Originally published by Marci Harris on LinkedIn: What we do now, together.
The conversation that continues after Election Day
This week, many will feel triumphant for hard-won victories, many will feel disappointed and even heartbroken with votes that did not go their desired way. Today (Sunday), we don’t know who will be in which position. But, despite all of the rhetoric, no matter the outcome, I strongly believe that we will endure and emerge stronger and more resilient, together.
Our mission statement as a country
The foundation of POPVOX is not ones and zeros. It is the incredible system of representative government and interlocking checks and balances that assure that leaders are elected by and accountable to citizens; that the military is accountable to civilian leadership; that our rights are inalienable and enduring; and that through a system of representation, we can each individually contribute to the whole.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. — The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
That is the mission statement of this wonderful American experiment (and it darn near chokes me up every time I read it.)
Our mission at POPVOX is to give you tools to play your part in that ongoing quest for a “more perfect Union.”
To connect people and government, empower effective participation, and create a transparent record that influences policy-making and fosters accountable, responsive governing. — POPVOX mission statement
What we do now
Our duties and privileges as citizens and community members do not stop on Election Day. Our leaders are responsible and accountable to their constituents regardless of party affiliation or whether we voted for or against the ones who will take the oath of office.
How do we actually contribute to the direction of the country outside of the election cycle? It can sound so big, yet the answer is so simple:
Pay. Attention.
Our most powerful tool, beyond the vote, is information. And yes, it’s getting harder to use that tool. Information overload means that almost nothing is hidden; yet it is more difficult than ever to cut through the noise and understand what is actually going on.
It’s no secret that many of our information providers have financial incentives to publish what makes us click or keep watching: to outrage or excite us, to make us angry or scared, to pit one side against the other. It’s one thing if the subject is celebrity gossip, but in our public lives, this can lead to genuine fear and anxiety about the things that are most important.