All of us can afford some time and money. None of us can afford 4 more years. New Yorkers can make a difference.
The most significant ways New Yorkers can help is to get on the bus to a swing state on November 2 and the weekend before. There are fully-funded multi-day trips to Ohio, day trips to PA, and road trips to swing Congressional races in New York State.
If you can't make these trips, there's still more you can do.
Devote 5 minutes at your desk: Get informed. Sign up for The Center for American Progress Action Fund's Talking Points memo and log on to the Senate Democrats Resource Center.
Devote a half-hour at your desk: Write letters to local media across the country using facts learned from the "5 minutes" section above. Challenge the right-wing spin with these easy-to-use websites. DNC: Sample letters included. Very user-friendly. Kerry/Edwards Campaign: Registration suggested. Type in any zip code. Includes helpful tips, a great style guide and suggestions. Rapid Response Network: Registration required. A Yahoo Group that researches, distributes, and en masse, refutes GOP spin parroted by our press corps.
Devote a couple weekend hours: Call voters while enjoying the outdoors, with Democracy in the Park. They bring the lists and scripts, you bring a cell phone with free weekend minutes. john@democracyinthepark.org.
Devote weekday hours: Call voters in battleground states. America Coming Together runs phonebanks every Monday through Friday at 10 am, 12 noon, and 3 pm.
Devote an evening: Call voters through phonebanks organized by Citizen Action every Sunday through Thursday. dnoninger@citizenactionny.org.
Devote a Saturday: Head to Pennsylvania. Visit the battleground and be back by nightfall with Citizen Action's Saturday bus trips. mshapiro@citizenactionny.org.
Devote a weekend: Travel to Ohio or New Hampshire to reach out to voters. America Coming Together is arranging weekend bus trips; Driving Votes provides you the tools to plan your own group excursion (elena@drivingvotes.org).
Devote a week (or more): Travel to a battleground state. Swing the State will act as your travel agent to plan your trip, linking you to a field office that needs your help.
Devote some cash: Support battleground campaigns. MoveOn Voter Fund raises money on-line to run ads in battleground states. Concerts for Change holds low-ticket events where proceeds go to swing campaigns. And if you don't have time to go on a bus trip, sponsor someone who can't afford it (call 212-489-7982 or email nycvolunteer@gmail.com for more details).
Raise your spirits: You're not in this alone. If you want to meet more like-minded New Yorkers and attend fun, energizing events, check out street satirists Billionaires for Bush, group joggers at Run Against Bush, and partying partisans at the weekly Drinking Liberally.
5 minutes or 5 dollars can contribute to victory in November. Email nycvolunteer@gmail.com or call 212-489-7982 for more information about ways New Yorkers can DO MORE THAN VOTE.
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