An Important Ask...

No, not donations.

The Civil Conversations Project has a bit over 700 subscribers and a bit over 14,000 readers. I admit to not being tech savvy enough to understand that or how Substack even knows. We add new subscribers everyday, but we must have an equal number of ‘Unsubscribe’ers as well because that 700+ number stays pretty constant. I never ever look to see who has unsubscribed. That might be kinda painful.

I subscribe to three other Substacks - Jonathan Thompson’s “The Land Desk”, Heather Cox Richardson’s “Letters from an American”, and Bill McKibben’s “The Crucial Years”. Like me, they ask that I spread the word and ask my network to subscribe. All three have a paid and an unpaid subscription - which are pretty much the same product and a model that we will be shifting to one of these days in the not too distant future. Buying a paid subscription supports the important work they both do. Doing this work comes with a financial cost.

But even a free subscription supports the cause they have both dedicated their life to. I mention both of their post to many people. But do I ask people to subscribe? Do I ‘Buy’ them a free subscription? No. I do not, even tho as many people as possible need to hear what they have to say - Jonathan about the environment, Heather about the state of our country, especially as it relates to history, and Bill about the danger of climate change.

Folks arch their eyebrows and offer their congratulations when I tell them we have over 14,000 readers. And I like to believe the words of famed and controversial anthropologist Margaret Mead that is emblazoned on thousands of coffee mugs: “Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

But there are some 340 million people in the United States, of which around 270 million are voting age adults. Our goal is to reach at least a million of those 270.

I am asking you to please not be a Wayne. Do as I say, not as I do. I suffer from laziness. Let your network of people know about The Civil Conversations Project. Don’t just forward. Actively ask people to subscribe. Or if you’re somehow a reader, but not a subscriber…subscribe. Please.

Reading and becoming more knowledgeable is a first step, not the final step. That alone will not move the needle. I’m asked all the time, “What can I do?” Tell them about these posts. That alone falls into the category of “Doing something”. Some of those people will get involved in whatever way works for them, will take action, and will actually make America great again.

Thank you. You are my community and I appreciate you. Seriously.