Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
People who grew up, as I did, in an age of typewriters, will remember that phrase as the most common practice sentence for “touch typing.†Of course, an updated version would replace “men†with “people.â€
There are many ways we can step up to make a difference between now and the next election, and I encourage you not to limit yourself to the easiest ones. I will mention a few that come to mind, most of which I have done in the past, recently, or will do my best to dedicate some time to.
As I come out of a near depression following President Donald Trump’s reelection in November exacerbated by the sheer incompetence and overreach of his governing, which are resulting in quickly sinking public approval, I have remembered how good it can make me feel to take action. Here are some of the ways you can make a difference.
Talk to friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow members of churches, clubs or the guy sitting next to you at the bar. Ask them how they’re feeling about the first months of Trump’s second term. If they think everything is great, don’t argue. If they have doubts, draw them out, be sympathetic. You don’t have to try to persuade them — it can take several interactions before they are ready to acknowledge what you see as obvious truth and facts.
Contact our Republican representatives in Congress. It’s easy to think they won’t follow our pleas for them to oppose harmful legislation or hold the administration accountable, but if enough of us do this often enough, they will begin to understand that they may face difficulties in the next election if they ignore their constituents. There’s a great app available, “5 Calls,†that makes it easy, and I try to call every day. It just takes a few minutes, and the app provides suggested points to make on various issues. Make sure to identify yourself as a constituent. If you’re Republican and/or voted for Trump, mention that.
Do you have more money than time? There are many ways to donate to make a difference, and if you’re like me and have made some donations you are probably on every candidate and nonprofit mailing list now. It can be a real turn off. For organizations that my wife and I know are doing great work, we budget an annual donation and then refuse all requests for anything additional. Currently, I think that the courts are the most effective arena for stopping the worst actions of the Trump administration, so I am donating to a few organizations that are bringing lawsuits to stop the harm like ACLU, Democracy Forward and State Democracy Defenders Action.
There are many advocacy organizations in West Virginia working on issues that might be important to you. Volunteering for them (and/or donating) can end up impacting elections in our state because these organizations notify supporters about which candidates are best on their issues, sometimes buying ads and knocking on doors.
Many of the Republican supermajority in the Legislature have modeled themselves after Trump. They are ignoring norms and attacking or revoking support for programs and government agencies that provide essential services while rewarding their rich donors including corporations with tax cuts and other favors.
Consider donating or volunteering for West Virginia Citizen Action (for 50 years, fighting for rights, public policy, democracy and the environment in this state); the West Virginia Rivers Coalition (protecting our land and waters); West Virginians for Affordable Health Care; Together for Public Schools West Virginia (project of the West Virginia Center for Budget & Policy); Moms Demand Action West Virginia (gun safety); West Virginia Free (reproductive health and more); Fairness West Virginia (LGBTQ+ protection); and the West Virginia Black Voter Impact Initiative to name a few.
Don’t wait until a month before the 2026 election to consider volunteering to make calls, send texts, knock on doors or help out a candidate or county party effort. It takes time to establish trust with voters suspicious of government who think “they’re all corrupt.†In West Virginia, we are small enough to get to know the candidates personally, and if you do, you can tell people what you know about the ones you support. Of course, if you’re passionate enough, consider running.
Finally, while protesting might not be your thing, when large numbers of people make their dissatisfaction known in public, it can become a big news story that brings others out who might otherwise fear making their opinions known. A feeling of being part of a peaceful movement is a powerful force for change.
We are not likely to change our deep-red state significantly in one election cycle. But, if we make some gains, we can start a change that builds over time. Now is the time for all of us to come to the aid of our country.
