Believing is Seeing
This week's headline comes from a recent piece by economist and NYT columnist Paul Krugman seeking to explain the disconnect between polls and reality. Notes Krugman,
"Perceptions on issues from immigration to crime to the state of the economy are driven by political positions rather than the other way around." His data on the economy are persuasive: GOP voters tend to ignore or have negative views of jobs, wages, prices, and growth under the Biden administration, while DEMS offer a much more positive assessment. Given this phenomenon, relying on facts and accomplishments alone is unlikely to be the key to winning in 2024. Our favorite messaging guru, Anat Shenker-Osorio, reminds us that focusing on shared values and freedoms, and consistently articulating what we stand for is key to breaking through the opposition's noise and disinformation. And maybe, just maybe, it would help to let Biden be Biden (see Reads below). The most important thing we can do now is focus on winning and get to work!
Actions you can take this week:
Tell Congress to do its job and pass clean budget bills. Lawmakers have three days when they return this week to pass appropriation bills needed to avoid a partial government shutdown on March 1st. A second set of bills that fund most government agencies, must be passed by March 8th. A major hold-up is the "poison pill" riders inserted by the GOP in the bills. Email Congressman John Rutherford or call his Jax office at (904) 831.5205. Contact Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, or call their local offices (Scott 904.479.7227; Rubio 904.354.4300).
Help stop two bad bills in the Florida Senate. First, send this email now to Clay Yarborough (R), our state senator, and voice your strong opposition to a bill (SB 1044) allowing schools to use volunteer chaplains to counsel students. He sits on the committee hearing the bill this afternoon (Monday, February 26th) at 2 p.m. Second, sign this letter to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and Yarborough opposing SB 476 which would allow wrongful death suits against abortion providers, abortion-seeking patients, and people who help them, and establish the equivalent of "fetal personhood."
Science Activists, Underdog Economists & More
Join the Union of Concerned Scientists for a virtual conversation on how science can strengthen elections and be used as a tool for justice and democracy in the United States on Wednesday, February 28, 7:00 p.m. Register here. Maybe we can ask them for advice on dealing with Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.
Finding the Money, a documentary featuring an underdog group of economists and
their work to flip our understanding of the national debt — and the nature of money — upside down, will be shown on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the UNF Adam W. Herbert University Center, Building 43, Room 1003. The film starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a panel Q&A session. For info contact Dr. David Jaffee at djaffee@unf.edu or Dr. Daniel Cronrath at daniel.cronrath@fscj.edu.
Learn more about GOTV activities nationally and statewide by joining the Statewide Indivisible Florida Taskforce (SWIFT) call on Tuesday, February 27 at 5:30 pm - with special guest, Ezra Levin, Indivisible's co-founder. Register here.
Join Us for International Women's Day
BAM is joining other community groups to sponsor an International Women's Day event on Saturday, March 9th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church on Myrtle Avenue. The gathering will feature health screenings, free food, music, voter education and outreach, and toy giveaways. We need your help! Email us if you can volunteer. We'll be carpooling from the Beach. We are also collecting new and gently used toys and sports equipment for the event. To make it easy, we have several drop-off locations at the Beach. Find out more and donate! Cash donations are also welcome and appreciated!
RSVP Now to Hear Debbie Mucarsel-Powell!
If you're tired of having Rick Scott represent you in the U.S. Senate, here's your chance to meet the woman who is running to replace him. Click on the graphic below to RSVP and receive the ZOOM link.
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