Dare to Imagine: The Possible and the Unimaginable
There has been a lot of conversation about what is at stake in this election. Both parties warn that our very democracy is on the ballot, both parties insist that ‘the other’ party is anti-democratic and wants to take away our hard-earned freedoms. One party is telling the truth, the other is gaslighting and spreading propaganda that is aligned with Russian interests. It is our responsibility to know the difference. The Democratic party is the only party in 2024 that is committed to protecting and preserving the Constitution.
Our H4D team has shared how hard it is for many Hoosiers to imagine that a Democrat can be elected as Governor. We talked about Believing in Believing that it is possible for non-extreme candidates to win in Indiana despite the structural challenges that we face.
It is important for Hoosiers to imagine that Jennifer McCormick can win the election for Governor. It is equally important that we imagine the consequences of electing a White Christian Nationalist as Lt. Governor and a MAGA sycophant as Governor.
Project 2025 says that “the government should operate on Christian principles”. Laws will be written and enforced to enshrine these principles into our daily lives. Indiana’s current ban on abortion wouldn’t be strict enough.
Did you Know:
The last day to register to vote is Monday, October 7th. Early voting starts on Tuesday, October 8th. Know your rights as a voter; previously incarcerated citizens, recently naturalized citizens, transgender citizens and students who will be 18 by Election Day can vote. Be sure to check your voting status.
Why It Matters:
Democracy is on the ballot in 2024. Personal freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution are at risk of being stripped. We have already seen evidence of this when the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe V. Wade, thus ending a woman’s fifty year right to abortion. Indiana has several sitting legislators and candidates who identify with White Christian Nationalism and are committed to overturning long held freedoms, starting with further restrictions on the abortion ban, overturning the right for gay marriage and reversing anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ+ individuals.
Protecting these freedoms starts with your vote and your efforts to help your fellow citizens understand what is at stake—for our state and for our nation. It's up to us to rally those we know and love and make sure they vote to preserve our democracy.
Imagine what is possible if we elect pro-democracy candidates in Indiana:
Imagine an Indiana where reproductive rights are fully restored. Your vote, and “getting out the vote” to as many Hoosiers as we can, will make that vision a reality.
Picture Indiana leading the nation in education reform. Our future depends on electing these leaders – but only if we put in the work in the next 28 days to elect them.
Visualize a cleaner, healthier Indiana where our air and water are protected. This vision is within reach, but only if we mobilize each other to get to the ballot box to elect those committed to environmental protection.
Envision strong, connected communities built on equality and safety. A prosperous, safe future for Indiana citizens is possible – but only with strong statewide turnout voting to put these leaders in office.
Imagine an Indiana committed to freedoms for all, not used as a Project 2025 testbed for Christian Nationalism. We can stop this authoritarian playbook, but only if we all work to elect new leaders who will fight for our democracy, and who have the courage and character to oppose the anti-democratic Christian nationalism. Elect them this November.
Now, take a deep breath and imagine what it will look like if we elect White Christian Nationalists up and down the ballot::
Imagine a national ban on abortion. Imagine women who have miscarriages and needing a D & C being told they need to develop sepsis before anything medically can be done. Imagine young girls just reaching menses who are raped by their fathers, uncles, clergy, strangers being forced to give birth.
Imagine the First Amendment being re-written or eliminated.
Imagine transgender people being criminalized.
Imagine marriages only being legal between a man and a woman. Imagine no-fault divorces being outlawed.
Imagine public education including indoctrination of white Christian nationalist values and precepts. Imagine Head Start & lunch programs eliminated. Imagine eliminating certain funds for special needs students, and arming classroom teachers.
Imagine a world without NATO, imagine an escalation of nuclear arms across the globe.
Imagine dictators like Putin, Orbán, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong-un having free reign over Europe and Asia.
Imagine the retirement age being raised and privatizing Medicare.
Imagine there are no laws to protect the environment, to protect our food, to protect the water we drink. Imagine the EPA, OSHA, EEOC and FDIC being eliminated.
Imagine Muslims and Haitians being banned for entering the country and Ukrainian refugees being considered for deportation.
Imagine mass migration being carried out by the military sweeps, including the use of internment camps.
Imagine…the unimaginable.
The above statements are real, they come directly out of the Project 2025 playbook. If Braun/Beckwith and other MAGA candidates are elected, Indiana will become a laboratory for Project 2025 regardless of who wins the national election.
What You Can Do:
In normal times, it would be important to know about each candidate and to vote based on facts and information about the candidates, regardless of their party. In normal times, voters would vote based on the issues candidates stood for. In days past, it was encouraged to ‘split the ticket’ and vote for the person, not the party. These are not normal times.
In 2024, there is only one party to vote for if we are to ensure that we will have safe and valid elections in the future. Vote for democracy, vote Blue.
Make a plan to vote. It is important to vote early. It builds momentum and allows the pro-democracy party to take your name off their lists and concentrate the last few weeks of the election on unlikely or hard to reach voters.
Help others make a plan to vote—voting age children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors. Be specific in the planning. Ask about work and school schedules, whether or not they need an absentee mail-in ballot? Absentee ballots must be requested now and filled in exactly as asked. It must be mailed in plenty of time to spare. Do they need help in filling it out? Do they need a ride to their polling place? Do they know where their polling place is?
Volunteer to be a poll worker.
Volunteer for candidates up and down the ballot. Donate to their campaigns. These pro-democracy candidates are committed to serving all Hoosiers while being faithful to the needs of their particular districts.
Put pro-democracy candidate signs in your yard to show your support for the pro-democracy movement.
Talk about what’s at stake in this election. Share this fun, Schoolhouse-esq video on Project 2025.
Post the video on your social media sites as a fun way to educate folks. Connect with young voters, unlikely or first-time voters, independent voters and those who are ‘checked out’ of the political process.
Don't spend time trying to convince calcified MAGA supporters about what is at stake in this election. They won’t believe you and it isn’t worth your time and energy.
Resist worrying, worrying is not helpful and drains our energy. Stay focused, positive and engaged.
We were made for these times. This is our moment to take up the mantle. Here is John Lennon’s Imagine video to give us inspiration and hope.
Help us grow the pro-democracy movement. Share this post with as many in your network as possible. We are all in this together.
Onward in democracy,
Debbie, Rachel, Barbara and Kathy
Notes:
For more information about the use of propaganda by the GOP and right wing influencers, see How Russian operatives covertly hired U.S. influencers to create viral videos
For more information about how to do relational organizing and 1:1 influencing, see this Red, Wine & Blue video and this PDF
For more information on endorsements for Kamala Harris from 700 bi-partisan national security advisors to former and current Republicans, see national security advisors endorse Harris and Republicans who formerly served, as well as former Republicans endorse Harris.
Additionally, former Vice President Dick Cheney endorses Harris saying Donald Trump “can never be trusted with power again.”