I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. I never saw the value of putting off until January 1st what you could start doing today. And, if you’re not motivated to start today, what makes you think you’re going to be motivated on some random Monday in January?
That being said, I understand a lot of people find comfort in the calendar. I get it. Calendars literally organize our year. So, if you’re resolving to make a change in your life, why not start on day one?
The problem with resolutions, in my opinion, is that too many people resolve to do something they’ve already attempted. There’s certainly merit in that approach, but finding motivation within that construct is difficult. For instance, say you resolve to lose weight. You do so, but then realize it’s much harder, and much more boring, to keep it off. Before you know it, you’re right back where you started just in time for the (next) New Year.
The key to resolutions, in my mind, is trying something new. At the very least, try something you’ve already done in a new way. If you’re an Idaho Democrat, that’s a resolution that could really make a difference.
Let’s start small. If you’re one of those people who has a Democratic-centric sign in your yard and/or attends a rally or two every year, take the next step and actually become politically active. I hate to break it to you, but you’re not making a difference. Resolve to make a small donation to a state or local candidate in your area. That’s a resolution you can fulfill right now if you want. If not, take five minutes on January 1st and cross that off your list. Your donation, no matter how small, actually does make a difference. Clapping at a rally outside City Hall doesn’t.
If you already donate, take it to the next level and volunteer. That’s actually a pretty exciting resolution. I’ve talked ad nauseum about how interesting it is to get out there and interact with voters. Plus, the walking will help you with the weight loss resolution. If you’re not feeling that bold, go ahead and keep donating. However, if you’re one of those people who donates to safe candidates, you’re really no better than the folks described above. Branch out and connect with a Democratic candidate trying to flip a School Board seat in Post Falls. Believe me, you’ll make their day.
If you’re already a volunteer, donate your time to someone else — especially if you volunteer for someone in a safe seat. Find a candidate at the city, county, state, or federal level in your area and support them. As noted above, they’ll be thrilled. Plus, you’ll learn a new skill set. There’s a big difference between volunteering for a Pocatello City Council candidate and one who is running for the State Legislature in District 29. Believe me, it will be a nice change of pace.
Along those same lines, find a seemingly small office — like the local Library Board — and put your money/volunteer time behind that candidate. The Library Board may determine whether to ban books or not. A $50 donation to a state legislature candidate is fine. But that same donation to someone running for Library Board or Coroner is huge! It’s even more impactful if you decide to knock on doors for that person. Again, you will absolutely blow their minds, and it’s something new.
Finally, believe it or not, there are Democratic bubbles in Idaho. The problem is, they seem to be populated by too many Democrats who refuse to live outside said bubble. As noted many times before, my house is in one of those bubbles. However, while I reside there, I don’t live there politically. As Idaho Democrats, we don’t have that luxury. So, if you’re one of those people who complain about what happens outside the bubble, and yet donate your time, money and energy exclusively within the bubble, you were actually part of the problem in 2023.
Resolve to do something new in 2024. Or right now.
It’s never too soon to make a difference.
(11) comments
Idaho Republicans should try something new in 2024........round up all these commiecrats and
Send them to San Fransicko in cattle trucks
A well written opinion. Democrats should do all they can and with the help of dorothy and people like ugene it's sure we'll do better.
Not likely.
Remember Rod Steiger as the priest in Amityville Horror? That's this guy. He's so FOS the flies are swarming his head and flying in his mouth. The
Stuck bedroom door flies open and an angry voice says.......Get Out! That's the people of Idaho
Talking to you. New Yorkers don't belong in Idaho.
Pretty good, Ewe-Gene. You blended your role as the spokesman for the people of Idaho with a scene from a movie meant to entertain nitwits. How perfectly moronic! Well done.
The sheltered Idaho liberal is as moronic as it gets. They've never lived in the major cities that
Liberalism has destroyed. They've never lived among that precious diversity that they long for.
And so they are too stupid to realize that their policies are moronic. You and Mikey need to get
Out more and see how badly the democrats have screwed up this country.
I've lived and worked all over the US, you cud brained moron. Where have you lived? Ann Arbor and Arimo? With your alligator mouth and canary a$$, you'd get beat up wherever you lived. Just stay in your rat hole and work the keyboard and peek through your confederate flag curtain every time a car goes by.
You've allegedly lived everywhere, yet you are still unbelievably stupid. You are projecting again,
You remind me of that Jesse Pinkman scene Where he was smoking meth all day and paranoid looking out the window. He sees two
Hells Angels type bikers pull up, and get off their
Bikes strolling up to his front door.....one was
Carrying a machete and the other tossing up and catching a grenade like it was a tennis ball. Jesse
High tails it out the back door, scrambles under his RV and jumps over the back wall. The scene then ends showing two mormon missionaries with their bicycle helmets on.....knocking on his door. That's all you, ya freaking crackhead.
Don't know who Jesse Pinkman is. Is that really all you do? Memorize movie dialogue and scenes? Jesus what a productive life you've had. Did Mrs. Barlow drop you on your head a lot?
You've got nowhere to go with you pathetic sick grievance so you surf the internet until you come up someones name that you think you can hurt. Maybe you hit pay dirt maybe you don't. That's who you are.... a sick S O B criminal sexual deviant with his two bit pecker in his man hand because that hand is the only friend you have. You're pathetic and the embarrassment that every republican who reads the ISJ is trying to avoid.
You seem to be having a heavy flow day.
Welcome to the discussion.
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