Letter: Their game is chaos; our answer is action

(The views expressed are Webster's own and are not representative of Perk Valley Now.)

Every day, I receive emails and social media inquiries that go like this:

“As a concerned citizen… I’m reaching out to ask what you are doing to safeguard our rights, protect our communities, and stand up to the President’s executive orders.”

“It appears there’s too much “business as usual” in our government, and this lack of visible action is leaving many of us feeling uncertain. We are looking to you and other elected officials to do something on a larger scale.”

“Could you please provide an update or clarification on how you are actively working to address this situation, and how we, as constituents, can get involved or assist?"

My Answer

Let’s be very clear about the situation we’re facing. Very, very wealthy men, under a faux mantle of righteousness, are literally trying to make the rest of us paupers. If you haven’t heard the term “Technofeudalism” yet, look it up. Tech company executives now reign over our economic system.

And they want you to think it’s somebody else’s fault. It’s the fault of immigrants, or government workers, or Democrats who aren’t trying hard enough.

That’s the whole game: break stuff, blame somebody else. Don’t anyone be fooled.

Safeguarding Our Communities

Your Democratic representatives have been fighting off the MAGA, right-wing attack in DC and in Harrisburg for the last six years I’ve been in office. The things you’ve seen in other states (abortion bans, school vouchers, voter restrictions, open-carry of very powerful military weapons) have not happened in Pennsylvania – and not because Republicans didn’t try. Democrats showing up for work every day and holding off the worst excesses of a reactionary government faction is part of the answer.

Across those same six years, PA Democrats have delivered higher funding levels for public schools for the first time in 20 years. We have tripled the child dependent care tax credit. We have expanded the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program to include an additional 120,000 Pennsylvanians. We have also reduced corporate income taxes at the same time to incentivize investing in Pennsylvania.

The truth is, we, in Harrisburg, need to be prepared to lose the federal government as a partner for the time being. 

Our work is in education, insurance, housing, and environmental management. We have to be prepared in policy and budget to maintain Pennsylvanian’s rights, to fund our schools, to support human services and to provide healthcare access even if the federal government attacks each of those things.

Protecting Individual Rights

Don’t believe the lie that we’re doing nothing. 26 Attorneys General are combatting the attack on birthright citizenship, 22 are combatting the Federal funding freeze, along with Governor Josh Shapiro. The ACLU is taking Trump’s executive orders to the courts. Democratic leaders have legislation at the local, state, and federal level to protect our rights under the constitution. Immigrant rights groups are braced and fighting. Our labor unions are engaged. Planned Parenthood is focused on women and reproductive rights. LGBTQ advocacy groups are filing lawsuits.

And, at the local level, my staff assists with state-related issues like acquiring birth certificate copies, answering unemployment questions, and filling out property tax/rent rebate forms. We can direct you to resources to get the assistance you need. We are out attending community events and listening to your concerns. We are visiting schools and labor halls. I’m participating in House policy and committee meetings. I’m debating and voting on legislation. Whether it’s local or in Harrisburg, my colleagues and I are showing up for work every day.

What to Do to Help

We need every hand on deck, and we need to defeat complacency. From the highest levels of government to our neighborhoods, everyone should make their voice heard. Find your lane and hit the gas. Maybe it’s organizing with a human rights group or simply sharing Democratic legislation on social media. No one can do it all, but if you're passionate in an area and lean into that cause, you will make a difference.

Maintain federal accountability. Let Pennsylvania’s elected officials in Congress, both House and Senate, know that you’re paying attention to what they are and aren’t doing to protect your interests.

Here’s how to contact your federal representatives if you live in my district:

U.S. Congresswoman Madeline Dean. You can reach her offices at 215-884-4300 (Glenside) or 610-382-1250 (Pottstown) or by emailing her office through the following link: https://dean.house.gov/email-me

U.S. Senator David McCormick. You can reach his office at 215-405-9660 (Philadelphia) or (202) 224-6324 (Washington D.C.) or by emailing his office through the following link: https://www.mccormick.senate.gov 

U.S. Senator John Fetterman. You can reach his office at 215-241-1090 (Philadelphia) or 202-224-4254 (Washington D.C.) or by emailing his office through the following link: https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/contact

If you don’t live in my district, visit this website to find your U.S. representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives#state-pennsylvania

Communicate all of your concerns. Every time you think or read about a topic that concerns you, make it a point to clearly communicate that with Congress and the White House. Also be sure your state and local elected officials are informed. Here's how to contact them:

Contacts for PA House of Representatives: https://www.palegis.us/house/members

Contacts for PA Senate: https://www.palegis.us/senate/members

At each opportunity, we must remind our state and congressional Republicans that we know they stand in support of Trump and the billionaires impacting our government. Remind them we see the connections.

Frame-up your agenda. Demand protection for education, equal rights, gender equity, pay equity, fair wages, environmental rights, safety, healthcare, affordable housing, and social security. All of us have the right to work and live with dignity. Project the whole picture of what our American life should be. Think about what’s important to you and to those around you and hold that line.

Strength in numbers. Look for the organizations you can volunteer with and contribute to who support the causes you care about. There are reputable groups organizing action where you can focus your energy, time, and talents. Participate to make their impact even larger and pay attention to who is pursuing legal action through the judicial branch of government. Join up, volunteer, tell your neighbors, and, if you can, make a monetary contribution to support the legal action required.

Share vetted, accurate information. Your voice is your power, especially around local concerns and issues. Talk to your neighbors, family, and friends. Help stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation by checking sources.

Yes, it’s time to band together and make sure we project our voices are heard in all directions. We may have to stand on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg so my Republican colleagues get the message. There will also be a time when we need to put a million people on the ground. There will be a time for us to stand in front of the White House. All of us. There will be a time for us to stand in front of the Supreme Court buildings and let them know directly that we have read and understood our constitution and, as Thomas Jefferson wrote, the inalienable rights reserved therein, for every one of us.

Yes, all hands on deck. But let’s also be careful not to take out this frustration on each other. We know where the attack is coming from. Our values and our constitutional rights are worth fighting for.

Our strength is in the power of the People. We will stand up together.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Joe Webster
D-PA Legislative District 150