Being our Own Proof

There’s a lot to be said for proving something can be done by just doing it. For instance, I know it only takes a tiny amount of effort to keep a street relatively litter-free because I pick up trash when I’m out walking and my routes are sparkling because of it. I know people still stop to help each other change their tire because I do that myself when I see someone on the side of the road sometimes. I know that working people can run for Congress to fix everyday problems because once again it’s me doing it, and I know that a lot of people like what they see and hear because they tell me to my face and to my website.

If you feel weird talking about or volunteering for a politician that’s totally understandable, so don’t do it for me. Do it for the families that wouldn’t need to struggle if dependent tax credits actually covered the cost of having a dependent. Do it for the hassle we would save by having the IRS prepare our taxes for us. Do it for the idea that housing might be cheap enough to own again one day instead of just rent. Or do it just to make a health insurer sweat nervously, because this is how we get those things. Not by asking for them but by buckling in and getting them ourselves.

For folks who are going to a party, parade, sports game, or other friendly cordial gathering, bringing a petition to share is free (I can drop it off to you on Friday), directly helpful, and indeed is the only direct action required to make progress towards the ballot in November. And this is the last weekend it can be done, so it’s a good thing the weather will be beautiful and the weekend three days long.

The thing about proof is that we can only ever prove what is possible, and never what can’t be done. We can prove that Congress can work for Mainers by succeeding. We can prove that Maine can be supportive of younger leaders who favor direct positive action by being supportive. And like every other challenge in life, if we fail we will never know which things can’t be done: we’ll only know what we did ourselves to achieve them, and we’ll just have to be okay with that.

This campaign is now in crunch mode. All further events on the Q&A tour are suspended until we get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, as canvassing is more productive than hosting and scheduling at this time. If you can get twenty people from the same town in one room I will be happy to try and stop by for up to an hour to talk to you on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday this week.