What's the plan? How do we enter the fray and fight back?

[Laurian]

I've probably gotten a hundred emails from Democratic organizations over the past few days, each asking for donations (mostly three dollar donations). I'm not sure how that helps the current crisis as they seem to be soliciting campaign donations.

Do we email/call our Representatives? Mine are as red as they come. Teabaggers extraordinaire.

Do we email/call members of House Leadership?

Do we email/call as many Representatives as we can, until our fingers are bloody stumps?

Do we concentrate on Republicans or do we need to contact Democrats as well?

Will ANYTHING make a difference?

This mess is so disgusting and just sitting by and watching it is making me crazy!

[Skidmore]

1. Donations will get us no where.

Donations need to be contingent on performance.

[frazzled]

2. I think neither donations nor calls will make a difference

I think this thing will have to play itself out. Representatives are not interested in any calls except from people in their own districts. And for those Republicans who have spawned this mess, their constituents are largely supportive, because they are crazy (as evidenced by the fact that they elected them in the first place).

But national public opinion will well up in the wake of a shutdown. And they will indeed blame Republicans. And the media will blame Republicans. The time to act is after the shutdown occurs. Public protests organized in your city or town by groups like OFA, MoveOn, etc. can possibly give a public face to the issue. Protests by furloughed government workers will be the most effective.

Only the House Republicans can prevent a shutdown. And they don't seem to want to prevent it. So full steam ahead. We cannot compromise an inch with them--because what will be next to be held hostage in budget or debt-ceiling talks? Social Security? Medicare?

[Brainstormy]

3. When I email my rep

I'm in Georgia and well, you know, but I usually get automated thank you's acknowledging support for the exact opposite of my position or request. Then I become part of their email list and am subject to a barrage of republican propaganda, and donation requests, from then on. I've despaired.

[Laurian]

4. I'm in Georgia, too. God knows I do not want

to be on email lists and receive regular communication from idiots like Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey, and Tom Price. Spare me!

[bluestate10]

9. Get in touch with the Southern Poverty Law Center to see how you can help. That

organization is taking a role in getting people in the south to sign up for health care.

[bluestate10]

5. Organizing for America and the Southern Poverty Law Center are focused totally

on health care reform and getting people to sign up. If you can send either organization money, the money will be used to counter the Koch Brothers' lie campaign over health care reform. The SPC is vitally critical because it operates in mostly red states, many of which have politicians doing everything they can to stop health care reform.

[Laurian]

6. Good to know, thanks!

Maybe that's the most effective way to counter these thugs. The political process seems hopeless right now.

[JeffHead]

7. If they shut down the Govt. We should shut down the country.

Everybody should stay home and flood their in boxes, phones, e mail, twitter, facebook, everything until they get the message. We need to remind these overpaid jerkoffs that we the people run this country by simply doing what we do every day. While they all play their little partisan games in Washington, we do all the dirty work that drives this economy. If that stops they will finally get it through their thick heads who really has the power around here, and it's us, so I say shut it down.

[Bandit]

8. Make your thought known..write letters to the editor..make calls to call in shows

How are others to know unless you inform them. If more people from the Progressive side of things were to do that it may very well help.