I'd Love to Change the World
A Call to Action
“I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you.”
–Ten Years After
In 1971, when the song “I’d Love to Change the World” was released, the US was a very troubled country. As the Vietnam War raged, young men were being drafted to serve in a conflict that meant nothing to many (if not most) of them. Militant antiwar protests took place frequently in Washington, DC, where violence sometimes led to mass arrests. Two significant events that year sparked an increase in antiwar feelings across the nation. The Pentagon Papers, a 1967 top-secret study of US involvement in Vietnam that showed that the government had misled the public, was leaked. At the same time, the brutality of the American soldiers involved in the My Lai massacre was revealed at their trial.
In addition, in 1971, 18-year-olds got the right to vote. This constitutional amendment would give more power to the people who were fighting in Vietnam and those who were protesting the war. It also showed that Congress was still acting for the benefit of the people. Many people accepted the idea quoted above — “But I don’t know what to do, So I’ll leave it up to you” — because they saw positive changes, even for those who chose not to actively participate.
But this sentiment isn’t enough anymore. To save our country from Trump, we all need to step up and learn what we can do. It doesn't have to be big or loud. Even the smallest action makes a difference.
Democracy is Being Threatened
My time as an activist began during that tumultuous period. Even though we feared for the future, the guardrails still held. While President Nixon and his cronies committed crimes, they ultimately acknowledged the rule of law and, for the most part, paid the prices imposed by the courts. We still had three equal branches of government, and they all acknowledged the importance of checks and balances.
Now, 54 years later, the US democracy is at much greater risk and faces far more dangerous problems. The current administration believes in an all-powerful executive branch. Trump and his cronies have shown that they have no respect for the judicial or legislative branch. Our government no longer has a functional system of checks and balances.
Trump was elected for a second term, promising to use executive orders to solve the problems that MAGA believed were ruining the country. However, his actions have mostly been designed to hurt people and give more money to billionaires. In March, I wrote a piece called “Fighting Deliberate Cruelty Without Losing Your Balance,” which discussed some examples of the cruelty of the Trump Administration. Here are a few more examples:
Early in his presidency, Trump signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship. The White House Press Secretary said, “This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional,” but it’s not. Section 1 of the 14th Amendment states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."
On April 26, two women were deported to Honduras with their three young, US-citizen children. The mothers were not allowed to contact their lawyers, family members, or doctors to make other arrangements for their little ones. One four-year-old has stage 4 cancer. This child was deported to a place without medication or access to the care she needs. The administration claims they were respecting the mothers’ choices, but Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty ordered a hearing, as it appeared that the government deported a U.S. citizen without due process.
The Health and Human Services (HHS) budget cuts funding for programs that supply Narcan (naloxone) — a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses — and education on its use to first responders. Dr. Melody Glenn, a noted addiction specialist, said, “Reducing the funding for naloxone and overdose prevention sends the message that we would rather people who use drugs die than get the support they need and deserve.” The fact that, if confirmed, HHS Secretary Kennedy, an admitted, long-term heroin addict, had pledged to make treatment for addiction a priority only emphasizes the cruelty of this new budget.
The Trump/Musk DOGE effort to shrink the government is also real-world cruelty that steals hope from people. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) canceled $2 billion in federal research grants and fired 1,300 employees. The NIH is the largest funder of biomedical research in the entire world. Dr. Francis Collins, who once led the agency, said that this downsizing could impact the health of Americans for generations. People living with cancer and other deadly diseases may see research stopped on potential cures or lifesaving treatments.
Call to Action
So, what can WE do to fight this attack on American values? Here are some suggestions:
Find the issues that mean the most to you. No one can deal with everything.
Prioritize self-care.
If you are not taking care of yourself, you will not be an effective resistor.
Find methods to stay balanced, such as listening to music, watching a movie, or exercising.
Having someone to talk to (a friend or professional) can really help.
Anything that pulls your focus away from the everyday craziness for a while is good.
There are apps and chatbots that can help you contact your senators, congresspeople, and local officials in just a few minutes.
Both Resistbot and 5Calls.org will help you identify your representatives and compose calls, emails or letters. They are very effective ways to make your voice heard.
Take part in protests.
On No Kings Day, there were marches and rallies throughout the country. There will be more.
You can visit the 50501 movement website or Mobilize for more information on local protests you can join.
Speak out in any way you feel comfortable.
You can join groups like DemCast and be part of a large digital army.
If you know Trump supporters personally, calmly talk to them about the issues that affect their lives:
Prices have not come down. Instead, gas prices and grocery prices have continued to rise. Trump’s proposed tariffs will only make that worse.
Threatened cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare will harm them and their disabled and elderly friends. Point out that these cuts won’t hurt the billionaires currently running the government.
Make sure they know that Trump is not just withholding disaster relief from “blue” states. He just denied a request from Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for aid to recover from recent storms. She was his former White House press secretary and advisor, who strongly supported him in 2024.
Mention the thoughtless priorities of this administration, including spending millions of dollars on a military parade for Trump's 79th birthday. Share Jimmy Fallon’s thoughts on this.
Over the many weeks of the Trump presidency to come, there will undoubtedly be more cruel and careless policies proposed and enacted. Stay informed, and please find a way to make a difference. There will be some kind of resistance that works best for you, so please join us in pledging to do something!
Noem is such a dipshit