Greetings from VMF Co-editor

“The Democrats don't matter.”--- Steve Bannon

Hello and welcome members and friends,

          I am amazed that it is already November! It is tempting to head into the holiday season wanting to put issues of government and politics behind us. Please understand that when you personally need a break, it is important to take one. No one's psyche can handle the current political whirlpool endlessly. There is a podcast I listen to, The Daily Beans, (more below in the new PODCASTS section) where the host often says, “Pass the baton.” She also finishes every episode with “Take care of your mental health.”

          The thing about passing the baton is it only works if enough of us are in the relay race. I invite you to find a podcast that speaks to you (Please share links of your favorites with us at [email protected].) and take some action. Small, medium or large--- find a way to get involved with an issue that particularly matters to you.

          We all live outside the States, at present, and I for one am most grateful to begin my 16th year living in my olive grove on the Greek island of Lesvos. But we all CARE. And things are not going well in our country of citizenship. In fact, alarming, disgraceful and dangerous things are happening in the US.

          I titled this missive with words from Steve Bannon, from an interview he did with Michael Lewis, the author of many great books: Moneyball, The Big Short, The Fifth Risk, etc. I throw these words out there at the head of our precious newsletter because I think they are a wake up call. Influential people, like Bannon (as much as you might dislike him you ignore him at our democracy’s risk), believe that they can discount Democrats and get away with it.

          In fact the whole quote is even more alarming: “The Democrats don't matter. The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with sh*t.” This is the tactic being used all across America right now, a simple and simpleton's tactic but one that is sadly powerful. And let me tell you the sh*t is flying in the news these days. We as Democrats (and Independents who join in our fight) have to make ourselves matter.

          If you need any convincing, I encourage you to listen to a 6-episode podcast series (approx 30-minutes each) called Southlake. I warn you people behave badly, and the students of the Carroll Independent School district suffer. Then,  just yesterday my son called me from Wisconsin and said the local paper had a headline of similar school board issues in our home state.

          One final podcast I will mention is called Gaslit Nation. It is a bit harder to listen to than some, it doesn't have great sound quality, and the topics are uncomfortable, but the two women are experts on the subject of rising autocracies and dictators around the world. They know a thing or two! Andrea Chalupa produced a film about Stalin's imposed famine in the Ukraine. Just last week there was a showing of the film in Moscow. The police came, locked the doors from the outside, and interrogated everyone present.

          I truly don't know what Republicans are thinking. The path they seem determined to follow – just yesterday all 50 Republican Senators voted against even debating the Freedom To Vote Act – leads directly to such perilous outcomes. And in their attempts to control school boards America’s youth will be deprived. When perspective disappears only the sh*t remains.

          I apologize for starting the month off with such a mood of doom and gloom, but if even one of us is motivated to take action, it has to be worth it. Thank you for your attention.

          Be well,

          Robin H Rafaelidys

          Lesvos, Greece

Join the Global Veterans and Military Families Caucus Team!

We are quickly approaching a time of great change in America. Former President Donald Trump won Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in 2016 -- three states that made up a core part of the Democrats’ “blue wall.” In 2020, President Biden won back all three along with Arizona and Georgia, but his victory was achieved by incredibly small margins in key states.

As we prepare for 2022 and 2024, we will need to adapt to this change. We will need to identify the places where we can make a difference for our community and other communities alike and fight to keep the House, Senate, and White House blue. I am determined to ensure that our 2021-2023 VMF team is ready to tackle these challenging times with a diverse, active, and outspoken group of leaders and volunteers.

I will be accepting applications for our steering committee leadership positions until 11:59 PM EDT on October 15th. I will strive to complete making appointments to these positions no later than October 20th. If you are just interested in volunteering with our caucus’s teams, please still send an application! I will share volunteer applications with our appointed leaders so that they can fill out their teams with interested volunteers.

Available Steering Committee and Volunteer Positions:

• Secretary
• Regional representatives for the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East/Africa
• Member Engagement and Advocacy - Team leader and volunteers
• Events Coordinator - Team leader and volunteers
• Communications and Social Media - Volunteers

If you are interested in being on our VMF team, please send me an email with what position or activities you are interested in and why you want to be a part of our team. Current service members, veterans, military family members, and allies are all welcome and encouraged to apply.

Best,

Anthony “Mike” Nitz
Chair, Global VMF Caucus
[email protected]