Clean Air/Drinkable Water- Who Needs It? EVERYONE PLUS ANIMALS AND PLANTS

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, against the wishes of the American people. As of last Monday, after the prerequisite 3 year waiting period, the Trump administration has finally begun to make good on that promise. As we have already discussed, the Paris agreement enjoys broad support (69%) from the American people, with a full six in ten disapproving of this move by the Whitehouse. This type of high disapproval from the American people would normally be enough to make any President think twice about supporting such an unpopular agenda, but this is only the beginning of Trump's most recent assault on the environment.

Recently, the administration has announced a series of new initiatives to roll back clean air and water protections by allowing coal plants more leeway dumping toxic lead and coal ash into our waterways in the name of "economic growth." Just what growth is being referred to is a little unclear, as environmental assessments estimate over $89B in damages from increased pollution far greater than the purported savings by the industry. But are such effects really cause for concern among the American people?

Please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little or not at all. Air Pollution: 77% (great deal/fair amount) Pollution of Drinking Water: 82% (great deal/fair amount)

With Flint's water still unsafe to drink, and multiple investigations suggesting thousands more communities equally at risk, it's no wonder that nearly every American worries about our air and water! What's more, these fears are getting worse, and rightfully so! After seven years of improving air quality, pollution levels began to increase again in 2016, leading to an estimated thousands of deaths in our most vulnerable populations. In the preamble to the Constitution, we proclaim that our government has been established to provide justice and promote the general welfare. The Trump administration's continued assault on environmental regulations at the behest of a powerful and nihilistic fossil fuel lobby, is realizing the worst fears of our populace, betraying the very raison d'etre of our governing institutions, and leaving a ruined world for our children.

If we are to bring democratic representation back to America, it will take a broad and enduring movement of people, demanding change and putting pressure on the powerful. We must not just raise our voices in advocacy for the right to survival, we must actively and creatively engage with our representatives and the populace to pass legislation to protect our air, water and the earth itself. This fight is vital to a thriving democracy, and only through enduring socio-political-economic movements like DSOT can we hope to achieve our goals. Join us every Tuesday, in growing solidarity and power until we take back our democracy from amoral special interests, and greedy politicians: Don't Shop on Tuesdays!  ________________________________________________ Let friends and families, let them know about this growing movement, and how they can help us take back our democracy if they Don't Shop on Tuesdays!  Send their email address to boycottforourdemocracy@gmail.com