The People Around Us: Building Power Through Care and Connection

In a world shaped by the few, it’s the values of the many that matter. Let’s talk about what truly connects us—and why it’s time to be seen.

[First writing of this note, some months ago] I am sitting in a hotel room in DC. I am here to discuss how we build power across states in collaboration with partner organizations with a small group of colleagues. This is the third or fourth time I’ve stayed at this hotel. And I have now lost count of how many times I’ve been back to DC since the drought of DC travel ended 2 years ago. It’s a wild ride, and it’s not over.

“W” (aka George Bush the 2nd) was telling us that, “If you’re not with us, you’re against us,” in defense of the Iraq war in 2003. I’ve always detested war. Especially what seems like senseless killing over a rich man’s argument. I remember the bile of disgust growing when learning about the Vietnam War and all the terrible shenanigans that happened during that time, like the awful things we did to the Vietnamese people, like the number of boys who died, how these boys were treated when they came home - just to name a few things.

[Back to writing this… now, February 2025, my desk, my office] My then-boyfriend and I printed out letters written by Thom Hartmann that detailed the similarities between W and Hitler. And, now, W bides his time by painting portraits. It was during his reign that I came to the conclusion we just support those who are around us, those who we care about. The rich care about their rich friends, their titans of industry. It made sense that W would support war industrialists and oil moguls. And now we have tech bros and other oligarchs. And it makes sense that they would help each other.

What I don’t understand is their end game. A friend posted it could be about bolstering their cryptocurrency, and that kind of makes sense to me. Either way, none of that is the world I want.

I am, for all intents and purposes, an ordinary person. My family is full of ordinary people. Save a few who have been able to amass wealth for their immediate families (note, it is not widely shared, though we may benefit from some things like swimming pools). As an ordinary person, I care about the people around me. The people around me are trans, gay, lesbian, young, old, and on some sort of government assistance (disability, Medicaid, Medicare). They are moderate-income to low-income, with the rare few upper incomes. They are born in other countries and call this land their now home.

The people around me want those around them supported and given the chance to make it to achieve the American Dream. The American Dream looks like owning a bit of property (a house, a small plot of land), doing well at their jobs, saving for retirement, and having vacations when needed. And they want that for all those they care about. Enough shelter, food, and clothing (Maslow’s basic needs), enough money to take care of those things, and enough time to rest and rejuvenate.

The ordinary people around me might fantasize about building rockets into the sky, but their priority is always those around them. The people around me care about the people around them. They want them to feel safe, and cared for and loved.

Those at the top seem to have a disconnect in that care. They don’t seem to care beyond their own immediate desires (amass more wealth). They don’t care that there are starving people and unsheltered people and people who just want to be themselves however they deem themselves to be.

And that’s not okay. We cannot have people at the top who do not see us. We are the many. They are the few. And we must have representatives who see us, who get us, and who support us.

Let’s talk to each other, the people around us, those we care about, about our values. I want my friends and family cared for - that’s a core value I have. What’s a core value that you have? I want to know. And I want you to share it.