28 days, 12 hours, 51 minutes. Use them.

28 days. 13 hours. 54 minutes.

I start this blog entry with that much time left. I start this blog entry knowing that in 29 days the next president will be decided. Knowing that in a very real way, the result that comes out is due to me. Some people have said that I'm putting too much pressure on myself. But I'm not. At the end of the day there is not an amount of pressure that is too much. This job matters. I'm not here for myself, or even for my friends and family. I'm here for my country, my neighbors, people I've never met.

This video sums up exactly how I feel about this election. In 28 days you will be faced with a choice. You will be asked to decide how you think this country should proceed. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan present you with one option. That option says that we benefit as a country when we take a top down approach. That when we give breaks to the people at the top it will benefit those at the bottom.
 And in a way, this is a beautiful outlook. I want to believe that a CEO given a billion dollars in tax cuts will raise the pay of the average employee. That he'll invest in hiring more people to better jobs. I like the idea that those who have inherited their money will use it to grow the country.
 When I was a manager I wanted to believe that every time an employee told me they were sick, that they really were. I wanted to believe that nobody took advantage of me, my kindness, my understanding. But that wasn't true. Not because they were bad people, but because life happens, and when life happens it's very easy to forget to look beyond your nose.
    I'm guilty of it too. I've been greedy, choose to look out for myself rather than helping someone else. It's human nature. The sweater I'm wearing I could have invested in other, wiser ways. But I didn't. Doesn't make me a bad person, makes me very human. Expecting the extremely wealthy to be anything other than that is not fair to them.
    However, human society is different. Human society has come far. Every religion, every creed, every society recognizes and extols the value of helping those in need. As a species we help each other out, because we know kindness is vital to our survival.
    In the rumble in the air conditioned auditorium Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart discuss this difference (more eloquently and on point than I ever could.) Near the end Stewart says that we are only as strong as our weakest link. O'Reilly takes great offense to this, which I think is silly. It is inherent to any organization that they are only as strong as the weakest member. But that doesn't mean that *I* am only that strong. It doesn't mean that someone's unwillingness to move forward somehow decides my worth. Which is I think what conservatives are afraid of. They're afraid that offering help, and being a society that ensures nobody can fall to the bottom somehow says something about their work ethic. It doesn't. If someone chooses to take advantage of a system that's tragic. That's wrong. But if we take away that system because of the few who do, then we are wrong. We are tragic as a society, because we fail to understand the very basis of being human.
    Again, I'll defer to someone who says what I mean much more eloquently.
     The choice President Obama offers is clear. As a society, I think we need to agree on whether we believe a few basic things:
           1. Working a standard work week (40 hours) should be adequate to provide you with the staples of life, an maybe even a little comfort.  (That is a roof, food, medicine, electricity, water, heat, and maybe a dinner out now and then.)
          2. If you are unable to find adequate work, we help you. We make sure the basics of survival are met for you.
          3. If you are unable to work (either because of age, illness, injury, mental difficulties, or whatever) we take care of you.
          4. If you have worked your entire life and retire, you have a base under which you cannot fall. It is your reward for putting into this society.
        5. If you get sick, you are taken care of.
        6. Children matter. They are our future. And we owe to them not only the basic essentials of life, but an education to build their (and inherently our) future.
         7. If you join the armed forces, you will be taken care of afterward, as a thank you. It's the least we can do.
         8. If you are a minority in any sense of the word (racially, sexual identity, religion, gender, physical/mental needs, etc.) we recognize that, and will protect your rights, your voice, and your life. 
        9. If you come from a background of financial disadvantage, that will not stop you. We as a society believe that you deserve a ladder to climb as well, and will make sure you get it.
        10. If you work above a 40 hour week, you should be rewarded. Hard work is the backbone of this country. And going above and beyond deserves recognition.

If we believe these things, really believe them, then the amount of good we do cannot be spoiled by the few that will take advantage. The way we make these ten things happen is by a focus on the middle class. A focus that says the middle class deserves more money in their pocket, more protection from banks wanting to take advantage of them. A focus that says health issues should not bankrupt you. We make those ten things happen by taking the view that those of privilege owe the society that helped them along their way. That those of privilege have a duty to those that make up the majority of their country.

If we believe these things, as human beings we have a duty to enact them. Mitt Romney will not. Mitt Romney will provide a society that is dog eat dog, survival of the fittest.  And we're better than that. I have to believe we are. I have to hope that at the end of the day my fellow man has my best interests at heart.

If we believe those things, then we have a duty to get involved in this election. We have a duty to seize the next 28 days and wring out of them everything we can. This election is too important to sit by and hope for the best. This election the choice is clear. Are we a group of people looking out only for ourselves, or own best interests, or are we a society 236 years old who have said from the beginning that every human being, regardless of birth, has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

28 days, 12 hours, 51 minutes. Use them.


       

Yes. We. Can.

      So I've been quiet. Partly because I'm busy (super lame excuse I know) but mostly because it's a job. I love it. I feel excited to be doing it. But you can only write "I AM SO EXCITED TO CHANGE THE WORLD" so many times before it gets boring. (For me and you guys.)
    But yesterday was tough. Tons of nos. Lots of yeses too. But tons of people saying they were busy or didn't want to get involved. Tons of people slowly inching away from me, unwilling to commit. And this campaign only works when people commit. This campaign only works because people take ownership of it. I'm not going to win this election for Obama. The people I work with are. And I love that. I'm inspired by that. I love being a tool for the greater good.
   But a hammer that isn't picked up is little more than a paperweight. Being refused is extremely hard for me. Especially when they're condescending about it. Don't call me sweetie to get me off the phone. Don't tell me that you're "too busy" when  you've been shooting the shit in the office for ten minutes. Don't tell me you're scared. Starting this job I was uncomfortable picking up a phone and knocking a door. But my fear of the direction this country could take without my help scared me more. So yes. Incredibly frustrated. Yesterday was a "feeling like if they don't want to help themselves than what am I trying to do" sort of day.
    Then I met Justin. Just randomly, at a bar where I went to take the edge off and relax a little. He sat down and we started talking. He has two little girls, Emma and Lilly (!!!!!) who are the second cutest set of kids I know. He works 60 hours a week in landscape, and is finishing his degree in horticulture.
    Justin can't afford his rent. Luckily he knows his landlord and is able to use his days off to remodel some of the properties to cover where he's short. Justin has no savings, and has to take this semester off school. He's one emergency away from being homeless. He's a single dad, and loves teaching his girls about the outdoors. But he's going to have to sell his boat to cover bills and keep them taken care of.
    Justin will be out of work on November 15th. And he's not hopeful about finding work for the winter. He has a record of burglary and marijuana possession. Both from when he was younger. He served two years in prison because of marijuana. Having worked in the industry I did before this, I know how hard it is to get someone to give you a chance when you have a record. I always tried very hard to not let felonies be the determining factor. But I was rare in that.

   Justin is one of the kindest people I have met. He has a good soul. When he spoke about his daughters you could just see the love he had for them. The sadness he felt that their mother wasn't around. He didn't have much growing up, but that was ok. He doesn't want a lot now. He wants security, the knowledge that he'll be able to pay his bills, work hard, and raise his children well. He wants a future for them that he has watched close on himself. He wants a little extra to give Emma and Lilly a fantasy Christmas. He wants to finish his degree. He wants nothing more than what this country prides itself in providing.
  Justin has never voted. He doesn't feel like he has a voice. He doesn't feel like he matters or is listened to or is someone the government cares about.  And he's not alone. Justin's story is all too common today.
   And at the end of the day, I have to remember that's why I'm here. I'm here for Justin and Emma and Lilly. I'm here to ensure that they have a voice, that the society we're fighting to create is one where he feels listened to, and like he matters. I'm here to fight and win, so that he can have a day off. So he can finish his degree and send his children to go further than he can. I'm here because I've been blessed with many opportunities, even if it didn't feel like it. 
     It's hard to remember that when I get a steady stream of rejections. But it's vital that I do. I can't allow the nos to ever get to me. Because I'm not here for myself. I'm not here so I can have the president that I want.  I'm here to fulfill a promise older than myself, a promise that will stretch into the future long after I'm gone. I'm here because people like him exist, and it's time to stand up, say no, and fight to remove obstacles.  I'm here so that that man, who works so hard for so little, can have the life he deserves. The life that this country promises to provide for all people who work hard, play by the rules, and take responsibility. I'm here for all the people who tell me no. I'm here for the amazing person who says yes.

Fired Up, Ready for Joe

     Second week on the job, and Biden's coming. Like...what is my life right now? Every day I wake up and think about how I get to to go work. And I can't believe that my life is now about empowering people. And not in the auxiliary way it was before. I mean, I've always been for the development and growth of my employees, been for fighting for them, inspiring them to fight for themselves. But that was behind my first job of running a business. Now doing that is my business.
    Been working on getting ready for Joe Biden. So far we've given away a couple thousand tickets. Most of them directly through my office. It's been kind of awesome to see so many people coming through. it's been my job to ask them to volunteer. People are definitely saying yes, but a lot of people are too busy.
   Don't get me wrong. I realize people have commitments, I realize not everyone cares as much as me. But what we're asking for is two, three hours for your future.

Like, here's the thing guys. To win, Romney needs to take Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or Ohio. Based on the resources/money he's spending in Pennsylvania and Ohio, we can conclude he's focusing on taking Wisconsin. I mean, it's our job to make sure he loses here, so that him pulling back in those two states is an even bigger mistake.
 How do we do that? We get out and talk to voters. We get out there and inform our independent voters. The ground work is vital to this campaign. Not yard signs. Not going to fun events. It's the tough day to day work that makes a difference. Starting this job I was uncomfortable at the thought of approaching strangers, asking them to help, asking them their personal politics.
  Today this one lady told me that if, at any time of her volunteering, she felt foolish, she'd be done. That's stupid. That is just plain stupid. I mean, number one, who really cars what these strangers on the other end of the phone feel? Number two, this thing.  This thing that decides who the rule of your country is, isn't worth feeling foolish for one moment?
  It's not a secret that I'm a fan of the grandiose statement. That I pride myself in finding the significance of even small moments. But this isn't a small moment. We're facing the election of a party that thinks of me as a second class citizen. That seeks to make the experience of nearly 1 in 4 women something to classify into legitimate and not ligitimite. We're facing the election of a ticket that will cut it's own taxes, while taking away protections that my cousins and second cousins need. We're facing the election of an ideology where some people are more equal than others. Where some identities are blamed for the ills of society that have more to do with our wallets than our conscious.
   What we're asking is that one day a week, you give up tv time. Or internet time. That one day a week you maybe are a bit more harried than usual. We know this doesn't seem appealing. But it is absolutely vital. We know that we are lucky in that we get to think about this all day every day, that this is our work, and we don't have the distraction of other jobs. That's why the organizing is up to us. You show up, we give you a task, and you're done. Believe me, if I could knock the doors I need to, call the numbers I need to, by myself, I would. But I can't. Obama can't. Biden can't. We need your help.
   And your patience. This isn't a perfect science. A man came in today, saying that the number of calls he received was going to deter him from voting. That because we were spending our time trying to get him in to lend a hand, he'd give up his right. And I get it. I know you don't want to be bothered. But we're people. We do this because we see the necessity. It's not that you're targeted. We're not trying to give you a hard time. WE're  just fighting every day to make this the world you want to  live in.
This can happen. Obama can be president again and our country can move forward on the path it needs to. But only with your help, your generosity, your patience, and your dedication. We need you.

Also, seriously. Two weeks ago I ran a pizza place. Now I organize events for Joe Biden. Every day  marvel. I'm one of the luckiest people I know.

Can we talk about the POTUS?

"Stand with me, work with me, let's finish what we started" -President Barack Obama

This place is tired. There has been a lot of attention placed on Wisconsin in the past couple years. Politics as usual is a violent affair. (Not physically violent, but messy and tumultuous.) Tammy Baldwin spoke on this more eloquently and with more authority than I ever could. 

   The problem is people see politics as a one off thing. Something they get involved in once every few years, then put away until the next cycle. Something that they don't have a responsibility to shape every year,  every month, every week, every day if they can. Yes, they have responsibilities to attend to otherwise. And yes, those responsibilities are draining. That's why people like me exist. I'm here to fill in the gaps. I'm here to give them the information and empower to make the most effective change the most efficiently.

   And that's the point of the Democratic Party. I think it says a lot when the President stands at a podium accepting his nomination and says that all his accomplishments, everything that people have lauded him for the past two days *we* did. For him to stand up and say to the American people that "you did this" is incredible. And it's a brilliant counterpoint to the GOP's motto of "we built this."

   At the end of the day the people in Washington, the delegates, the people screaming "we built this" are a minority. An inclusive message is vital to winning this November.

I met a man last night. He moved to Wisconsin a while ago and has been feeling silenced and like he couldn't get involved. It was awesome to be able to provide him an outlet, a chance to get involved. This election will be won by people getting out, by people taking control of their community. This election will be won by the people who are the more fired up and ready to go.

Emotion inspires this election, science wins it

       Meant to blog last night. But holy moly was I tired. I sat down for a minute and I was just done. But yesterday was good. Met my fellow field organizers, sat down with my boss and dove into what my job here is. And wow. I have a lot of work to do. In the next week I need to organize 35 door knocking shifts. The week after that? 43. Daunting. But we have to get it done.
   The most amazing thing about this campaign to me is the technology. We know who's likely to vote, who isn't, who's likely to vote for us if we can get them out, and who's likely undecided. We have a plan based on hard numbers, based on science. Which is awesome.

My setup for call time. <3

   Met my team leader last night. She's a really great lady. Coming from the background I do it's always amazing to me to meet a hardcore democrat who's older and established. And she brings a lot of fire and passion to this campaign. But that's not enough. The emotional component is important, sure. It's vital. People have to care about this election on some level to get involved. But you also have to be willing to look at the hard numbers, say "what do I need to do to get those doors knocked, those calls made." It's something I'm still feeling out, but i'm starting to see the work involved in this job.
   But anyway. Oh my god can we talk about the convention? I didn't get to watch all of it, because it was on during prime time call time. And for future reference for all of you, call time is sacred. But what I did catch? Yes. It's nice to feel so positive. It's nice to hear people talk about what we believe in. This feels like balm for my soul after the relentless attacks on me as a woman coming from the other side. Lilly Ledbetter. My hero. It was a beautiful night. Energizing and inspiring. I can'treally say much more than this article.

Then I crashed. And it's morning again. time to go out there and fight the fight. But I am in love with the fact that part of my job is being informed.

It's like Ilinois, but with a ton of cows.

      Second day of training, down. Feeling better about today. Did phone calls, got some volunteers signed up. Then drove down to Eau Claire. The area here is beautiful. Hilly, rocky, dynamic. Full of cows. Lord the cows. Probably wouldn't be so noticeable if my air worked and I could close my windows. But it wouldn't be me if I didn't have something be hilariously awkward.
     Today my question has been "who am I to tell people in Wisconsin who to vote for?" I mean, seriously. Small town chick from the middle of Illinois telling adults they should vote for Obama? Here's my answer, I'm from a state that, frankly, doesn't matter. It will go blue. And that's awesome. But my talents would be wasted in that area. I love stories. I love hearing them, finding the details that matter, and creating a fabric to weave the individual threads through. I love finding what makes people tic and pointing it out. That's why I need to be here. The stories are here. The desire for real change is here. It's my honor to point that out, and help create something cohesive and powerful.
     Thinking about my story it strikes me how very blessed I've been.. My parents weren't wealthy. I never went hungry, but when it came time for school, I was on my own. I fought my way through. I have debt, but I own that debt and I'm paying it off. I've been working in the "real world" for a year. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. And that by itself doesn't make me special. Which is sad. Frankly, that's abhorrent.
  But I've never given up. I have something to do, and it gets done. I walk into a store without dough, flooded with sewage, missing tools, and I make people pizza. (or at least I used to.) And I'm not alone in that. There are millions of people across this country that can make it work every day. But making it work is not, and should never be enough. As a people we deserve more.We're on the right path with our country. Over twenty months of straight job growth, healthcare signed into law, equal pay guaranteed. But we aren't there yet. And the alternative won't get us there.
   In 2004 the vote for Wisconsin came down to about 2 votes per ward. Two. That's one couple deciding to go to the poles. But without the great people of this community deciding they want a voice in their society, things change. 
    Don't get me wrong, I belive in change. I believe in being adaptable and rolling with the punches. But this kind of change, the kind that would take us off the path of equality and empathy for our fellow Americans is a kind of change I can't get behind. I don't have kids. Any of you who know me well know I'm far too selfish to be able to be a mom now. But my brother does. He has four. And they are honestly the coolest kids I know. And I can't let them grow up in that kind of world. So, in a lot of ways I'm doing this for them.

 Leaving I didn't get very emotional. I said good-bye to my parents and siblings with relative ease. They'll be there when I get back. But saying good bye to those four little ones (and my cat...let's be real) nearly broke my heart. Yes, they'll be there when I get back. But not in the same way. And if I don't come back, if I'm fortunate enough to continue my career, then I'm missing out on more than I was to begin with. But they deserve a country in which they can get healthcare, a good education, a nice job that lets them buy a house, save a little, and retire. They deserve a story that has a happy ending, a story in which their work pays off. And I'm going to fight to make sure they get it.

   I arrived in Eau Claire tonight, after my two days training in Madison. I took a wrong turn and ended up walking a few blocks to my office. On the day I found the theater on the right. I know it's not as good as the Normal Theater (sorry Eau Claire, I still love you.) But it was wonderful to feel a small sense of home, even if it was just a theatre. The vibe in downtown was awesome as well. I think I'm going to thrive here.
   Every day we make choices that determine how our lives pan out. Every day we make choices that determine the lives of those we care about. For a long time my choices were defined by fear. but That has to be over now. From tomorrow morning on, no fear. Ever. Because it's not just about my future anymore.

So tell us of your joy and woe, and see the stories in your eyes.

        Day one? Down. What do I say? Tough day. Lots of insecurities coming out. But you know what? I did it. I knocked on doors. I spoke to voters. I got the cops called on me. I changed somebody's mind.
     My brain is dead. I can't even fathom where to start with today. I feel like my life changed so quickly that I'm still processing. No homesickness yet. But preparing for it. After living alone for more than a year it's weird to be in a house with somebody else. It's even weirder to think I don't know where I'm sleeping tomorrow night.
    Flexibility with a smile. That was emphasized today, and it's true. I've always prided myself on my adaptability. But part of me is scared that when charged with a task that I'll fail. But I can't believe that. Because then I will.
    Wisconsin is crucial. There are many paths to victory. But they all start with Wisconsin. Theoretically guys, I could make the difference in this election. I mean, in the end I'm a tool of this campaign. And this campaign is made of people owning it, owning their vote, owning their future. It's a humbling experience.
   I want to thank every voter I meet. Without them there is no campaign, and I remain where I was. Even the angry Romney supporters. The ones who so violently wanted me to be silenced that they called the police on me. Without them I have no job.

     Today I spoke with a voter who was undecided. She didn't think Obama was the best path for this country to take. I spoke with her, and got her to sign the above pledge card. It's a weird thing, changing minds. But in the end I don't so much change them as point out what they already knew. It's a weird thing to be valued for my mind.
     I never thought my story made me special. Working a job after college like the one I did seemed to make me average. But I'm beginning to see how my experiences and the way I'm able to relate them can make a difference in this world. And it's an awesome feeling.
   I'm not being coherent. I'm exhausted, overwhelmed, humbled, excited, and scared all at once. Michelle Obama recently said something along the lines of when you go through an open door to success you don't shut it behind you. I believe in that. I believe in helping eachother to better not only ourselves, but our world. I believe in opening doors for everybody.

   

Fifty Miles to Madison

       Thirty-six hours ago I was employed by Sbarro. Thirty-five hours ago I got a phone call that has changed my life. Since then I have divided my time packing up my life, squeezing in as many good-byes as possible, and explaining to people what I'm doing, and why uprooting my life for two months is worth it.
      It's a risk. Don't get me wrong. I'm aware that in two months I could return to a musty apartment, no job prospects, and an all encompassing feeling of terror. But for a year I've worked 50, 60, 70 hours a week, doing something I'm not proud to be doing, not able to afford anything but the bare necessities. For the past year, every time I've been asked what I'm doing I make a joke about it, because I know I wasn't fulfilling my potential.
     Yesterday my parents stopped in Bloomington on their way out of town, to say a quick goodbye, get a hug, and process the fact that in 24 hours I was leaving. My mom hugged me, took a small step back, and told me I was sparkling again, and that she hadn't seen me so happy in a long time. I had drinks/lunch with a professor a few hours later, and she said the same thing. I've been trapped for a year. Trapped and useless. Trapped and unhappy. Fixing that alone is worth any risk.
     I'm scared. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't terrified of falling on my face. Talking to my professor yesterday I realized that this will be the first position where my intelligence will be what makes me successful. Don't get me wrong, in my other jobs, intelligence was helpful, but they were designed to be done by anybody. Theoretically you could train anybody to fill them in a matter of weeks. This job feels like a career, feels like something I was built to do. 
  I want to talk about why I support President Obama. Why I'd want to uproot my life for a man I've never met. But I'm finding it hard to find the exact words, and over the next sixty five days I'm sure you'll figure it out. But let me say this. I've spent the past year working more than full time, working harder than most people I know, and I couldn't afford internet. I couldn't afford cable. Every month I wrote the check for my student loan and cried a little bit. I also spent that year applying for jobs. Sending out resumes, writing cover letters, pouring all of myself into a dream. And got nothing. This country is in a state where it can't afford to give me a chance. But he did. The people of his campaign saw my strengths, my desire to make this world better, to empower people to shape their communities, and ran with it.
    Yes. This job is *only* two months long. But this path is something I'm just discovering. After 25 years of wanting to make a difference, I'm getting my chance. This song started playing as I was fifty miles outside of Madison. I'd been feeling weird. Homeless. But right now? All I feel is hope, and a quiet determination that today really was the beginning of my life.
     Some days are more important than others. Some days you look down and see your life, see it expand and become more than you ever imagined. Some days dreams begin. And those days are the days where you surge forward, and those days are the days that you ARE. Seize them and live.