CALL TO ACTION #925: Universal Basic Income & Health (May 19, 2020)
168 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
Oregon Primary Election
Ballots are due TODAY by 8:00 p.m.
Find your closest ballot box location here.
Please VOTE!
Track your ballot here.
Progressive activism means voting the ENTIRE ballot, including seemingly obscure local boards and commissions, and those pesky initiatives.
Help the BLUE WAVE wash over every level of government!
***Today’s Call To Action***
UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME & HEALTH
Happy Election Day! We appreciate those of our MOCs advocating for progressive policies. That would exclude Complicit Greg Walden, a lobbyist masquerading as our representative. Today, we also ask them to push for universal basic income.
Economists know the country’s financial health will only improve when the pandemic abates. Yet Trump‘s GOP consistently refuses to act on our behalf, resulting in needless suffering and death. Their greed and disregard for We The People is compounded by decades of financial give-aways to the wealthy while defunding our social safety net and vilifying government.
The pandemic underscores the ways in which racism, xenophobia, sexism, and poverty lead to hunger, homelessness, illness, and death. People without options accept low paying jobs with no paid sick leave or health insurance, are thus more vulnerable to getting sicker, more often lose jobs during economic crises, and now are being forced to work in unsafe conditions by Trump’s GOP’s refusal to help states medically or financially. All of this is exacerbated by Trump personally fanning the flame of white supremacist nationalism.
Everyone has the right to protect their health while paying the rent, keeping the lights on, and buying groceries. Everyone has the right to consult a doctor and stay home when they’re sick. Basic universal income will eliminate the choice no one should be forced to make: their health or destitution.
We Need Basic Universal Income!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].
Happy Election Day! Thank you for your tireless advocacy for progressive plans in the COVID-19 packages. I’m also calling to ask you to continue that work by advocating for universal basic income. I believe a monthly check that goes directly to people to guarantee they can stay in their homes, keep their lights on, put food on their tables, and stay home and consult a doctor when they’re is sick is essential to navigating our way compassionately and safely through this pandemic.
Thank you.”
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].
As a constituent, I expect Greg Walden to support universal basic income, a monthly check that goes directly to people to guarantee they can stay in their homes, keep their lights on, put food on their tables, and stay home and consult a doctor when they’re sick.
Thank you.”
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
Virtual Election Watch Party!
TODAY: May 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/virtual-election-watch-party/
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Ongoing Event: Oregon Health Authority Coronavirus Update Zoom Conference Calls
May 20, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”
Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.
“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”
The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773. Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Fire and Climate Summit Webinar Series: The First, Best Stewards: Aboriginal Fire and the Klamath Siskiyous
May 20 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-fire-and-climate-summit-webinar-series-the-first-best-stewards-aboriginal-fire-and-the-klamath-siskiyous/
Ongoing Action: ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard and Letter Writing Parties
Postcards to Voters:
Our postcard team is temporarily suspending the delivery of postcards to your door. However, the good news is that you will find everything you need to continue writing from home (including templates to print your own or purchase pre-printed cards) here: https://postcardstovoters.org
You can sign up through https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/
To avoid unnecessary trips to the post office, order stamps directly from the USPS:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/coral-reefs-postcard-stamp-S_745104
…and voila, you’re ready to go! Send an e-mail to with any questions.
Letters to Voters
We encourage our team of volunteers to sign up with Swing Left to start writing letters to voters in 12 swing states. It is super easy to join. Check out their website, sign up, and let’s start writing! https://swingleft.org/
Send an e-mail to if you would like more information about how to get involved.
Virtual Letter-writing Parties
We encourage you to join virtual letter-writing parties hosted by Oregon Indivisible / Swing Left. The parties are held at noon every Saturday and on the last Tuesday of every month. Here are the links for the next two parties:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/267146/
**Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/
SOURCES:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/class-war-over-social-distancing/611731/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1924616/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/16/obama-commencement-speech-2020/
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/universal-health-care-racism.html