Pan, I don't know if Luce mentioned it but I saved some links to send to you that I thought you might appreciate. You have now given me a topic that makes them relevant to your subject. Like you, fairness and justice are ingrained in the whole of my value system. And also like you, I must constantly struggle with my impatience with the pondering machine that is our government. As your "elder", I am going to make the dubious assumption that I have gained a bit more patience and perspective over time than you have.
As an individual, I recognize that my power to enact significant change is minimal at best, but it is far better than doing nothing in helpless resignation. Joining with like minded people increases my power as the size of the group increases. I consider myself a fiscal conservation and a social progressive, rather than a centrist, but I still must get off the fence and choose a group that most closely meets what I believe needs to be accomplished now. What now passes for conservatism no longer meets my conservative values, so I have chosen to attempt to enact change with the progressive movement.
I recently ran across a very proactive list of things that I can do as an individual and as part of a group that I believe will ultimately improve our Republic. It is the output of a group of progressives and I agree with most, but not all, of what they hope to achieve. This list has given me focus and direction which is immensely empowering after so many years of perceived helplessness.
This
link brings you to the page where you can find the pdf file for
The Democracy Protection Act. The pdf is 68 pages long, but you can find a concise outline of the goals of the project on pages 8-10. I have found two items of the 40 listed that I feel strongly about and want to invest my energy. Perhaps you and others will feel the same need to act on a specific item. We cannot do it all, but we can do something. This is perhaps just one option in the call to action that you are seeking.
Pen