Being Woke Isn’t Enough: 3 Ways Democrats Can Truly Wake Up

With Joe Biden in office, those who voted for him may feel like they can finally breathe again. We’ve turned our attention from politics back to our own lives, complete with vaccines, vacations and other pleasurable pre-pandemic vices.

In the 150 days or so that Biden has been in office, the Republican Party has openly and actively been working against the very things that the American people need and want.

Since the beginning of the year, Republican lawmakers at the national and state level have:

• Tried to block Covid relief funding for individuals, businesses and schools.
• Ended extra unemployment benefits early in 23 states
• Refused to increase the federal minimum wage
• Introduced sweeping voter suppression bills in 47 states
• Opposed an investigation into the January 6 attack, leaving the Capital police vulnerable and out to dry.
• Slowed down the passage of a jobs plan that could reignite the economy and employ millions of Americans across industries ranging from infrastructure to tech to healthcare to caregiving.

Not doubt, a lot of good has happened too. After an exhausting four years, it’s understandable that we wanted and needed to take a break from it all.

But it’s time.

Whether you consider yourself a woke liberal, a compassionate conservative or just a hard-working, good person who doesn’t like politics but wants this country to thrive, there’s still a small role each of us can play in democracy.

Here are three ways to get back in the game without repeating the anxiety, excessive screen time and sleepless nights of the last four years.

1. Tune back in…to just a single news source. Find 1 (okay, up to 3) news sources that you trust and enjoy. It can be a TV news show, podcast, daily newsletter, late night show or weekly publication. Tune back in, regularly and consistently. Stay informed. Complacency is partially what led to the nightmare of 2016.

2. Get back on social media…and start amplifying.
The percentage of Democrats outnumber Republicans on most social media channels by double digits, except for Facebook. There, it’s only by about 4%. Anecdotally, we’ve heard Dems leaving Facebook because it’s too negative and they “can’t handle it.” Well, I hate to break it to you but this isn’t solving the problem. All it’s doing is making their echo chamber louder and our voices absent. Unless you have another major platform online or offline, Facebook and Instagram may be it. Don’t want Ben Shapiro to make the top 10 post on each week? Start sharing the journalists and analysts you follow. No need to engage in endless “comment thread arguments” you can’t win, just remind your friends — even those who share your views — about all the positive things Democrats are doing and can do. Amplify now — don’t wait till the month before the November 2022 election when you’re freaking out that Republicans may take the House. (Helpful hint: Hide the friends and family whose posts give you an ulcer. They won’t know.)

3. Donate your money or time…today, not next year. One of the biggest lessons of Democrats not gaining as many seats in Congress in 2020 is that we need to start mobilizing candidates and their campaigns sooner. Pouring money against the Senator or Congressperson you hate the most a six weeks prior to the election doesn’t hurt, but your time and money will have a far greater impact if you begin recurring donations now, or dedicate a Saturday or two a quarter to a campaign or cause.

What a broad coalition of people — Democrats, Independents, and even some Republicans — did in November of 2020 was herculean and awesome. It’s time to wake up and put our capes back on; the battle for the soul of the nation cannot be fought by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris alone, let’s hold up our end of the bargain.

Interested in joining a private, online group of Democrats in the spirit of remaining informed and active? Join our Facebook group. You can also follow Kamna on Instagram (@kamna_in_ca) for regular updates on everything good coming out of DC (along with occasional book recommendations and random nature photos).