I am ashamed. And humbled.

[pnwest]

Watching Rachel educating me on how the country was changed by the handicapped activists, how their actions resulted in the Americans With Disabilities act - and then showing the army of disabled persons staging the sit-in at McConnells office today, fighting with all of their might, for Medicaid.....I am ashamed of myself.

I live in WA, as a self-employed person with little income, I qualified for full coverage under the Affordable Care Act, full Medicaid.

These people are fighting for me. These people, some of whom depend on Medicaid for their lives, are fighting for me, too.

And what am I doing for them? That footage of the young girl being lifted out of her pink wheelchair, unceasingly shouting "NO CUTS TO MEDICAID!", fighting with all her passion, and strength, and heart, for Medicaid.....it stopped me in my tracks.

What the fuck am *I* doing, in this world, of any consequence, that matters as much to anyone else, as what she is going for me. What the fuck am I doing.

[drray23]

1. you should not be ashamed.

We all try to do what we can do. Unlike the other side, we democrats have empathy and can be shaken when we see things like that happening. The average Trumper was probably cheering at the TV set laughing at the plight of the protesters.
I am sure you have your hands fulls just trying to keep going. Its a shame that in this country of ours, we cant have a decent universal healthcare system. What little we have , the GOP is trying to dismantle it. This is making my blood boils

[pnwest]

2. It's two hours' drive to my state Capitol,

and it would be costly and inconvenient to go there to march or protest on s regular basis. But then I stack that cost and inconvenience up against the hassle those folks went through to get dressed, leave the house, go to McConnell's office, jam up the hallway - and I'm back to square one - just fuckin' ashamed of myself.

[drray23]

3. there are other things you can do besides marching.

If you have not already, you can join the local dems groups or an indivisible group and do things like phone calls and such to mobilize people when there is a need (which is pretty much all the time these days)

[MLAA]

4. I agree that women is a hero...brought tears to my eyes. n/t

[iluvtennis]

5. +++ agree

[Lady_Chat]

6. I noticed a difference between the protests in Colorado and DC

In the Colorado protest, the police arrested no one, they were allowed to have their say. In DC, the protestors were quickly removed and 33 arrested, so their presence didn't "bother" McConnell. I felt sick to my stomach watching them being carted away. The young woman in the pink wheelchair never gave up, she reminded me of the phrase "Nevertheless, she persisted". And persist she did.

You have nothing to be ashamed of, but the GOP certainly does, they are the ones that are taking away the coverage in order to give the rich a tax cut. I find myself, thinking, what the fuck is this country coming to? How can this be happening? And I don't know what can be done about it.

Tonight I learned from a friend, that when McConnell was young, he had polio, and that government healthcare helped him beat it. And that Paul Ryan was able to attend community college because of Social Security death benefits, when his dad died. They are the ones that should be ashamed, not you, they quickly forgot, when they needed help, help was there for them. I can't even find words nasty enough to describe those two.

I found out something else, Georgia ranks last in the Nation for health care for children. They had the chance to turn that around in that special election, but they chose not to...why I have no idea.

I've also found Rachel to be a wealth of information about so many things. Maybe she has some ideas. If people can afford it, send what you can to ADAPT, and if that's not possible thanks and words of support and encouragement, I'm sure would be welcome.

[Wawannabe]

8. Thank Sessions

For the policing in DC.
He really can't make states do anything.

[B Stieg]

7. It was difficult to see...

how those particular American citizens know what the callousness of Conservative ideology is about to do to us, and for no real reason other than greed and its attendant, exclusionary mentality.

But we must all find our own ways to resist: it's one reason my phd dissertation (in progress) is about living with disability and "differential capacities" in the world of pervasive hyper-technology and interactive media.

But while Trump's "bait and switch" is going to hurt most of us, he and his army of sycophantic con men, con women and cabinet-level, petty dictators will crush the most vulnerable--those pushed to the margins of society because of age or gender or race or sexuality or class or ableness--the most. I grew up on Long Island in the 1960's and 70's, so I've seen him (and his father) do exactly the same thing several times.

resist

[Tanuki]

9. I think it would honor them to let their example motivate you

rather than shame you. I'm pretty sure they would welcome your support today and tomorrow with open arms and no judgment.

[barbtries]

10. i spent much of yesterday crying

after seeing her being arrested. this morning i donated $50 to ADAPT!, the organization Rachel reported on last night (i only watch her in the morning on my computer).

i called my senators and plan to continue with the calls every day.

i attended my local BOE meeting yesterday.

there is a lot you can do other than berate yourself for doing nothing. i imagine you are doing something as well. and when you get tired - i do get so tired - just love yourself and understand that you can only do all you can do.