I'm back for Bernie...

[Ladyhawk]

I left DU a long time ago because I decided it was toxic. Looking around a bit today, I decided it still is, but I wanna help Bernie. Maybe I should visit the Jackpine Radicals site?

I've been donating, but I'm poor. I've considered phonebanking, but after dealing with so many health insurance reps who have said "no" over the past twenty years, I have developed a phone phobia. If someone were to walk me through it, I might do it anyway. Yeah, I have a hard-on for Bernie. He's an honest politician. Someone pinch me.

Is there anything else I can do? I don't give a shit about Hillary. If she wins the nomination, I'll vote for the lesser of two evils. Again. I'm in constant pain, my insurance company won't refer me to the specialists I need. I can't wait for incremental change. None of us can. We are all under the whip of the 1% in some way. Even those of you who are well off can't wait when it comes to the climate, which will make bigger changes than Little Mrs. Incremental. I will work my fingers to the bone for Bernie if someone will show me how. I kind of think he may be our last hope.

[Half-Century Man]

1. At least check JPR out.

[Ladyhawk]

2. You bet! nt

[baran]

3. Check out Bernie's website if you haven't already . . .

there are many events going on all over the country with opportunities to get involved:

https://secure.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple

[mucifer]

4. I know reddit gets a bad rap for a lot of things. But, their Bernie page is awesome.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/

Lots of upbeat info there. Lots of activism.

[Cassiopeia]

5. DU is a time waster and little else.

No opinions will be changed here.

I'm going to a Bernie meetup this Saturday. I'm not much on phone banking, but I'll try if that's my only option. What I really want to do is person to person canvassing.

Hell, I'm at a spot that I might even be able to travel and do so in key states, but if I'm not tapped for that, I'll be happy doing so here at home.

Sign up on Bernie's website. Find a local event, especially a table event. You don't even need to sign up to participate, just note day/time/location and stop by to ask real people how you can help. Bernie has an active base and someone will put you in the spot you can feel comfortable and be effective.

[JudyM]

13. You can totally canvass, Cassiopeia, if they've started it up in your state. They opened an office

in my state about a month before the election, which is Super Tuesday. If they don't have an office yet you should still be able to phonebank ... Feel free to PM me if you run into any issues.

[Cassiopeia]

14. Yep.

Going to an event hosted by the campaign tomorrow to sign up for everything. Sunday there is a Bernie booth set up at a local flea market that I'll probably work for a few hours.

It's a small start, but a start none the less.

[JudyM]

16. Excellent!!! It feels great. We had a huge volunteer meeting tonight, far more than expected

showed up, which means we cover more ground this weekend. It's an even better feeling than voting... Let me know how it goes!

[1monster]

6. It's nice to see an old familiar name from way back Ladyhawk.

(That was a great movie, btw.)

[Admiral Loinpresser]

7. Best wishes!

Many of us know what it is to struggle and for all our sakes I hope Bernie wins so that we all win!

[malokvale77]

8. Happy to see you back...

and for Bernie, even better.

[Rebkeh]

9. I'm in a similar situation

I can't contribute in traditional ways and waiting for incremental change is no help at all. Maybe create a group for Disabled People for Bernie?

Have you contacted your local headquarters to see what they need? They may not say things like giving people rides, help with transporting things to various locations, even making copies of fliers or something along those lines. Hell, if you cook maybe feed the volunteers? I'm just throwing stuff out there. There are non-traditional ways to contribute, I'm sure.

[jillan]

10. That is a great idea! I haven't been able to phone bank for health reasons but dropping off food is

a great idea.

In 2008 I was very involved in OFA & we LOVED it when people dropped off bagels, donuts, real food.
I'm going to do that!!

[Ladyhawk]

11. I can't find a local headquarters for Bernie.

I guess I'm too rural.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. I came back for him too!

[Ladyhawk]

17. Awesome. I think I remember you.

I can't remember exactly when I left DU, but it was after an argument regarding Obama. I called him what he is: a center right insider politician with no intention of bringing real change. I was angry because I was in pain and knew I had to wait at least another eight years for adequate health care.

Obamacare relies on the morally bankrupt "health" "care" insurance industry. Maybe for others it's better than what we used to have, but for me it hasn't been. Today, I talked with my health insurance provider and once again they blew smoke up my ass. When I called them on it, they told me my choices were to either drive several hours for every appointment or receive no health care at all. Riding that long in a car (I can no longer drive long distances) will exacerbate my condition. I don't know what to do. Maybe no health care is better than the long car rides. I might try it for awhile to find out, but it pisses me off that there is no other alternative. This uncaring attitude has been par for the course since my health problems began in 1990. I know millions of others have experienced similar or worse. How many of them have died due to Washington's apathy? Fuck them! A lot of privileged rich people belong in prison cells.

Is Obama better than Republican alternatives we were offered? Yes, but that's a pretty low bar, isn't it?

Anyway, during the argument on DU, a person I'd known for years called me a racist. Apparently, criticizing Obama is the same thing as racism. This was my "last straw" moment. It became apparent DU is a toxic place, so I left. I was much happier afterward. That's why I won't be sticking around.

I've had an awkward eight years because the majority of my family members are Tea Party Republicans who hate Obama. I don't exactly hate the guy, but he was not the change we were promised. Of course I'm angry. We should all be angry.

Now that I've checked in again, I don't want to get distracted by bright, shiny threads. I admit it happened today. Time waster. Check. Tomorrow I'll head to Jackpine Radicals and see what they can do to help me overcome my phone phobia (thanks a lot, constant bad news from health insurance companies!) and do some phone banking for Bernie. I'm tired of doing nothing but complaining and letting the powers that be steamroll me into the ground. This is my last hurrah. I should make it count.

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. I am so sorry your health insurance is giving you so much trouble! *hugs* I left because

DU was getting toxic and just no good for me. I did myself a favor and unplugged and started taking care of myself instead.

I am lurking a lot now, but toss in my 2 cents here and there. I am verrrrry much feeling the Bern and am as excited about politics again as I was in 2008.

[JudyM]

15. Find out if his campaign has opened an office in your state yet... If yes they'll train you.

You can also check his website under "events" to see what's going on near you. We need phonebankers and canvassers and there's office stuff to do, as well. They will be grateful for your help! If your state isn't up and running yet I believe you can still phonebank, Check out his website.