Dear DOGE, in solidarity with our federal employees, I’m sending you a list of my accomplishments each week, as though my job, too, depended on it. I hope you can find the time to read and evaluate each of the 4,449,847 federal employees’ lists you demand. If they write them, you should read them, after all!
So please add my list to your pile.
1. Monday: I committed an everyday act of resistance to the tune of the Motown hit “Boss makes a dollar and I make a dime.” I take my inspiration from the slow erosion of our democracy that the administration has been rolling out day by day. There are various ways to fly below the radar when one resists, of course; mine was to use my critical thinking skills to reject the official narratives coming from our leaders.
2. Tuesday: I realized that I am one of 340 million people suffering narcissistic abuse by certain of these leaders, so I set boundaries, engaged in activities that bring joy, and I made sure to build connections with others in a circle of support. Running a union coalition sure is therapeutic.
3. Wednesday: I googled “resistance” and found that there are subtle ways to spike the road to hell. “Spreading information and awareness” was one AI suggested, and I complied. I also participated in an economic boycott of businesses supporting our increasingly oppressive regime.
4. Thursday: I took a baby step in the Pursuit of Justice (not the World of Warcraft kind). I wrote a letter to the only member of Oregon’s Congressional delegation who supports current efforts to cut Medicaid, Social Security, civil rights, environmental protections, public services, and labor rights. I asked him to remember his oath to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States, which calls for a just and equitable society. (He has not replied.)
5. Friday: I drilled down on the meaning of solidarity as an action word. Beyond the bonds of shared interests, I considered the practical sense of the concept. I did this by expanding my organization’s circle to be a more inclusive fellowship, built on a unity of purpose. Despite pushback, I looked for points of commonality rather than difference to strengthen our numbers and thus, our movement.
So that’s my list. Subversive? Perhaps, but you didn’t specify that it had to comply with your world view. Oh, and next week’s list will be written in Sanskrit, just to keep it interesting.
Sincerely and obediently submitted,
One of your loyal subjects.
Laurie Wimmer is executive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council.
