Posts in Category: activism

Why People Are So Angry

On - activism, Daily, or my first cup of coffee

Anger in America, Part 1: Why People Are So Angry

It isn’t hard to see why tempers are boiling over in America. Every day brings another round of double talk, broken promises, and political gamesmanship. People work hard, play by the rules, and still feel ignored.

They watch leaders twist the system to their own advantage, then sneer when ordinary citizens cry foul. Add to that the endless stream of lies, name-calling, and finger-pointing, and the frustration deepens.

Anger, at its core, comes from powerlessness — and millions feel powerless in the face of a political class that cheats, bends rules, and shrugs off accountability. No wonder people are furious.

Anger in America, Part 2: How Leaders Fuel the Fire

This anger didn’t appear out of thin air. It’s been stoked, often deliberately, by those who profit from division. When leaders lie with a straight face, they corrode trust. When they weaponize insults, they cheapen public life. When they change the rules to shield themselves, they leave citizens feeling that playing fair is pointless.

It’s not just one man or one party, though Trump’s barrage of falsehoods and attacks made the trend painfully visible. Washington’s insiders have grown comfortable rewriting the playbook to suit themselves. The result is a public that feels cheated and betrayed — and that’s on the leadership, not the people.

Anger in America, Part 3: The Way Forward

Here’s the truth: anger is justified, but violence isn’t the answer.

The same frustration that tempts people to lash out can also fuel something better — a demand for honesty, accountability, and decency. Citizens don’t have to swallow lies or tolerate corruption.

They can demand reform, expose the cheaters, and use their voices in ways that can’t be ignored. It starts by calling out the truth and refusing to be distracted by the circus of insults and spin. The anger is real — but it can be turned into a force that builds, not destroys. Leaders created this climate, but it’s the people who can change it.

The Most Important Political Move You Can Make

On - activism, Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, purple

Michael and Sarah Walker

The Most Important Political Move You Can Make

00:00 / 2:27

**Check the Values and the Agenda of the Political Party You Think You Are**

A long time ago, in a land far, far away, I found out my father was a Republican. And if he was a Republican, well, that’s what I was too.

For decades I voted the party line. There was only one box I shaded in, and it was the one that said “Republican.” After a while, I started to actually think about who I was voting for, not just what. I began making independent decisions — something most of us never do. But I’ll admit, on the issues I wasn’t up on, I still voted the party.

This little note about Charlton Heston — one of the actors I admired — makes sense to me. Not because he changed from being a Democrat to a Republican, but because of why he changed:

“By the 1980s, Heston supported gun rights and changed his political affiliation from Democratic to Republican. When asked why, he replied, ‘I didn’t change. The Democratic Party changed.’ In 1987, he first registered as a Republican.”

Now, let’s take a step back — because this isn’t about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about us.

When I look at MAGA and what they’ve done to the GOP, I feel despair. They’re so extreme I can’t feel ownership of that party anymore. Over the years I’ve probably become more liberal, or maybe I’ve just admitted it to myself. Either way, I don’t consider myself a Republican — not if being Republican means I have to be MAGA.

I have friends on the other side of the fence — long-time Democrats who are not “woke.” We’ve let the extremes take over on both sides.

So, back to the most important political move you can make: **discover who you are**, not who you thought you were.

There are plenty of political-leaning questionnaires online — some good, some just trying to get your money. Take a couple of them. Don’t be afraid of the labels. They don’t really matter. What matters is that they can give you some insight and help you find a direction based on your beliefs — not Bubba’s, and not Karen from the HOA.

Once you’ve found your center, celebrate. And if you feel generous for the push, I drink Jim Beam.

If You Want to Fix It, You Have to Touch It

On - activism, purple

Michael and Sarah Walker

If You Want to Fix It, You Have to Touch It

00:00 / 1:51

“If You Want to Fix It, You Have to Touch It”

We’ve pointed fingers. We’ve said, “This isn’t what I voted for.”
Now comes the part where we ask: What are you willing to do about it?

We Live in What We Build

You don’t get to sit in silence while others vote, organize, or legislate — and then act shocked when the country veers hard left or right. If the future looks more like a police state than a democracy, ask yourself:

Did I speak up?
Did I show up?
Did I support institutions or just complain about them?

If you don’t want a police state, don’t wait for someone else to stop it. If you do want one, at least own that openly — and let the rest of us challenge you in public.

Five Things You Can Actually Do

Regardless of party or position:

Bottom Line: Majority Rule Means Majority Responsibility

If we’re heading toward authoritarianism, polarization, or colla

pse, it’s because too many people have chosen silence over effort.

You don’t have to fix everything. But you do have to pick something.

Or someone else will pick it for you.

Part 5 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” – Volunteer for a Cause, Not a Party

On - activism

Michael and Sarah Walker

Part 5 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” - Volunteer for a Cause, Not a Party

00:00 / 9:08

“Your Country Doesn’t Just Need Voters — It Needs Neighbors”

Political engagement doesn’t stop at the ballot box — and it doesn’t always wear a campaign button. Some of the most patriotic acts happen quietly: building homes with Habitat for Humanity, tutoring kids after school, delivering groceries to neighbors, or mentoring young people who need a role model.

Real democracy is local. It’s grounded in empathy and action — not in shouting matches or social media arguments. When you give your time and heart to your community, you invest in a future that goes beyond party lines.

You don’t have to join a movement to make a difference — just show up. Lend a hand. Be a neighbor.

Because America is built on sweat and kindness, not tweets and slogans.

Part 4 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” – Fund Local Journalism

On - activism

Michael and Sarah Walker

Part 4 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” - Fund Local Journalism

00:00 / 9:08

If You Don’t Pay for Truth, You Pay for Chaos

There was a time when every city council meeting, school board vote, and budget proposal had a reporter in the room. Not because it was glamorous—but because someone needed to keep watch. That was the role of local journalism: the quiet watchdog making sure decisions were made in the light of day.

But today, many of those newsrooms are gone. Shrinking ad revenue and the rise of free digital content gutted local papers. Hedge funds bought what was left, stripped them for parts, and left ghost publications behind.

And into that vacuum rushed social media—faster, louder, and rarely accountable. But Facebook doesn’t report on your school district’s budget hearing. TikTok won’t tell you when your mayor quietly signs a zoning change that affects your property taxes. Twitter doesn’t sit through six-hour planning commission meetings.

When no one is watching, the powerful get reckless. Corruption grows in the dark. Misinformation fills the void. And democracy starts to wobble.

If we want to keep self-government intact, we need to fund the people who shine the light.

Subscribe. Donate. Share real reporting.

Local truth is not free. But the cost of losing it is far greater.

Part 3 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” – Vote in the Primaries

On - activism

Michael and Sarah Walker

Part 3 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” - Vote in the Primaries

00:00 / 9:08

“The Extremes Win by Default”

By the time you vote in November, the real choice has already been made — often by just 1 in 10 voters.

That’s not a metaphor. In many districts, primary turnout is under 15%. That means a small, highly motivated, often ideologically extreme group picks the candidates.
You’re left choosing between two people handpicked by the far edges of the political spectrum.
So if you’re wondering why our national conversations feel hijacked by outrage and slogans — look no further than the primaries.

Moderates don’t lose because they’re unpopular. They lose because they don’t show up.

The Cycle We’re Stuck In

Primaries are held in the spring or early summer — most people don’t vote.
Candidates cater to the “base,” not the middle, to win the primary.
By November, you’re choosing between extremes.
People feel disillusioned — and disengage even more.

This cycle feeds itself — and extremists know it.

What You Can Do

Mark your local and state primary dates — they’re different everywhere.
Vote early if you can. Don’t let a long workday or a flat tire stop you.
Encourage independents to check if they can vote — in some states, you need to register with a party before the primary to participate.

This is where your vote has the most impact. A few hundred votes can swing a district. And a moderate challenger can win — if moderates show up.

Part 2 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” – Show Up Locally

On - activism

Michael and Sarah Walker

Part 2 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” - Show Up Locally

00:00 / 9:08

“The People Who Actually Control Your Life Aren’t on TV”

You can rage all day about the president, Congress, or that guy on cable news, but the truth is: your everyday quality of life is shaped far more by people whose names you don’t know — yet.

We’re talking about the local school board deciding what your kids read.
The zoning commission deciding if a big box store goes up on your corner.
The water district deciding what you drink.
The county clerk deciding how — or whether — your vote counts.

These aren’t glamorous offices. Most don’t get debates. Few attract press. Often, no one even runs against them. Which means that:

The fewer people show up, the more power each person has. Want influence? Be there.

Real Power Is Often Unattended

In many local elections, turnout is under 20%. Sometimes it’s under 10%. That means a dozen people at a school board meeting can sway policy. One vote can decide who gets to redraw your district map. Your absence is someone else’s opportunity.

What Showing Up Looks Like
Attend a city council or board meeting (they’re public — and sometimes online).

Ask a question. You don’t need a soapbox, just curiosity.

Vote in the “boring” elections. They’re where the rules are written.

Volunteer for a committee or advisory group. You don’t need experience — just the willingness to listen and help.

Remember This:
The people who affect your daily life — traffic, schools, bills, clean water, housing, voting access — don’t have to go viral to be powerful.
And they don’t need millions to win. Sometimes they only need you not to notice.

Part 1 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” – Talk

On - activism

Michael and Sarah Walker

Part 1 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” - Talk

00:00 / 9:08

There isn’t anything I can do

why waste my time when it won’t matter

The System is rigged

I could list more why not’s but in reality, you do matter, you do count. How eles do you think all this stuff you are against happens.

Spoiler alert, it doesn’t happen on it’s own. It happens because the people that do believe or want that agenda go out and work for it while you sit arong a complain and say “That’s not what I wanted”

So we will list five things that you can do that will make a difference.

Part 1 of “The Cost of Doing Nothing” “talking”

We’re living in an age where it’s easier than ever to surround yourself with agreement. Algorithms make sure your feed reflects your views. Friends and family know which topics to avoid. And the people who might challenge you? They’re just a swipe away from being unfollowed.

It’s peaceful. Comfortable.

And, frankly, lethal.

The truth is, our country isn’t broken because people disagree. It’s broken because people have stopped talking across the disagreement. We’ve traded in the messy, human business of dialogue for the false security of echo chambers — and in doing so, we’ve lost the ability to even understand each other, let alone work together.

Here is A Conversation That Went Sideways (But Was Worth It)

A while back, I sat down with an old friend — someone I’d shared beers and stories with back when politics were just background noise. But things changed. He took the MAGA route, full throttle. And I didn’t. Still, we met for coffee. Within 10 minutes, it was clear: we weren’t going to agree on much.

The election. The media. January 6. His tone got sharp. Mine probably did too. At one point he said something I thought was completely nuts — and I told him so. It could’ve ended right there.

But we kept going. I stopped trying to win. I started listening, asking questions. Not to catch him in contradictions — just to understand how he got there. And somewhere in that mess, something softened. Not agreement. But recognition.

We walked away still disagreeing. But we also walked away still friends. And now, oddly enough, he sends me articles — some ridiculous, but some thoughtful. And I send him a few back. We don’t always read them. But we send them. That matters.

Why This Matters

If we don’t start rebuilding the muscle of uncomfortable conversation, we’re going to keep drifting into camps that don’t see each other as human anymore.

And once that happens — once people stop being neighbors and become enemies — history tells us what comes next.

You don’t have to agree. You don’t have to convince anyone.

But you do have to be brave enough to talk.

That’s how democracy survives. Not in the yelling, but in the listening.

Don’t flinch.

You Can Make a Difference

On - activism, Politics, purple

Most people don’t realize how powerful their voice truly is. Your elected representatives work for you — and when they hear directly from their constituents, it matters. Whether it’s by email, phone call, or even a simple text using tools like Resistbot, your message gets logged, counted, and considered. Policy doesn’t change overnight, but no change ever starts without pressure. So take a minute. Speak up. It’s not just your right — it’s your influence, it’s your responsiblity.

Posts in Category: activism

Anger in America, Part 1: Why People Are So Angry

Anger in America, Part 2: How Leaders Fuel the Fire

Anger in America, Part 3: The Way Forward

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Check the Values and the Agenda of the Political Party You Think You Are

A long time ago, in a land far, far away, I found out my father was a Republican. And if he was a Republican, well, that’s what I was too.

This little note about Charlton Heston — one of the actors I admired — makes sense to me. Not because he changed from being a Democrat to a Republican, but because of why he changed:

Now, let’s take a step back — because this isn’t about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about us.

I have friends on the other side of the fence — long-time Democrats who are not “woke.” We’ve let the extremes take over on both sides.

So, back to the most important political move you can make: discover who you are, not who you thought you were.

Once you’ve found your center, celebrate. And if you feel generous for the push, I drink Jim Beam.

Share this:

Like this:

“If You Want to Fix It, You Have to Touch It”

We’ve pointed fingers. We’ve said, “This isn’t what I voted for.”Now comes the part where we ask: What are you willing to do about it?

We Live in What We Build

You don’t get to sit in silence while others vote, organize, or legislate — and then act shocked when the country veers hard left or right. If the future looks more like a police state than a democracy, ask yourself:

Did I speak up?

Did I show up?

Did I support institutions or just complain about them?

If you don’t want a police state, don’t wait for someone else to stop it. If you do want one, at least own that openly — and let the rest of us challenge you in public.

Five Things You Can Actually Do

Regardless of party or position:

Bottom Line: Majority Rule Means Majority Responsibility

If we’re heading toward authoritarianism, polarization, or colla

pse, it’s because too many people have chosen silence over effort.

You don’t have to fix everything. But you do have to pick something.

Or someone else will pick it for you.

Share this:

Like this:

“Your Country Doesn’t Just Need Voters — It Needs Neighbors”

Real democracy is local. It’s grounded in empathy and action — not in shouting matches or social media arguments. When you give your time and heart to your community, you invest in a future that goes beyond party lines.

You don’t have to join a movement to make a difference — just show up. Lend a hand. Be a neighbor.

Because America is built on sweat and kindness, not tweets and slogans.

Share this:

Like this:

If You Don’t Pay for Truth, You Pay for Chaos

But today, many of those newsrooms are gone. Shrinking ad revenue and the rise of free digital content gutted local papers. Hedge funds bought what was left, stripped them for parts, and left ghost publications behind.

When no one is watching, the powerful get reckless. Corruption grows in the dark. Misinformation fills the void. And democracy starts to wobble.

If we want to keep self-government intact, we need to fund the people who shine the light.

Subscribe. Donate. Share real reporting.

Local truth is not free. But the cost of losing it is far greater.

Share this:

Like this:

“The Extremes Win by Default”

By the time you vote in November, the real choice has already been made — often by just 1 in 10 voters.

Moderates don’t lose because they’re unpopular. They lose because they don’t show up.

The Cycle We’re Stuck In

Primaries are held in the spring or early summer — most people don’t vote.

Candidates cater to the “base,” not the middle, to win the primary.

By November, you’re choosing between extremes.

People feel disillusioned — and disengage even more.

This cycle feeds itself — and extremists know it.

What You Can Do

Mark your local and state primary dates — they’re different everywhere.

Vote early if you can. Don’t let a long workday or a flat tire stop you.

Encourage independents to check if they can vote — in some states, you need to register with a party before the primary to participate.

This is where your vote has the most impact. A few hundred votes can swing a district. And a moderate challenger can win — if moderates show up.

Share this:

Like this:

“The People Who Actually Control Your Life Aren’t on TV”

You can rage all day about the president, Congress, or that guy on cable news, but the truth is: your everyday quality of life is shaped far more by people whose names you don’t know — yet.

We’re talking about the local school board deciding what your kids read. The zoning commission deciding if a big box store goes up on your corner. The water district deciding what you drink. The county clerk deciding how — or whether — your vote counts.

These aren’t glamorous offices. Most don’t get debates. Few attract press. Often, no one even runs against them. Which means that:

The fewer people show up, the more power each person has. Want influence? Be there.

Real Power Is Often Unattended

In many local elections, turnout is under 20%. Sometimes it’s under 10%. That means a dozen people at a school board meeting can sway policy. One vote can decide who gets to redraw your district map. Your absence is someone else’s opportunity.

What Showing Up Looks Like Attend a city council or board meeting (they’re public — and sometimes online).

Ask a question. You don’t need a soapbox, just curiosity.

Vote in the “boring” elections. They’re where the rules are written.

Volunteer for a committee or advisory group. You don’t need experience — just the willingness to listen and help.

Remember This: The people who affect your daily life — traffic, schools, bills, clean water, housing, voting access — don’t have to go viral to be powerful. And they don’t need millions to win. Sometimes they only need you not to notice.

Share this:

Like this:

There isn’t anything I can do

why waste my time when it won’t matter

The System is rigged

I could list more why not’s but in reality, you do matter, you do count. How eles do you think all this stuff you are against happens.

**Check the Values and the Agenda of the Political Party You Think You Are**

So, back to the most important political move you can make: **discover who you are**, not who you thought you were.

We’ve pointed fingers. We’ve said, “This isn’t what I voted for.”
Now comes the part where we ask: What are you willing to do about it?

We’re talking about the local school board deciding what your kids read.
The zoning commission deciding if a big box store goes up on your corner.
The water district deciding what you drink.
The county clerk deciding how — or whether — your vote counts.

What Showing Up Looks Like
Attend a city council or board meeting (they’re public — and sometimes online).

Remember This:
The people who affect your daily life — traffic, schools, bills, clean water, housing, voting access — don’t have to go viral to be powerful.
And they don’t need millions to win. Sometimes they only need you not to notice.