Patricia A. O'Malley
Social Policy & Programs Consulting
Training and Services for agencies working toward social and economic justice
Resist
Insist
Persist
Repeat
We Can Save American Democracy
But we must act now.
November 19, 2024
I teach Americans how their own government works. I’m heartsick. You probably are too.
In her final speech, Vice President Kamala Harris said “Do not despair. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
Republicans won many recent elections because voters are politically ignorant. They don’t know how our government works because our schools refuse to teach civics. Our schools don’t teach civics because Republicans want Americans to be stupid. Because stupid people vote for Republicans. We can fix this.
BACKGROUND
But we can’t fix the problem until we know how the government works.
The United States Constitution is the most important document in U.S. history and the outline for our government.
Read the Constitution.
Yes, you. Yes, all of it. It only takes an hour. It’s well worth your time. You can read it at the link below.
I bet it doesn’t say what you think it says.
Every person who works for government – elected, administrative, military, schools, law enforcement, etc., at the federal, state and local levels – swears an oath to uphold the United States Constitution – a document that most are too lazy to read.
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I’ve been writing them since 2008; I’ve researched and covered just about every topic.
Senate Organization
The Constitution permits each congressional chamber – House and Senate – to make its own operating rules. They're organized mostly along party lines. The party with the most members is the majority. The other is the minority party.
The Senate Majority Leader is currently Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Due to the November 5 election, when the 119th Congress convenes on January 3, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) will become Majority Leader. Sen. Schumer will become Minority Leader.
The leader’s job is to set the party’s legislative agenda and guide the members to accomplish their goals.
Senate rules can be both a help and a hindrance in that regard.
Senate Rules
In his book The Audacity of Hope, President Obama wrote about his early days in the US Senate.
The late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) gave Obama his book The Senate: 1789 to 1989.
Byrd insisted that Obama learn the Senate Rules of Procedure – inside, outside, upside down, backward, and forward.
Those rules are the manual to getting things done in the Senate.
Obama said it was the best governmental advice he got. You can browse them at the link below.
Filibuster
Senate rules allow unlimited debate on all bills, motions, nominations, amendments, and resolutions. Votes can only occur when all senators are finished speaking. A filibuster is a delaying tactic to avoid a floor vote on a bill. They’re sometimes planned, but any senator can begin a filibuster on any topic at any time. That prevents a vote, and thus stops the item’s passage. Other rules define the process to break a filibuster. Senate rules permit filibusters. House rules do not.
Senate Republicans’ abundant filibusters obstructed or delayed everything President Obama proposed – legislation, nominations, and more. See What’s a Filibuster? at the link below.
Recess Appointments
Republicans are threatening to use the Constitution’s recess appointments clause to bypass the filibuster.
That’s a bit of a legal grey area, but it has been successfully defeated in the past.
You can read about it at the link below.
Lobbying
Lobbying is not what the media says it is. “Giving buckets of money to legislators” is not lobbying.
Lobbying is a noble profession and is enshrined in the Constitution.
Lobbying is the effort to convince local, state, and federal officials to support or oppose legislation and policies reflecting your positions. Everyone can do it. It doesn't cost a dime. Free, easy, available to all.
The Community Matters site contains a large section on Lobbying. Look at the link below.
Browse online to find organizations working on the issues that are important to you.
WHAT NOW?
Now we put it all together. Donald Trump’s nominations to essential government positions are horrifying.
The Constitution requires that most of those appointments be confirmed by the Senate.
So the Senate will be our primary focus.
Trump is relentless, arrogant, ignorant, and impulsive.
We must respond with relentless knowledge, skill, strength, and focus.
We must use our first amendment power to lobby Democrats to use their filibuster power to end ridiculous, insulting, and dangerous nominations, bills, and other proposals.
We want Senate Democrats to filibuster ANYTHING and everyone untenable,
distasteful, disgraceful, dangerous, etc.
This is not a popularity contest. This is for Democracy.
HOW?
Contact Sen. Schumer and your own senators through:
- Phone calls
- Post messages with this article link on their website contact forms
- And on all of their social media platforms –
- Facebook
- Twitter/X
- BlueSky
- Instagram
- LinkedIn
- Paper letters delivered by US Mail. Yes really.
And contact your Congressperson. Ask her/him to backup the senators whenever possible. Credit: Patricia A. O’Malley
Demand that your government officials live by the document that they all swore to uphold.
Tell your senators what you want. Ask them if they have the guts to do the work.
We know Republicans can dish it out. Let’s see if they can take it.
MEANWHILE
See one. Do one. Teach one.
Keep the ball rolling. Work with others – friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, unions, non-organized labor, and any organizations with which you have connections.
Pressure your state and local government officials to join us.
Spread the word. Tell people what you’re doing. Take your friends, children, and others along on lobbying visits.
Encourage them to read the Constitution and to join us.
Political ignorance drives me crazy, but we’re all victims of the same bad education.
While we're at it, the media is ChickenLittling all over the place because they make money by scaring people.
They panic the public but don’t bother to explain details or solutions.
So when you see an incomplete or inaccurate article, post a reply with the right info. And keep doing it.
Americans feel powerless because our schools are negligent.
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.
Let’s roll up out sleeves and get to work.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the Constitution
Defective Teaching Methods Produce American Political Ignorance
Learn How Congress Works
Find Your Senators
Find Your House Member
Senate Rules
All Congressional Activity: Congress.gov
What’s a Filibuster?
Congress.gov: Overview of Recess Appointments Clause
Community Matters Articles
Learn to Lobby
Why We Need More Lobbyists
Contact Pat for email notice of all new Community Matters articles.
Patricia A. O'Malley
Social Policy & Programs Consulting ~ Community Matters
412-310-4886 ~ info@patomalley-consulting.com
Copyright Patricia A. O'Malley ~ All rights reserved
Established 1993
Political ignorance breeds political impotence.
“We’ve never done this before”
is never a valid reason not to do something.
Use your power.
Credit: Patricia A. O’Malley