Stop Bush

[djxeno]

1. Be Confident Your Vote is Counted. Next November, for the first time in American history, states plan on using no paper ballots. Electronic voting machines, which have many potential flaws, will be depended on. The potential problems that could result would make Florida 2000 look like a walk in the park. We can stop the potential problems by having a paper record kept. Sign the petition at www.VerifiedVoting.org and learn more about the problem. Contact your Senators and Congressman (Especially the Republicans!) in every single one of these ways: phone calls, letters, e-mails, faxes, and by visiting their local state offices. Ask them to support the voter confidence bill HR 2239 introduced by Congressman Rush Holt (D) of New Jersey. Go even further by contacting your local newspaper, T.V., and radio stations about the problem. This is the most urgent of all current actions.

2. Choose Your Actions. Think and reflect upon what actions you are interested in taking. For more information regarding what actions are available read activist and campaign handbooks. Consider every single action you hope to take and begin preparing through self-education. Some of the most effective actions in 2004 will be: Registering Voters, Canvassing Neighborhoods, Fundraising, Educating the Public, and Influencing the Media. Sign up for the mailing list at StopBushin2004.com to learn of the numerous actions that will be available.

3. Choose Your STATE of Action. We must emphasis the importance of taking action in Swing States and take action in them. If you live in one of the following swing states, you will likely focus all of your efforts on your state: California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine. If you don't live in a Swing State, split time between taking action in your state and a neighboring swing state. Determine which swing states are good for you.

4. Educate Yourself. Keep up on the current political scene and Bush's Record. Subscribe to the following email lists: WashingtonPost.com daily politics and Democrats.com daily newsletter. Bookmark Democrats.org, Legitgov.org, and ThousandReasons.org and utilize their excellent sections on Bush's Record: Emphasis the following issues: Homeland Security, War in Iraq, Health Care, Social Security, Employment and the Economy, Military Treatment.

5. Join a Group or Organization. By 'Join', I do not mean sign up for an e-mail list or give money. I mean using your physical self to attend meetings, provide input, listen to others, work with others, and participate with actions designed to defeat Bush. Get involved with a Presidential Candidates Campaign or special interest group (local Sierra Club, NOW, Democrats, NAACP, etc.) near your hometown. If you'd like, form a group utilizing resources in your local newspaper and phone book, the Internet, and libraries. We cannot act alone if we are to be successful. Organize, participate, and work with others.

6. Donate Money. Money is going to be a huge factor in '04. Each of us must do our part no matter how small. All of our donations of $10, $25, $50, $100, or more add up to give us, the people of America, power and a voice. Start donating money now and be prepared to donate more during the campaign. BushRecall.org and AmericaComingTogether.org are two organizations that need your help and are exclusively devoted to Defeating Bush next year.

7. Support Alternative Media. Send a signal to the corporate media giants that they're not doing their job good enough. Moreover, you'll receive more diverse viewpoints and get the stories not usually mentioned on T.V. For magazines read The Nation, In These Times, The Progressive, Zmag, and Mother Jones. For news websites visit Truthout.org, CommonDreams.org, Buzzflash.com, Alternet.org, and Indymedia.org. For radio and web casts, visit WebActive.org, Meria.net, ieamericaradio.org, NewDimensions.org and Alternativeradio.org. If you can, donate money to the media source. As for news on T.V., I would only watch it for comedic purposes, since nearly every broadcast is joke.

8. Boycott Bush Donors. Why should we support companies that are helping Bush get elected? Are we crazy? Not anymore. We do have a choice, so let’s make it. Put your money where your mind and heart are and boycott companies who favor Bush by donating a disproportionate amount of campaign money to Republicans. Oil Companies include: Exxon-Mobil, Chevron-Texaco, and BP-Amoco. Buy gas from Shell or a local facility. Phone companies include Verizon, BellSouth, Sprint, and MCI. AT&T is safe. Tech companies include Ebay, Gateway, and Texas Instruments. Everyday companies include Wal-Mart, Coca Cola products, Pepsi products, Anheuser-Busch products, Hallmark Cards, and Tyson Foods. Transportation companies include Ford, Chrysler, UPS, Fed Ex, Delta, Continental, Southwest, and Enterprise. Safe companies are GM, USPS, American, United, and Northwest. Few financial institutions are safe. I put my money in a local bank and credit union. Go a step further and write/call/fax the companies about your intentions to boycott and explain why. There are many more companies that favor Bush. Visit www.OpenSecrets.org to learn more.

9. Spread the Word. Tell as many friends, acquaintances, family members, and co-workers why your taking action to defeat Bush. Appeal to their self-interest by talking about the issues they care about. Discuss Bush’s record on the issues and give them handouts, books, magazines, articles, etc. that explain Bush’s record. Emphasis not only the importance of taking action, but how taking action can be fun and does make a difference. If you reach them, give them a copy of this list and take action together. It’s much more fun working with people.

10. Make Copies of this List! This is NOT copyrighted; it can be reproduced in any way without the author's consent. Post this list, legally, where people will be able to read it. Make copies and hand them out. Put the public on notice: You are not alone; Tens of Millions of Americans want Bush out. We can defeat him and must. With all of us, including you, taking action, we will succeed. Perhaps then common sense will return to the Whitehouse.