Converting Corona Anger into Positive COS Action
Monday, May 11
One of the best things about working with the Convention of States Project is meeting people looking for solutions to the reasons for their frustration with the federal government.
I was at the store last week wearing a shirt from our COS Store, and a young lady asked me what I did for a living. I told her my profession and said I was an activist in my spare time.
She gave me the strangest look, and I could sense she wanted to social distance even further!
“No,” I said. “I’m not a ‘wear a mask and beat people over the head’ activist.” Isn’t it funny how words are interpreted? Given events over the last decade, it is understandable how she reacted.
She (we’ll call her Mary) stated she was a small business owner of what was deemed a "non-essential" business. This is a business in which she had invested all her savings and mortgaged her home to open. She employs a small staff, all of whom she has laid off.
Mary applied for the federally guaranteed small business loan but failed to qualify, because she did not retain 75% of her employees. They would have had to forego up to $1100 per week, plus $600 a week relief to stay employed. I wonder how many in Congress have ever had to make a payroll.
Like most people, Mary understood that changes may be necessary to deal with the epidemic. Her beef was that she wasn’t given an opportunity to comply with the recommendations. The state forced her business to close. Now she is on the verge of losing everything. Thankfully, she was able to reopen last week and thinks she will be able to make it.
It was clear Mary was upset, although she masked it well. I’ve been running into this frequently. Before the shutdown, people were upset with government intrusion. Now, they are livid!
There is a sea change happening. Instead of being content to complain to their spouse or vent on social media, they want a solution.
The solution is the Convention of States Project. Our active volunteers work to foster relationships with state and local officials. The fact that much of the overreach has occurred at the state level works to our advantage. Many of the officials making the shutdown decisions are the same individuals we speak with on a regular basis. The more we grow, the more impact we have on policy.
There is no doubt that efforts by regular citizens have moved the conversation from a long-term shutdown to a gradual reopening. Traffic on the OpenTheStates website has been frantic. Over three million emails have been sent to President Trump, Vice-President Pence, governors, and legislators across the country.
Teams of engaged citizens have moved the COS Article V resolution to adoption in 15 states. We have elevated the discussion of the Constitution through hard work and educational efforts.
Activism works!
Make sure you follow our social sites, subscribe to receive our emails, and take time to attend our state calls. Better yet, learn here how you can be part of the solution that is as big as the problem we face. By being a COS activist, you too can make a difference by setting and fanning the “brushfires of freedom.”
