I don’t think I’ve ever not voted in an election. I cherish the privilege that it is to be able to vote for my candidates and my programs and my beliefs, and so I exercise them.

I also cherish my privilege to control access to my personal information. When you sign up for Facebook or for Instragram, you give up that privilege (if you actually read the membership agreements). Which is why I am not now, nor have ever been, a member of those communities.

We have laws that say we have the right to know what information the government has collected on us. Generally, I’m not concerned about what the IRS or the Treasury Department or Social Security knows about me.

But for a private entrepreneur like Elon Musk to have that information about me? That concerns me.

Which is why yesterday I mailed off my Freedom of Information Act form to discover what Elon Musk may have found out about me. (If you haven’t read my previous post about this, click here to read it.)

I took it to my local post office (another thing under potential attack) and put it in the mail slot myself. It made me feel really good. It was a step in standing up for my rights that feel like they are under attack.

I’m a straight, cisgender, middle-class, educated white woman with a very WASP-y (maybe without the P) heritage. Which means I’m a woman of privilege in my current environment. So if anyone should be speaking up now if they disagree with the government, it should be me. I’m trying to do what I can.

I recommend this approach to others. I felt a little thrill when I mailed my form, like I’m doing my part in our democratic system. It may not be what speaks to you, but I encourage everyone to do what empowers them. And I say that even if your political views differ from mine. I believe our country does best when all of its citizens are empowered and engaged, and together we figure out the best way forward.

I’ll end with a quote from our current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court:

By ensuring that no one in government has too much power, the Constitution helps protect ordinary Americans every day against abuse of power by those in authority.

John Roberts

Let’s keep reminding them who is supposed to be in charge of our democracy!