AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Good morning everyone! In case you have crept FURTHER into the sensory deprivation tank which is everyone’s only source of peace these days: last night Trump fired FBI director James Comey. Comey found out about it on TV, bc Tromp is a lunatic who loves a spectacle. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

On one level this is of course hilarious, because Fucko Jim is a true Fucko and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. but on ANOTHER level it’s insane, because James Comey is heading an open investigation into Trump’s ties with Vladimir Putin, and firing the person who is investigating you–THRICE!–is kiiiiind of what dictators do? LOL. 

So what can you do? Great question, my despairing yet undefeated little slices of plumcot. My answer is what it usually is: time to contact your elected representatives. Find their contact info here. Find an excellent guide to the issues and stakes here at Indivisible.

A few sample call scripts, slightly adapted from Indivisible:

FOR HOUSE GOP:

Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m appalled by President Trump’s firing the director of an investigation into his own administration’s ties to Vladimir Putin. It’s the kind of thing autocrats do. [SHORT PERSONAL STORY ABOUT WHY U WOULD RATHER NOT BE RULED BY AN AUTOCRAT??] The American people deserve to know exactly what happened, how it happened, and what our elected leaders are doing to prevent it from happening again. Will [Rep’s name] stand up for [his/her] constituents by supporting an independent investigation into Russian tampering in our elections, and co-sponsoring the Protecting Our Democracy Act (H.R. 356)?

FOR SENATE GOP:

Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m appalled by President Trump’s firing the director of an investigation into his own administration’s ties to Vladimir Putin. It’s the kind of thing autocrats do. [SHORT PERSONAL STORY ABOUT WHY U WOULD RATHER NOT BE RULED BY AN AUTOCRAT??] The American people deserve to know exactly what happened, how it happened, and what our elected leaders are doing to prevent it from happening again. Will [Senator’s name] stand up for [his/her] constituents by co-sponsoring Senator Cardin’s bill, S. 27, which would create an independent investigation into Russian interference?

FOR DEMOCRATS IN BOTH HOUSES:

Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because [SCREAMING] IT’S ON FIRE!! IT’S ALL ON FIRE, DUDE! HELP!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

no, just kidding, hahahaha. FOR DEMOCRATS & GOP-ERS WHO HAVE COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION:

Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from [your town]. I’m calling because I’m appalled by President Trump’s firing the director of an investigation into his own administration’s ties to Vladimir Putin. [SHORT PERSONAL STORY ABOUT WHY U WOULD RATHER NOT BE RULED BY AN AUTOCRAT.] I just want to thank [elected’s name] for speaking out and I ask him/her to keep fighting on behalf of his/her constituents and the American people.

Please remember that one of the most effective tools in the arsenal of autocracy is the feeling of hopelessness. People who believe their voices are not useful don’t speak up. People who believe the war is over don’t fight back. But your sense that there’s Nothing You Can Do About All This isn’t an objective truth. It’s a weapon being actively deployed against you by an administration that wants you to stop caring. As MC Lyte once said, Fuck that motherfucking bullshit. Kiss my motherfucking ass.

after u call, u can come to my inbox and i will tell you what a BRAVE, BEAUTIFUL RUBY you are, because you are one, and i love u.

If possible, can any Canadians answer the questions to this Canadian English survey?

https://www.allcounted.com/s?did=wpvmdzoaxmauv&lang=en_US

You guys know I don’t usually post stuff that isn’t art related here, but this affects our life on the internet.  So here I am.

Yesterday, March 23, 2017 the Senate voted in favor of SJ Res 34, a measure that will allow your internet service providers (ISPs) to sell your private personal data to anyone who wants it.  Without your consent, or even a notification.

Advertising companies, legal teams, private individuals.  If they have the money they could buy your data for whatever purposes they want.  And you will never know.

There are measures you can take, like investing in VPNs.  But that’s not an option for everyone, and doesn’t provide complete protection from this resolution.

…

Here’s what’s important.

The bill is not yet law.  It has to go through the House next.  And if what we’re seeing with the AHCA is any indication, Congressmen/women can be made to buckle under overwhelming opposition.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK.

Here is where you can find your Representative: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

YOU HAVE TO CALL, EMAIL, OR FAX THEM.

TWITTER IS ESSENTIALLY USELESS WHEN CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.

Airing your grievances on twitter is fine as a catharsis, but to actually get your voice heard and tallied, phoning is best, emailing is okay, faxing is so-so.

This measure was passed along party lines, which means without overwhelming pressure House Republicans are likely to pass the measure with their complete majority of the House.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL DATA AND PRIVACY, YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND TELL THEM TO OPPOSE SJ RES 34.

SJ Res 34 does have a sister bill: HJ Res 86, which is basically a back up, and we should oppose that as well.  But at the moment SJ Res 34 is the one that stands the most chance of becoming law.

PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. TELL THEM TO REPRESENT YOU AS A CONSTITUENT AND OPPOSE SJ RES 86.

…

And if you can stand it, call your Senator as well if they voted for the measure and tell them off for it.  Their vote might be cast already, but letting them know you don’t appreciate how they’ve represented you can discourage future behavior like this.

This is the voting tally for the measure if you’d like to see how your Senator voted:

…

I apologize for this interruption of my normal posting routine.  But this is a measure that truly bothers me, and I suspect I am not the only one.  Please send this message as far and wide as you can.

We CAN show a massive resistance to the measure, but not without effort.

Thank you.