Message to "Get-a-Job"

On Saturday, April 26, I participated in a ‘We the People Rally’ at the intersection of Highway 35 and 93 in Polson. There were about 45 of us with signs and drummers.

The weather was glorious and we received a lot of positive responses along with a few middle fingers. The oddest and maybe funniest was when a woman shouted at us “Get a job!” as a group of us crossed the street to leave. She zoomed around the corner before we could reply.

I am 77 and retired. The rest of the group were in about the same age range except a mom with two children.

I’d liked to have been able to tell her our job on Saturday was trying to make sure she could be retired when she was 77. That she would be getting Social Security if she was entitled. That if she had a veteran in her family, they would receive the care they are entitled to. That we still have public schools and colleges for her children or grandchildren. That our researchers can still develop cures for diseases. That everyone can afford to buy groceries or housing. That “homegrowns” could not be deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison without a trial. That we have freedom to vote.

The list of what we could lose is endless. We are working hard to keep the U.S. a democracy. I hope Get-a-Job reads this letter.

– Suz Rittenhouse, Polson