December 14, 2025 Meeting

These slides come from Timothy Snyder’s book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.
You can follow Timothy Snyder on Substack here, and watch John Lithgow read the Twenty Lessons here.

Exercising our economic power

In December, let’s come together in the spirit of the season. We’ll learn how to leverage our economic power through various means, including participating in the circular economy, coordinated boycotts, examining our bank’s social practices, and sharing abundance.

Our focus is the economic pillar upholding authoritarianism. (Find information here about the framework supporting authoritarianism.) 

Sharing our abundance in lieu of holiday shopping entails bringing items from your home (new or used) that you yourself would give to others. We invite everyone to bring a few things to share with each other, and with community members in need.

If you’re interested in helping set up the Bazaar, please let us know at info@washtenawdems.org.

Here are some articles that would be welcome to others at the potluck and to community neighbors:

• Coats and sweaters for children and adults in excellent condition.

• Household items like dish towels or blankets in excellent condition

• Unused bath products, like soaps, lotions or bubble bath

• Uneaten and unopened gourmet foods, (remember to check the expiration date

• Unopened bottles of wine and other spirits

• Unused candles

• Gift cards (check to make sure the balance hasn’t expired and the card isn’t personalized to you)

• Unopened gift baskets

• Books in like-new condition

• Unopened perfume and fragrances (see the warning above for candles)

• Costume jewelry

• Board games, toys and puzzles with all their components

• Novelty or gag gifts

• Stationary

• Unused pens and pencils, notebooks

• Music

• Unused crafting kits

• Yarn and other art supplies

• Gift of a service

• Please no electronics 

Register for the December 14 potluck!