Beyond Knitting
Knit to This: Makers for Kamala
Dear everyone,
Maybe you’ve noticed that there’s an election coming up?
It’s only 44 days away. It’s go time!
Our post today is very specific. To say we are wound up about this election is an understatement. We are fired up, not going back, doing everything we can to make this an election that Vice President Kamala Harris wins.
We believe that this election is about the future of democracy in the United States. It’s all or nothing, this election.
Up top, we’re sharing the YouTube of an event we’ve been working on: Makers for Kamala. With just five weeks of planning, a band of fearless makers joined together, across four time zones, to put on a show.
We’re so proud of what happened on Sunday. Makers by the thousands turned up. And in two hours, more than $120,000 was donated by makers all over the country.
Settle in for a really great show. And send a donation to support the Harris/Walz campaign: bit.ly/makersforkamala.
The Speakers
We’re incredibly grateful that friends of MDK instantly agreed to be speakers.
Dana Williams-Johnson stepped up to be the host of this event. She cheerfully managed 22 speakers, a Zoom feeding into a StreamYard into a YouTube, and made it all look effortless. If you are a fan of her popular MDK column, this was so fun to see her in action.
The speakers were all so inspiring: Congress member Katie Porter, Toni Lipsey, Joyce White Vance, Jimmy Colvin, Franklin Habit, Derek Young, Gaye Glasspie, Ben Sander, Clara Parkes, Molly Lee, Weeks and Bill, Cecilia Nelson-Hurt, Lisa Price, Casey Farah, Ann Hood, Lisa Price, London Kaye, Diana Weymar, Lisa Congdon, Amy Sadler, and BD Wong.
Obviously, we hope that you’ll watch Makers for Kamala and use the QR code in the YouTube or this link to donate directly to Kamala Harris’s campaign.
Get Your Vote On!
Most of all, we encourage you to vote on November 5. For whatever candidates you want to support. The most precious, vital, rare thing we get to do in the United States is to vote.
Please take a moment to check your voter registration status at the U.S. government’s site, vote.gov. It provides complete information, no matter where you live.
Basically: take about ten minutes to set your plan for how you’re going to vote. Please do it now, while you’re fresh as a daisy. Ask yourself:
• Am I registered? Correct name, address?
• How am I voting? In person on election day, early voting, voting by mail, voting by absentee ballot?
• Where’s my polling place?
• How much of a party am I going to make my voting day? How many other voters can I bring with me?
Finally . . .
If you’ve read this far and disagree with us, please know that we respect your right to that opinion. In 20 years at MDK, we have found this community of knitters to be respectful, supportive, and eager to help one another. Sometimes we agree to disagree, and we do it without being disagreeable. Let’s keep the spirit of community at the heart of it all—what unites us is far more powerful and important than what divides us.
Love,
Ann and Kay
I would love to go back.
I would love to go back to gas that was less than two dollars a gallon, groceries that were affordable, low unemployment, secure borders, no inflation, low crime, no fentanyl flowing across the border, no wars all around the world, my retirement growing like crazy.
If she were able to fix anything she would have. She’s been a complete failure at everything she’s touched.
This maker is definitely NOT for her.
agreed
I agree with Machelleh. It would be best to keep this website a neutral play-space.
It’s their website. It’s not up to you to determine how they use it.
These are problems that are not fixed over night and certainly not by one person. Our system of government is not set up that way. There are checks and balances so no one person has all the power. To blame the conditions of the country on one person in not right. It is the fault of the whole government.
This is a dream world which never existed. No leader or president will be able to make this happen how ever much they promise. There is no country in this world which has all these attributes – even if it might look like it from the outside.
Well put and I agree totally.
Agreed.
Donald Trump had four years in office. He did not build a wall. He did not stop the fentanyl from flowing. Gas was cheap because there was a pandemic. There was no demand because we were not allowed to drive anywhere. Current unemployment under the Biden administration is around 4%. That is lower than our historic average of around 6%. Inflation is down to 2.5%, the long term average is just over 3%. Recent inflation spikes were attributable, in part, to significant supply chain issues and shortages resulting from the pandemic.
The legacy that is most clear from Donald Trump’s time in office is the fact that he wants dictatorial power–he challenged and pushed executive office powers to their legal limits more than any other President.
If Donald Trump is elected again, we will all be wishing for a time when our votes and democratic right to a free and fair election process was respected. Of all the lies he has spread, those that question the validity and fairness of the voting process are potentially the most damaging. And, strangely enough, it was only his own votes that he called into question. When it was clear that he did not win, when the courts refused to hear his challenges due to lack of supporting evidence, he ordered an attack on the Capitol to derail the counting of electoral votes. If ever there was a cause for impeachment. For that act alone he should not even be allowed to run for office again. Both parties are accountable.
There is a list of reasons why people who previously voted for Trump are now voting for Harris. In addition to the attack on the Capitol, there is his response to the pandemic. His open and public disrespect for the community of scientists and medical experts best able to help us meet the challenge of that attack was abhorrent. His dismissive attitude and ill advised remedies cost people their lives. He of course had the best of all possible care when he contracted COVID.
And finally, the Republican party has lost any chance of my vote because they have used their time in office to strip women of their basic right to protected healthcare decisions. For many, these decisions are a matter of life or death. Many are struggling with medically necessary decisions that will result the loss of a child for that was very much wanted.
I totally agree with you and thank you for stating it so eloquently. I don’t understand how anyone who has listened to Trump’s hateful, vindictive, discriminatory language can consider voting for him to hold the most powerful office in the land, perhaps the world. Some of his policies might be good but unfortunately you get the man with the policies. I shudder at the thought.
Beautifully put! Thank you for your elegant summary – it is helpful to read such a sane, succinct case for not going back!
Thank you for saying this so well.
Well said! Thank you for a cogent discussion of why We Will Not Go Back.
Here here!!
agreed! Well spoken!
I just want to offer a gentle reminder that not being for Kamala does not make one pro-Trump. The American people should deserve better than to have to choose between these 2 clowns, but in the end we’re probably getting what we deserve. But at any rate, just because I don’t like Kamala or her non-policies or her non-ideas or her complete lack of accomplishments doesn’t mean I like Trump any better. Really tired of that false dichotomy tbh.
You are very naive if you think that. If you don’t vote, you are in essence voting for Trump.
Yes! And so sad to see we even have to have this dialogue on this platform!!! Is there no place that’s safe from this divisive discourse?
Thank you, Amy. Jill Stein and VP candidate Butch Ware are the only anti-war, anti-genocide candidates that I know of. I’ve heard interviews of them – true ‘statesmen’ in my humble O.
Please look a little deeper into Jill Stein. She’s not who she appears to be. For starters she has no idea of how many members there are in Congress, and though she’s running for the Green Party she invests heavily in fossil fuel companies. If you’re curious, check out Jessica Craven’s Instagram post about Jill Stein and her affiliations with Putin and Michael Flynn. She is a bad actor.
One or the other of them will be President. Vote for the one you think will best represent your interests.
Well said.
Thank you!
I am unsubscribing. I look to knitting as a refuge, not a battleground. I will no longer be a customer.
I agree with you Barb. I am too!!!!
This is a place to air your views in a kind and respectful way, not a battleground. We all must feel comfortable airing our views without fear of judgement. Listening to one another is the key to a democratic society. It’s ok to disagree but not ok to ignore and denigrate people who do not agree with you. What has been happening is the loss of respect and recognition of people who have different points of view.
Thank you for this thoughtful response that has summed up the root problem of our current society perfectly. Respectful dialogue should be our guide to decisions.
MDK has stepped up for what they believe And they have a long history of doing this. Too bad you wasted your time
Sorry to say that I will be as well. Too bad we cannot keep partisan politics out of the maker space. Another disappointment.
I understand the desire to return to a time when things felt more stable. But I worry that some MAGA policies—like restricting women’s rights, tax breaks for the wealthy, the lack of a real healthcare plan, and threats to Social Security—won’t get us there. We need solutions that work for everyone and bring lasting stability. The former president has shown us who he is, and personally, his approach doesn’t sit well with me. As a New Yorker, I’ve seen how his tactics play out. He abuses the system for personal gain. I’m disappointed that the GOP couldn’t do better than him. That’s why I’m supporting those who see potential in VP Harris to lead us forward. No going back for me.
Thank you for speaking out about this. I am looking forward to watching this and voting for Kamala Harris for a better future.
yes!!! you guys are great! we are not going back! can you imagine? are you old enough to remember? back alley abortions for one!
BRAVO!!!!
It was such a well planned, interesting event and I was very happy to have been able to join it live. And thank you for acknowledging that we are not all on the same side of the aisle. Fighting doesn’t help but healthy conversations make a big difference in creating a better world for all of us.
I’m sure you’ll get many heated comments today and I applaud your taking a stance on this election. In response to those who aren’t fans of Kamala – the state of our country is a result of democrat and republican administrations, mistakes and successes made by both parties. We are a nation that must continue to work towards ‘a more perfect union’. The question is which candidate will make the best decisions for our future and ensure that we have the freedom to work together towards common goals. Common sense suggests that this would be the candidate who embraces positive change, who welcomes dissenting opinions, and above all reaches out to ALL Americans with a helping hand. I do yearn for some aspects of the past – freedom from the threat of gun violence, freedom to make choices about my own body, freedom to live in a country that is civil and respectful. Bravo Ann and Kay for speaking out.
Thank you for doing this. I will definitely watch and donate, my fourth donation to elect Kamala. I am 84 years old, have voted since I was 21 and eligible. I voted for Barry Goldwater. Yes, I have come a long way! I believe this is the most important election of my lifetime because my children’s and grandchildren’s very freedoms are at stake. Our democracy is at stake. Thank you Ann and Kay for having the courage and decency to step up and do this….and so honestly and graciously too.
Deep gratitude to Ann & Kay for taking a leadership role in organizing & getting this successfully launched! I managed to tune in jusssst after it started at 5 PM and was (mostly) very glad I did!
I say mostly because, as a US expat in Canada, I was deeply disappointed to find that my Canadian address would NOT work in any of the on-line donation sites that Makers offered to participants. However, there was also a “Americans Abroad for Kamala” so anybody who needs these links, here are links (below) to help you check your registration, register, vote AND DONATE because we NEED the down ballot races as much, maybe even more, to protect and preserve our democracy.
Why do I say that?
In my home state of Ohio, where top state officials have been indicted and convicted of corruption,
https://www.npr.org/2021/07/23/1019567905/an-energy-company-behind-a-major-bribery-scandal-in-ohio-will-pay-a-230-million-
the partisan state legislature has gotten the partisan supreme court to insert wording into ballot initiative 1 that badly muddies the water. OH Ballot initiative 1 is a citizen initiative to take partisan politics OUT of redisctricting so that voters’ voices may actually be heard over the partisan static that gerrymandering from BOTH SIDES spews in order to preserve power for their own.
Also in my home state of Ohio, in Springfield where I got my BA in Biology & Psychology (Wittenberg ’82) one party is admittedly spreading untruths that have resulted in City Hall, 2 hospitals, at least 4 elementary schools, and 2 post secondary institutions including my alma mater to be shut down due to bomb threats and other threats of violence.
If you too are an expat, go here to check your registration; to register; to get your ballot…
votefromabroad.org
If you are an expat and want to donate, go here…
https://www.democratsabroad.org/americansabroad-for-harris-walz
As Ann & KAy have said, please vote! No matter who you choose to vote FOR, please do exercise your right to vote!
Thank you again Ann & Kay for doing this work.
Love you both to the moon & back!
Thanks for respectfully speaking up for your choice, and asking folks to vote. I could never vote for a convicted felon for president. A man who is so mean and belittling of anyone who disagrees with him. A tax cheat. A sexual offender. A person who loves the people who attacked our Capitol. We are better than that and have a capable, caring candidate in Kamala.
I love and respect you both because you are so smart and creative! However, I don’t feel like the American people were treated fairly when the Democrats ousted the President and replaced him with a candidate who never received one vote in a Primary. I cannot imagine her as Commander in Chief, sending our military into harm’s way. I have not heard her plans for anything. She acts like she is running for change —to change what? The Democrats had 3.5 years to implement change and here we are paying $8 for eggs! I could go on and on.
Yes, Trump has many flaws, but he does have a plan to do what is right for the American people. Trump’s plan doesn’t include returning to back room abortions nor Project 2025. People who think otherwise are misinformed.
Anne, every primary vote for Joe Biden was a vote for VP Harris. She was on the ticket with him. (Also, the Democratic party can nominate whomever they want. If you’re not a Democrat, this shouldn’t concern you.) At this point, if you don’t know what Harris stands for, you haven’t been paying attention. Did you watch the debate? Checked out her website? Similarly, you haven’t been paying attention if you thing Trump’s plans don’t parallel Project 25. Re Trump having “many flaws,” he is a convicted felon and an ajudicated rapist. He cannot operate a charity in NY. And he’s still lying about legal immigrants in Ohio, putting lives in danger. (And, oh yes, the lives in danger are constituents of Trump’s VP candidate, one of Ohio’s US Senators, who should be protecting Springfield citizens, not lying about them and demonizing and endangering them.)
Surprised (& delighted) that MDK organized this! Sorry to have missed the live event but will watch the video & contribute! Working hard to restore rights to the granddaughter & leaning into joy & freedom – not the politics of hate.
Anne – it sounds as though you are not persuadable. But Trump has no plan. Interest rates are lower now, economy is doing pretty good too. Progress has been made without the stress and devisivenss IN OUR FACE for four years! Personally, my mental health won’t survive another Trump presidency… will yours? This year, please, just consider everyone’s mental health and how Trump will impact that over the next four years if he becomes president. He can NOT be the face of this country because he does NOT represent who we are. Please reconsider and thank you for your post.
What an inspiring event this was! Even though I saw it live, I can’t wait to watch it again. Dana’s hosting was flawless and the lineup of speakers was powerful, sharing why Harris/Walz is the best way forward for our country. I especially liked Franklin’s mood board, and the people in his life he’s voting to support and protect. Thank you to everyone who coordinated the event and spoke – and thank you, Ann and Kay, for your courage to speak out, and speak up for joy!
Thank you for this. Brava! I, who voted for Nixon twice,.salute you and am with you. ( And nice yarn name, btw)
Only two choices and the best choice could not be more clear. Thank you for speaking out so firmly. That takes guts these days, sad to say.
I loved this event! Kudos to the organizers – so well done – amazing speakers, so much fun to hear such a variety of personal testimonies from so many diverse makers. I had no idea that Katie Porter’s mom is Liz Porter, from Quilters Hall of Fame’s Fons and Porter! And Joyce Vance is a knitter! Loved Clara Parkes post-it note idea, Franklin Habit’s ex-pat point of view, BD Wong’s crocheted Rose Window – just wow! And last but not least, Dana Williams-Johnson was wonderful as the host/moderator! Thank you for putting this together, I am proud to be part of this Makers community!
Well said, Ann and Kay! THANK YOU for stepping up and doing this – great to see!
I am deeply saddened that MDK would bring politics into knitting. The knitting world is so peaceful or was until the above “Knit to This “ post. I watch, read and listen to various opinions to make my decisions about the future of our country and right now there is not much hope with word salads. I will continue to knit, however, with the hope that MDK will keep out of the campaign and stick with running a very successful company.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing event. I watched it live and was so impressed! Franklin, Katie, and a host of others were eloquent (and logical) when they shared with the community of makers. Donna knocked it out of the park!
Because of this event, I am sewing the Kamala quilt banner and writing letters through Vote Forward. As M. Obama asked, I am “doing something”!This voter is more than ready for ‘la/Tim and the positive message they share. (Please note we are all on a first name basis. )
Can you feel the energy and hope? Yeppir!!!!
My refuge has been spoiled by politics. I come here for fun not a civics lecture
Concur wholeheartedly. Please don’t ruin this knitting site with politics. I don’t need this to change or make up my mind.
Kamala does NOT speak to me or for me.
He should have been locked up & prosecuted along January 6th long ago with all of the co-conspirators helping him before, after & during that insurrection, which means politicians on both sides are responsible for the dead in Springfield & so much more.
Thanks for working to stop the horror of it all.
Dear Ann & Kay and all MDKers,
Thanks for stepping up. I just spent a week with my Mom and left so very, very frustrated — not willing to listen to facts. It hurts to see such a lovely person misguided by misinformation and lies. But it is comforting to know that my knitting home believes in truth and kindness and acceptance and the power of positive energy! Thanks for being brave and willing to take a stand on such an important issue.
Thank you for taking a stand on the presidential race. We are registered Republicans and will vote for Harris. In my 70s and have watched the other candidate with alarm for the future of my grand kids. As a 70 plus person will say that going back to the good old days rarely works and most of the negative now resulted from a world wide pandemic and other social forces. A lifelong maker (knitting, sewing, crafting) place like this are exactly where discussions you foster need to be.
As the host of this event and someone who has written some pretty political things for MDK, I will remind everyone that knitting IS political. Everything we do is political because our choices have the ability to impact others. I won’t go back to chaos and I hope you think about how your choice impacts me, your neighbors and your greater community when you vote.
This – yes. I agree – everything is political. even the yarn we use, where and how it is sourced, the needles and other things we use to knit and crochet. What do you see outside your window? Do you have clean water and access to clean transportation to get to your knitting shop and groups, to groceries, to health care? Can your men and boys walk out of the home without fear of brutality? Can you speak your mind here without going to jail?
Thank you DWJ and MDK.
Thank you, Dana!
Dana, Thank you so much for hosting the amazing event as well as your thoughtful post right here. Everything we do is a choice and does impact those around us. I donated to Harris/Walz and intend to vote for them on Election Day. I hope we’ll all come out and vote.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful post. Sad I missed the live event, but I will “knit to this” this afternoon. (❤️DJW!) And to those who believe that politics should not be welcome here, consider that democracy is why we enjoy the right to say whatever we believe on sites we run and/or participate in. You don’t need to agree, but consider as well the value we get from Ann and Kay’s love of our craft and ability to bring us together.
Thanks to MDK makers for being willing to step up. The program was amazing and hopefully gets out the vote ! It is a very brave business decision but we so need everyone to be brave and stand up for what is right !
I am 73 years old and have never posted online or shared my opinion before. But I have watched intently as history rolled before me over the years. For the first time in my life I feel “called to arms”. My “arm” is my voice. And my forum is within the circles I travel in. Every morning I eagerly check to see what gem I can discover on this MDK newsletter. Sometimes it’s about new merchandise or promotion. And sometimes I strike gold learning about shepherds on stilts or ideas on how to better self-care. (Thx Ann and Kate ❤️). After much introspection I use my voice succinctly with one word. VOTE. Our vote is what is at stake here. VOTE VOTE VOTE
WHOOOOOOT!!!!
I signed up but couldn’t make it, I’m so glad it’s still watchable.
In the past, I’ve worked as a nonpartisan poll watcher through the League of Women voters— highly recommend this if you want to do good work on Election Day, but can’t do a 14-hr shift.
Thank you all for your hard work and dedication!
Thank you for your courage in opening a dialogue at a time when our country is so in need of it. In reading the comments, I have been struck not only by the many clear expressions of support but also by those who “don’t want to know”. Personally I am interested in hearing from those who so willingly support a convicted felon who consistently lies and does whatever he deems necessary to benefit his own greed and desire for power. It seems his supporters don’t want to hear about that and, typically, refuse to listen by leaving your wonderful site. I remain hopeful that truth and reason will prevail. Our future as a country depends on it.
I shared upthread that there is often a false dichotomy at work here — people believing that if you don’t support Harris, it means you support Trump. I can dislike both candidates equally, for different reasons, and I can also refuse to be swept up in the hysteria both sides play on. I don’t like feeling emotionally manipulated.
I’m 80. That shocks me! I’m fortunate to remember the good old days pretty clearly. Friends, they were not that good. Eight-year olds know that hiding under their desks to avoid the nuclear blast was probably a waste of time. I implore anyone who is considering a non-vote as a vote to reconsider. It may be more important in your local elections that you know who’s running and why, and your vote is how you do something about it. Thanks, Anne and Kay!
WOW, I can’t believe that MDK would take any political stand. You could loose halve your customers. Must everything be political. I am disappointed in you.
Unless you live on a private island with resources you own and control personally, everything is political. If on the other hand, you are part of any larger community of people, government and politics is how life is managed throughout the world. Why would you choose to let others make choices for you when you can participate?
To the contrary, thank you Ann and Kay for taking a stand on something that is so critical to our future. You are business owners who would not be faulted for taking the “safe” approach to avoid the potential risk of losing customers, but instead you opened the discussion. I cannot fathom supporting any candidate who believes that a woman cannot make her own health care decisions related to reproductive rights – whether deciding to use medical science to increase her chance of having a baby, or to make the unbearable decision to terminate a non-viable pregnancy and be capable of future pregnancy. I still possess a political button from the 70s with a picture of a wire coat hanger and the words ‘never again.’ Make no mistake about it, we’re fighting this battle again.
Way to go! Thank You for standing up for democracy. I haven’t had extra money to spend on yarn, but I will be looking forward to an opportunity to buy yarn from you. Thank you for being courageous!
HURRAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRAVO Ann & Kay! Thank you for stepping up and making your opinions known!! I was 14 yo when Roe V Wade was established. I can remember the issues around back street abortions and even BIRTH CONTROL! My career has been in Health Care and we do not need to go back to anything of that era. Trump has shown us all, repeatedly, what he is: a felon, rapist, liar. I’m with Harris/Walz and can’t wait to VOTE!!
We can’t afford to go back. Our democracy depends on it!! Our lives depend on it!!
Thank you MDK for putting country over business, a brave and selfless choice. This is not our traditional Republican versus Democrat election. This is an election to choose our very system of government, Authoritarian versus Democracy. The candidates could not be more different. Respected Republicans like Paul Ryan have publicly stated that character matters and so he has denounced Trump. Trump a man who ridicules the disabled, who demeans women, who dehumanizes immigrants. This is not a man who represents the ideals and values of the United States of America. Vote for the Democrat in this election so we can maintain our freedom and our constitution and the values espoused in The Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
This is brilliant, and I am watching.
Thank you for opening this discussion up here. I think a lot while I knit and this knotty issue is very much a part of my knitting time and rightly so. As someone watching this election from the outside, I am so interested in seeing how people make this most important decision e.g. voting choices made based on anecdotal unverified stories and questionable “news” headlines, or by researching certifiable facts from established, neutral data-gathering institutions. Personality is always a factor in elections and it is hard to see such a great country reduced to keeping the wrong person out rather than striving to be an agent of positive global unity, mutual respect and aid.
Bravo and thank you! Not just for being on what I believe is the right side of history, but also for clearly saying that there is room here for everyone and indicating that there is room for disagreement without canceling one another. We’re not going to get anywhere if we refuse to be in the same ‘room’ together when we disagree.
I think it is disgusting to force your private political opinions on people who just want to open up a knitting blog. Puts me off anything you have to sell or get me to knit. Want to drop the blog.
Thank you for being brave!
Thank you for having an open forum about this election!
I struggle reading opinions supporting Trump.
I want to hear more specific reasons, why individuals support someone who has openly demeaned people in our military, people with disabilities, women, and the people who are out in the fields producing
I so agree with this. I am unclear what Trump’s policies are beyond limiting immigration into the U.S. and a lot of fuzziness on women’s reproductive choices. I do not want to live in a vacuum, but the rhetoric seems to be about returning to America’s greatness without a firm plan of how that is happening.
Hurray! I’m so happy to see that we are getting together to win this election for Kamala Harris!
I’m sorry I don’t have the means to donate much, but I will try to do something!
Limiting the vote to only two choices, especially these two politicial parties, equals not having much of a choice at all. Our founders never envisioned a system wherein we would only have two candidates. The majority of the world seems to use a parliamentary form of government where Parliament can call for an election at any time. One votes for the legislator of one’s choice and those legislators form a government by consensus and if the consensus does not agree there is another election called. Citizens United has eliminated our choices. Big Money rule$ the politicians and it’s time to go back to individual donors with a money cap.
That being said, I will hold my nose and vote for Harris just as I did when I voted for Biden. I will vote against the other candidate again and pray that our Country heals and we regain some sense of peace.
Thank you for standing up for what you believe. For every follower you lose, you will probably gain another one or more. I’m probably not the only person who is here for the first time, having been linked to this post by a friend.
Thank you, Ann and Kay. Reminding people that voting is a civic responsibility is not a political statement. That you stated your personal preference on your website is an act of courage. Many, many business owners would be afraid to do so. IMO, silence is not an option when our democracy is on the line.
No people who have experienced misogyny, racism, sexism, ageism, lynching, segregation by race or handicap, attempts by others to be obliterated (indigenous), religious persecution, poverty, no health care, or any other horror of life in “the good old days” wants “to go back”. The only people for whom those were good days were white, comfortable and male.
The fact that there are women, as well as members of minority groups, supporting the republican ticket is stunning to me. For the life of me, I cannot understand why. Those 2 people represent all that is ugly, hateful, and horrific.
Kamala Harris is the vp. Vice-presidents do not establish policy and programs. Their job is to be the spokesperson for the president. If you listen to Kamala for 10 minutes, you’ll hear that she is on the side of the American people and she speaks the truth. The same most definitely cannot be said for the other ticket.
100%
Thank you for opening this discussion up here. I think a lot while I knit and this knotty issue is very much a part of my knitting time and rightly so. As someone watching this election from the outside, I am so interested in seeing how people make this most important decision e.g. voting choices made based on anecdotal unverified stories and questionable “news” headlines, or by researching certifiable facts from established, neutral data-gathering institutions. Personality is always a factor in elections and it is hard to see such a great country reduced to keeping the wrong person out rather than striving to be an agent of positive global unity, mutual respect and aid.
Thank you for this brave post. I was just reading Heather Cox Richardson‘s letter this morning and when all put together, the current administration does not get enough credit for how far we have come since the dark days of the pandemic, not to mention moving past a violent insurrection and total disregard for the peaceful transfer of power.
https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/september-21-2024?r=7cppu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
It is Biden‘s administration that can take credit or blame, Harris may have offered advice but the direction and decisions were his. Vice Presidents have very little power, other than casting a deciding vote in a tie, and when a congress is in opposition (not to mention the courts) even a President can only do so much. Where we have come since the darkness of 2020 is amazing, but that Administration is Biden‘s. Vice presidents who subsequently become presidents often have very different administrations (e.g., Kennedy/Johnson). Should she prevail I look forward to the hope, joy, and vision that Kamala Harris brings once she truly is the head of the administration.
I know what has come before, and it was a dark and frightening time. If 45 becomes 47 it will be even more perilous, now that the Supremes have astoundingly made him above the law. These are my thoughts, and I will express them in the voting booth. Those who disagree are free to do the same.
I have learned so much from reading Heather Cox Richardson’s daily letters. Unlike a lot of the political rhetoric these days, she actually lists where she got her information in footnotes.
I strongly recommend her daily letters – it’s a lot to read, but there is so much we don’t know about American history. She puts current events into a historical context.
Well said.
I love this ! I support Harris Walz . Vote blue !
Thank you Ann and Kay for urging everyone to VOTE. Kudos to you for everything you do. I have been a loyal reader since the BLOG days and a customer to your shop and classes and will continue to do so.
Everyone needs to Keep Calm and Knit On, right?
Seeing a knitting and fiber business come out for one candidate in an election over another is very disappointing to me. No matter which side is chosen. Businesses that want to appeal to everyone in their community and avoid unnecessary alienation of maybe half of their client base might choose to stay neutral in their politics. I’ve been a patron of your business since you were branded Mason-Dixon Knitting. Watching you change the name of your business to be politically correct was a moment of pause as well. For me personally, MDK has always been a pleasant place to explore and support. Now, by choice, politics has taken over your business. I’m sure you took careful consideration of the pros and cons of this decision and thought it was worth doing. I appreciate everyone’s feelings on this matter on both sides.
I agree with MACHELLEH.
This maker is not for her either!
Susan
Thank you! I participated in this event live (and donated) and it was invigorating. Thank you for being brave enough to put your beliefs front and center. The folks who limit their news content to conservative media have somehow been bamboozled to believe that a man, who has been known for years to be amoral and unethical, is going to save the country (from some unknown boogeyman.) This election is incredibly important and I applaud you for being front and center.
As stated a further up the thread the power of a VP in the US politics is extremely limited (if in doubt research on the internet or a library). Assuming that Ms Harris is an extension of Pres. Biden is completely mistaken. Her achievements BEFORE she joined this administration speak for themselves and give the voters much better notion of what she stands for!
Please open your eyes and minds to her intelligence and capacity to make necessary changes!
somehow this reply jumped off the correct line…
it was supposed to be for the message of: PATRICIA BALCH 9/22/24 • 9:13AM
sorry for this “interruption”
I respect your personal choice of candidate , but am very disappointed in your decision to politicize your business. And your assumption that those who think differently will be disrespectful. I have been a customer for some time (check my account), but will make my purchases elsewhere in the future. From business owners, not political activists.
THANK YOU ANN and KAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m deeply saddened that MDK has stepped into the political arena. I have come here for years to get tips on knitting and yarn information, I don’t need to have politics
shoved in my face. It seems most of you have been getting your news from one source. It’s time to broaden your views and read more. Trump loves the USA! Ask yourselves what Kamala has accomplished in 4 yrs., what makes you think the next 4 will be any different….
I have been a pollworker for 25 years+ so I have been through several Presidential Elections.
I want people to VOTE.
100 years ago women fought very hard to get the right to vote. So use it.
Almost 60 years ago the Voting Rights act passed to eliminate voting discrimination based on race. So use it.
Thank you MDK for encouraging the discussion and thought.
I watched the event and enjoyed it a lot. It was warm and welcoming, with none of the screeching and posturing that events for the other person have. Thank you for your part in organizing the event (I am currently watching “Crime Writers for Kamela” on You Tube and enjoying that).
We are at a crucial part in our history. The move toward autocracy via the GOP has been insidious and has happened over years. We now recognize it for what it is and will have to fight like crazy to get our rights back. Didn’t everyone hear TFG tell a crowd that if they voted right they would not have to vote again? My blood ran cold. Now he has threatened the Jewish population, saying that is will be their fault if he is not re-elected. He and his surrogates have threatened the Haitian population, all immigrants (he is descended from immigrants….), and now Jews. A major Nazi tactic was to unite people against an “other” and that is what he and Vance et al are doing. Talk of mass deportation reminds me of Hitler’s deportation trains filled with human beings being taken to be murdered.
Not sure why some say they don’t know Harris’ policies/plans. They are there for all to see on her web site and she talks about her plans in interviews and rallies. TFG has no plan, except for the 900+ pages of Project 2025, which is a playbook to haul us back to the 1950’s and also consolidate power in the executive branch. The thought of an elderly president and an unscrupulous vice-president with that document should keep us all up at night.
Beautifully said! I attended and contributed to the Makers for Kamala fundraiser. It was extraordinary, so much positivity and hope. It did my old heart good and I feel very grateful to each of you and the other makers who are standing up for America.
I will continue to support Democracy, Kamala Harris and Modern Daily Knitting.
Thank you for offering vision and hope for a country where women can again be viewed as valued and full citizens.
I attended the Makers YouTube event for Kamala and was elated too see so much support from Makers. THANK YOU MDK for taking a stand for our democracy!!!
Love it! Thank you!
A healthy democracy requires a minimum of two healthy parties. History shows us that democracies with only one strong party ultimately devolve into autocracy. As someone who worked for decades in policy making at the state legislative level, I can tell you that the only real changes happen in the middle of the political spectrum when both parties work together, so it is important to listen and understand both sides if you want growth and change. If you are still undecided about who to vote for, look at the two major parties and see who has more support from the opposing party. That person is generally going to be able to work in the middle to help our country grow. Thank you MDK for presenting a forum where makers of all kinds have a place to explore all our passions. ❤️
another comment:
I want to thank Ann and Kaye for posting here regarding Moms Demand Action and Be Smart For Kids. Thanks to their post, I joined those groups and have volunteered for Be Smart for Kids. If my efforts got even one adult to lock up their firearms or ask about unsecured firearms in a home their child might be visiting, I am forever grateful to Ann and Kaye for raising my awareness. Unsecured firearms also play a tragic role in many suicides.
I am also grateful for their willingness to take a stand for issues they believe are important and can positively impact lives.
Thank you!
Thank you for this video. I can’t believe I didn’t know about the event so I could watch it live, but donating while watching made me feel like part of the movement. This is such inspiring messaging about the most important election of my lifetime. Again, my thanks and my continued to commitment to my favorite online yarn store.
Hmmmmm. Wishing this ( politics)was not part of your fabulous knitting environment.
When we ask questions like a 4-year old, we find answers. In the most simplistic analysis of hot topics despite what the algorithm says:
We are firmly entrenched in a capitalist society. Supply and demand. Egg prices are high because a bird flu forced farmers to kill off chickens. Fruits, vegetables, and milk are high because migrants used to do the work and have been sent back. No one replaced them.
Climate change is systematically destroying crops and communities through massive floods, high temperatures, etc. and corporations have been taking over farming.
Housing is high because Covid led builders to stop building. With less inventory, sellers want the highest price they can get. (Ask yourself if you’re willing to sell your house for less just so someone else can afford it.)
Jobs are lost when corporations know they can lower their overall cost and increase their shareholders portfolios by sending everything overseas. (What company hasn’t reduced the American workforce by the thousands and sent the same exact jobs where they didn’t have to pay for things like minimum wage or benefits?) AI – while fascinating – is already taking away jobs an actual human would do.
Drugs “flowing in” are used by someone otherwise there would be no market for them.
Auto makers know that selling fuel guzzling SUVs without the same emissions standards as cars caters to a status-conscious public making two industries very very wealthy. Fuel companies have already been given more drilling rights than they’ll ever need but don’t use them and want more land.
Women, non-white people, and those with the courage to live their lives as they choose terrify those in power. What’s the best way to stop someone who’s “not like” or “thinks like you”? Take away their rights one by one. Using the same centuries-old tactics that used to work.
No candidate, no party, no President can change these things. What can is when people sit down calmly, rationally and work the problem equitably instead of screaming insults at one another. There is no “going back” as history moves forward. Always. Otherwise we’d still be sitting in caves somewhere wondering where the next meal is coming from.
Just go out and vote. No matter who wins, you’ll be exercising the right given to you by people who suffered greatly to make it happen. It’s what makes us a UNITED States of America.
So well said! Thank you for your reasonability. I agree: do the best research you can, know the issues the best you can and then VOTE! Please, let’s just learn how to get along even when we disagree. You may knit one way and I knit another way but neither of us is wrong. More kindness and less judging works better for all of us.
Kudos on a well organized event. It flowed, it engaged, it encouraged.
Brava!
Signed, scared for our future. Scared for women. Scared for our rights.
I signed up the minute I heard about it.
Voting Blue.
p.s. – in the words of the musical ‘SUFFS’ (go see it!):
‘We demand to be heard!
We demand to be seen.
We demand equality…’
I agree politics and knitting do not belong together. Leave politics out of your site or I too will not continue to receive your posts. Have enjoyed up until today.
Women’s rights are human rights.
Thank you for speaking up, taking a stand, and recognizing that not everyone is a Kamala fan. But I sure am!
You go girls! As a 75 year old mother, grandmother of two girls, lawyer, baker and knitter I applaud your decision to open a civil discussion on this important election. It is important for people to read the candidate’s websites and learn what they stand for and plan to do. And remember that when people show you who they are, and tell you how they plan to use the awesome power of the government you should believe them. And watch how they treat their “enemies “ because you never know when circumstances may inadvertently make you one of them. It is easier to demonize people who are different from you than to try to understand them.
Agree!!!!
I’ve read 100 comments before I decided to add mine. I’ve tried to put myself in the shoes of the readers critical of this “Knit to This” letter.
People are complicated and I don’t see why we can’t admire, celebrate and be grateful for all of the incredible knitting (and much more) inspiration from MDK daily while possibly not agree with their political stance.
I don’t agree that its “shoved in our face” as someone wrote and I think Ann and Kay are perfectly entitled to write about whatever they want, take and enjoy what you love and leave the rest!
BTW, I loved the “Makers for Kamala” event and my partner, who is not a US citizen was moved to donate, as was I of course.
So sad that this has become a political venue. We all have opinions but is this the place for them. MDK may have lost me.
Thank you for your public support of Kamala Harris. I agree that this election is absolutely a pivot point for the USA. I’m betting that Harris can pivot us in a healthy, healing direction
Sorry – I disagree with you and hoped you would remain a knitting site. IMO you should encourage people to vote but NOT support any candidate. I think this is divisive and counterproductive. Although I enjoy your columns – especially Franklin – and was looking forward to attending the Nashville event next year, I will have to “delete” you.
BRAVO, thank you so much for writing this!
Electing Trump would be a disaster for our country.
What a fantastic piece! I read it aloud this morning to my wife (a non-knitter who doesn’t quite understand my yarn/knitting obsession)- and her response: “wow – so brave of the MDK gals- I think you should buy ALL of your yarn from MDK now and lots of it”
I can’t disappoint my wife right?
Thank you for posting this. We need to speak up. Trump just said “Women won’t need to worry about abortion if I’m elected”. What he means by that scares me.
Thank you for this article. Every woman in America should be aware of the dangers of voting for anyone whose message is controlling women’s lives and health. Let’s also consider our climate and Supreme Court that definitely needs fixing (especially when they vote to establish a king instead of a democracy that has ruled us for over 200 years!) Please, think about these things and read “Project 2025”. That is truly frightening!
If you want to keep your entire customer base, it would be best to keep politics out.
Thank you for this. Gutsy for a business, but you are doing the right thing.
Well said! I applaud your willingness to express your thoughts – the fight for democracy couldn’t be any more urgent than it is at this moment in history. The choice for me is very clear. Keep in mind that Kamala Harris DID receive our endorsement when we voted for the Biden/Harris ticket to be the Democratic nominees.
As for Trump, he’s shown us who he is his entire life – liar, cheat, mafia boss wannabe, convicted felon…
It’s time to stand for democracy.
This is the most important, consequential post this company can make. Thank you for doing this and risking losing customers. I’m sending to friends and hope your business sees a Harris/Walz bump.