps of the process without letting anyone actually know what’s in it.

This is not okay, and we all need to remain organized against this dangerous bill.

If you’re in the D.C. area, join hundreds of others and STORM THE CAPITOL Tuesday to #KilltheBill. Not near Washington? You can still make your voice heard by joining your local chapter of Organizing for Action and finding Indivisible events near you.

27 senators demand that the FCC delay its vote on repealing net neutrality

FCC chairman Ajit Pai recently announced the dangerous plan to roll back net neutrality regulations, which help to ensure free and open debate and access on the internet.

But the process has come under scrutiny after New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman claimed that the agency had engaged in a “massive scheme” to sway opinions on the issue through such underhanded tactics as posting thousands of fake comments supporting the move.

And 27 senators — 25 Democrats and two independents — are demanding that the FCC put a halt to the whole thing until a thorough investigation can be completed.

Noting that they are “deeply concerned” by the proposal to do away with net neutrality, the senators raised the alarm that “there is good reason to believe that the record may be replete with fake or fraudulent comments, suggesting that your proposal is fundamentally flawed.”

“Without additional information about the alleged anomalies surrounding the public record,” the letter continues, “the FCC cannot conduct a thorough and fair evaluation of the public’s views on this topic, and should not move forward with a vote on December 14, 2017.”

“A transparent and open process is vitally important to how the FCC functions,” the senators conclude.

Organizing for Action launches ad blitz against senators who supported the tax scam bill

Every one of the senators who voted for the tax scam, taking money from the poor and middle class to add even more to the stuffed coffers of the rich, must be held accountable for their callousness.

Organizing for Action is doing just that, launching a massive digital ad blitz in nine states to make sure that no one forgets who is responsible for the damage and pain the bill will surely bring.

The 51 senators who put avarice over conscience “will surely go home and wave the victory flag, but any so-called ‘win’ is coming at the expense of the people they claim to represent: Homeowners. College students. Middle-class families,” said Jesse Lehrich, communications director for OFA.

“We’ll make sure their constituents are hearing the truth.”

The ads tell the truth, plain and simple. And come 2018, this is what people will remember about their Republican lawmakers.

ACTION ALERT: Rally at the Supreme Court in defense of equality!

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. At issue is whether businesses open to the public have a right to discriminate — in this case, specifically against members of the LGBTQ community.

The answer to that ought to be a resounding “No!” And you can say so yourself, right on the steps of the Court:

Sen. Sherrod Brown speaks out against dangerous rollbacks of financial regulation

Millions of American families are already seeing their bank accounts and health care under attack from this Congress, and now they may be put at further risk of financial stress due to efforts to roll back protections put in place by the Dodd-Frank Act.

The erroneously titled Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act is nothing but bad news for taxpayers and homeowners, as it would deregulate several branches of the financial sector, expand protections and remove enhanced supervision for big banks, upends protections in the mortgage market, among much else.

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown took to the floor of the Senate Monday to speak out against this dangerous bill, and to remind his colleagues just who it is they have been elected to serve.

“We have a chance to show [our constituents] we see them, we hear them, we work for them, we will do our jobs and fight for them,” he declared. “We do that by blocking this bill.”

Colin Kaepernick honored by the ACLU for his activism against systemic racial injustice

NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick started a massive movement for social justice and racial equality when he began taking a knee during the national anthem while playing for the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite the crass attitude by some — like those in the White House — toward the display, his bold activism struck a powerful chord that is still echoing.

And it has earned him well-deserved accolades, like the Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award from the ACLU.

“We must confront systemic oppression as a doctor would a disease,” Kaepernick declared from the podium. “You identify it, you call it out, you treat it, and you defeat it.”

Colin Kaepernick was honored by the ACLU: “We must confront systemic oppression as a doctor would a disease” pic.twitter.com/thZrURHiQc

— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 4, 2017

ACTION ALERT: Open enrollment ends in 10 days!

While some days may seem to last a week in the Trump era, time is still marching on — and that means open enrollment is nearly over.

If you’ve been putting it off, now is the time to stop procrastinating and get yourself and your loved ones signed up for health insurance. You’ve got until Dec. 15 — just 10 days from now — to get it done this year.

Visit healthcare.gov to find out about plans and pricing in your area, and check out covered.indivisible.org to get answers to all of your questions about coverage for yourself and advocacy for others.

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