One week ago was the national demo.  My post about the day was October 19.  In all there were 17 comments, take a look.  A particularly interesting comment is 3 pages forwarded by Lois from Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) with brief summaries of three months in the Fall of 1775.  Take a look.

On October 23, I added a post with information pertinent to the White House project.

The big decision each of us have to make is how to make a difference, day by day.  There are so many possibilities for each person wherever you are, whatever your personal circumstances.  Personally, I especially like the column by Peter Leschak that I sent along a week or so ago.  In his gentle way, he identifies how each of us has an immense amount of power…if we exercise it.  You can read it here: Peter Leschak STrib Aug 17 2025.

October 18 cannot be an end in itself.  It must be a continuing of individual effort.

Consider enrolling on Indivisible.  It is very easy.  You aren’t forced to do anything; but if you’re looking for ideas and motivation, you’ll find it there.  (Of interest to me: the two founders of Indivisible graduated from Carleton College in Northfield MN in 2007 and 2008.  Neither grew up here, but we can still claim them.  Two young people with a positive vision.)

Yesterday, going through some personal political history stories I’ve chosen to keep, I came across a brief article in the March 7, 2023, New York Times.  The headline of the article by Maggie Haberman and Shane Goldmacher: “Trump, Vowing ‘Retribution,” Foretells a Second Term of Spite”.  [ NYT Mar 7 2023] This was 2 1/2 years ago.  I remember seeing the actual comment on television.  “I am your retribution”, he said to the Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor Md.

Two and a half years ago….

His second term is not yet a year old.

POSTNOTE: here is how the event organizers report on October 18.

We were at the Stillwater MN Demo yesterday.  It didn’t look like much compared with the mega rallies, but I’m quite positive there were well over 1,000 persons near the St. Croix River Bridge.

Here’s a photo I took of the group on the bridge itself, not all of the participant, but a substantial part.  Imagine a “T” I’m taking the photo at the top of it.  Both sides were equally packed.  Vehicles were restricted to one lane in the middle of the street, and were infrequent and moved very slowly.

October 18, 2025, Stilllwater-Oak Park Heights MN.

You could not imagine a more orderly crowd.  The volunteer at front was one of the traffic managers, and there were cars, not many, which freely and safely went through.  I don’t recall any hostile exchanges.  There was one police presence, that for a medical situation for one of the demonstrators.  There were loads of flags and signs.  No speeches.

We had to walk about a half mile in, and of course, out, and we got there early.  We were tired when we returned home in mid-afternoon.

I’d say the benefit of gatherings like this around the country is a chance to connect with others among the many millions of us who are deeply concerned.  The visibility doesn’t hurt either.  The fake news merchants would have to lie through their teeth to come up with a story of violence within our group, and my guess is that would be a repetitive story everywhere.  We didn’t need to have a flier to make nice or make trouble.  We were simply citizens concerned about the future for all of us..

Over the years, especially in the Iraq War era, I was in lots of demos and marches, all non-violent.  This was no change.

The demonstrations aren’t ends in themselves, rather than a beginning for daily efforts in the great assortment of ways each and every citizen can contribute towards a better future for us all in this country.  This was the second demo at the this site.  The earlier one (which I did not attend) was much smaller, I heard.  People are paying attention.

We citizens, all of us, ARE the politics we like to criticize.  Keep on keeping on.

October 17 post is here.

COMMENTS:

from Carol: I’m not clear if the protest yesterday was on the bridge over 36 or on the interstate bridge.  When I went, it was on the 36 overpass bridge.  Not a terribly long walk from that parking lot – but long enough that I really didn’t look forward to it again.  So I thought I would go to the one they had advertised at an overpass on Hwy. 52 in W. St. Paul.  They said an easy walk, etc.  I’m glad I checked that out the day before as it was also quite a long hike, uphill.  But then [husband] got sick and I decided to just skip this one.

October 18 St. Paul

from Dick

October 18 Stillwater

from John in Davis CA:  Looked like a beautiful day in Stillwater.

Crowd estimates are always tricky, but I would say that probably around 5000 people marched in Davis – since I don’t do selfies, I just took pictures of the other participants.

Those photos are here.  The album also includes other photos from an earlier rally in June.

Again, a very orderly crowd, which actually picked up more trash on the parade route than was deposited – streets were cleaner after they left!

from Sue: Golden Valley was filled with positive energy, great signs, and supportive horns.

from Brian: Thanks Dick! For this report and stepping up!

from Lois (see also comment below): Please find [following] pages of “Passport Through Time” for 250 Years: Passport Through Time 250.  These are for October, November and December of what was happening 250 years ago during the American Revolution.  This was received from my chapter DAR Regent.  Interesting that it was sent out to us at the time of the “No King” marches.

I cast my ballot today in the special election Nov. 4 for 4 school board members of South Washington County SD #833, and new Senator for SD47.  I voted at the new Washington County Center which is essentially behind Kohls Department store, just off Woodlane Drive.

I have lived the same address for the last 25 years, and my entire life has either been in or very close to public education, including 27 years representing public school teachers.

My ballot today was for three school board incumbents, and one new representative.   Those who got my vote are incumbents Louise Hinz, Katie Schwartz and Sharon Van Leer, and candidate for newly open position, Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg.  The four are recommended by the local teachers union.

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger is my choice for Senator in SD47.  She has been my state representative and I have been very pleased with her approach to the job of representing not only ourselves, but all citizens.  She is endorsed by a large group of organizations.

The campaign fliers for all are here, for the School Board candidates, and for Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger: 1). School Board ISD 833 Nov 4 2025; 2). School Board ISD 833 Bockman Eckberg Nov 4 2025;  3)  Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger SD47 Nov 4 2025

Here are a few personal comments: 1. I strongly support Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger for Senate for SD47.  She is my local state Representative (47A) and she has been an outstanding representative.  There are endless issues for any legislator, and I have a sense that she has the ability to listen to and represent differing points of view, crucial in a government official, particularly now.

2. I endorse the slate of school board candidates supported by the District 833 teachers union.  Three of the candidates are incumbents; the fourth is a new candidate.  My entire life has been in public education in one way or another.  I do not actively engage in the affairs of the local school district, and my assessment is, just from local news over the years.  In a large and diverse system (nearing 19,000 students), there are infinite possibilities for conflict about this or that.  The school district is well governed even in these difficult times.  The three incumbents are positive leaders.

I had the opportunity to hear the 4th candidate present her points of view in person last week.  She is a strong candidate.  Check out her website.

Please note “ADDITIONS” at the end of this post.  If it’s been your inclination to sit this one out, get off the couch.  Our future as a democracy is at stake, and we’re the only solution.

INFLUENCING

Every now and then a new word crops up and has its day in the headlines.  A current one is “Influencer“.  If you search the internet you will find numerous definitions.  Here’s one I selected, from the Oxford English Dictionary.

Today, it seems, you have to go viral to consider something successful.  Or have a very large boatload of “followers”. whatever that means.

I want to propose a new definition of “influencer”: first each person has to convince him or herself that he or she can make a difference as an active individual wherever he or she lives….

Since November 2024, when my ‘side’ ‘lost’ the election, I have said that 75,000,000 of us agreed on an alternative outcome, but we were a tiny bit short of a plurality.  There was no “landslide” “victory” or “loss” last November.  Every one of us were “influencers”.

Of course this also means that 77 million influencers voted for the opposing candidate, as were the 90 million or so who didn’t vote at all, or the free who voted for minor party candidates with no chance of being elected.

In short, every single one of us who were qualified to vote, whether voting or not, is the only ‘influencer’ who makes any difference.

If each person takes on the task of helping one other person make up their mind, change can happen pretty dramatically…there is no ‘yah but’.

As we’re all learning the hard way, elections are no spectator sport.  All of us are the “team”, period.

*

Re the Team, I’m really no different than anyone else.  First, I have to talk myself into taking some unfamiliar action – in other words, to change customary behaviors.

The viral bunch is always an annoying noise in the background, like those fine-tuned ads for the perfect pet food for the perfect dog or cat.

For all of us, perfection is a dream, and we clomp along trying to do our best.

My challenge, become an influencer, just by doing a little bit more every day, getting a little out of your comfort zone.

You read this this far.  You are an exceptional person.  Keep on keeping on.

POSTNOTE: As I was drafting this I thought back to a workshop I’d attended in Grand Rapids MN in the late 1980’s.  The speaker, Don Keck, was an organizer for the National Education Association, and his talk was about Power,  In my memory, his talk had five bullet points about Power and who has it.  The first four were obvious: Knowledge, Position, Money, Information.  There were other sources of power, but these were primary examples.

It was the final power that caught my attention, and that he spent the most time with: Referent Power, the power of relationships, which he called “Referent Power”..

In my blog archives, there are nine that include the word “Referent” in one way or another, At the end of my post for February 10, 2011, I expanded a bit on the word, as follows:

Message to the Proles March 10 2010: ** – Power defined. I once heard an excellent talk about some of the many kinds of “Power” in plays in all of our lives. As I remember them: there is the power that comes with authority (“I can fire you”, or variations usually involving money); there is the power that comes with the capability of defining the rules of society (“I can make laws”). Power comes with family connections – a family marries into a family with power. The list goes on.
But there was one power I paid most attention to, and the speaker called it “referent power” or “the likeability factor”. For people immersed in the other kinds of power, this is the scary one: this is the problem of relationships, and builds outside, and independent of, the others.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS: 

Some things you can do:

Facilitate helping with registering to vote: Joyce Vance October 7, 2025

Check out and participate in No Kings Day on October 18 (we’re signed up).  In the lower left corner of the home page is a box.  Enter your zip code and find the nearest group in your area.  Additionally, take time to watch this 10 minute Tim Snyder video Who was who in Weimar Germany; and a three minute one, No Kings – Freedom

Check out “No data day” here.  This is very interesting.

Lori Sturdevant, long time highly respected commentator on politics in this area, had a must read column in the October 8 Minnesota Star Tribune: Lori Sturdevant STrib 10 8 25

I have added several references after “Do something” in the Darkness or Light post.

POSTNOTE:  I think back to my most recent visit to Niagara Falls three years ago, this time of year.  I visualize the people in a barrel, an occasional stupidity there, where someone thinks they can capitalize on surviving a trip over the falls.  It is one thing to read about it; it is another thing entirely to stand there, at the lip of the falls, and imagine what it would be like.

At the moment, America – all of us – are in a barrel, about to go over the edge.  If you’re excited about that, be very careful what you pray for.  Odds are against victory.

Dad at Niagara Falls 1972

We can’t know how September 30, 2025, will play in the history books years from now, but today is the first day.  Pay close attention and get, and stay. in action.

My first thoughts this day go back to Union staff days where, on infrequent occasions, we “Union Thugs” were asked to help a local union planning to strike.  (One time I was President of the Union staff for the state teachers Union that employed us.  Now, that did make the news.  That strike lasted only a few days.  It was 1979, if I remember correctly.)

*

The Government Shutdown started at midnight Sep 30, 2025,

The shutdown has all the earmarks of a labor-management conflict.  Without going into the weeds, I have one observation (among many) unresolved disputes often have something in common:  at some point matters came to a head, and there is a walkout.  It’s always the other sides fault….

In my experience then, which was only from the labor side, walking out was the easy part.  Getting back in, and back to normal, was the hard part, and the prudent local and the opposing management considered this fact.

I only knew the Labor side over 50 years ago; but Management had exactly the same problem – just “the other side of the same coin”.  Regardless of the issues, ultimately there had to be an agreement to settle, which required compromise, whether the walk-out was one day or a month or even more….

I can’t remember any local going on strike more than once.  This is not to say that there were no frustrations, or threats in subsequent negotiations.  The prospect for both sides was too dismal to reprise.  Best to eat crow in essentially private arguments in bargaining, rather than enter into a public spectacle over which both sides had little control.

*

Which brings me to “The Generals”, the title of this post.

Also on September 30 was street theatre day at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia.  Fox News personality Pete Hegseth and guest star of “The Apprentice” (aka “Management”) came to wow a gaggle of generals (aka Labor) from all over creation. The Big Show was obviously made for TV where management could be in the spotlight as “star”.

*

This is not to make light out of what are two hugely significant events which not coincidentally happened on the very same day.

We will be well advised to not only follow this carefully, but also become active participants.  The stakes are immense.

*

As for the Generals, I think one of the problems the Public has is that relatively few adults have actually been in the military and make their judgements based on TV/Radio, movies, social media and print news: chaos and blood.  As the old saying goes “if it bleeds its leads”.   The President wanted a big show; he got it, with no applause….  In the theater it was a big dud.

I am not naive about the military, both from personal and family experience.

I was in the U.S. Army voluntarily for a tour as an enlisted man in 1962-63,  I didn’t realize it at the time, but the “Vietnam era” had begun about a year earlier, and we were being trained for future service in Southeast Asia.  I declined the opportunity to go for officer training; and ended up as Company Clerk in an Infantry Company which, a few years later, saw heavy action and lots of losses in Vietnam.  I and my colleagues were the lucky ones.  But we safely experienced in training what our later colleagues had experience in person.

Dog Tags. U.S. Army 1962-63

Never have I regretted my experience in the military.  Those Generals who have risen to the top of their respective pyramids are generally very strong and effective leaders, as are their subordinates, down to the most basic level.

I have absolutely no idea what those Generals were thinking yesterday, as they sat obediently in a theatre where doubtless legions of Marines have sat in the past for one lecture or another (one of my grandsons approaching his 7th year as an active duty Marine, though not at Quantico.)

As for the Generals, the stark fact is that we, all of us, every one of us, have to be the “Generals” in the days ahead.  We are the one who decide who or how we’ll be governed, and we do this by our actions (or lack of same).

POSTNOTE: For historian Heather Cox Richardson’s view of September 30, 2025: here. Also,  Robert Reich, today short video.