Power may corrupt: Voting leads to Accountability
By Valarie R. Austin, July 3, 2022, 10:45 PM EDT
As a career author, I encourage voting age young adults to get involved in our political system. I promote developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills to make decisions based on facts and evidence. Since this is a mid-term election year, problem solving and critical thinking should be the foundation by which informed citizens vote on issues and candidates. I stated in my book, The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons, “An informed, questioning public is dangerous to demagogues and politicians." Voting is not just a Democrat or Republican action. It should involve measures taken by the American public to elect bipartisan politicians who will fight to ensure our Republic works for all. In the last few years, however, extreme factions have taken over our three branches of government. For example, in June, the U.S. Supreme Court as an institution exercised its power and deliberately stripped away fundamental liberties tied to a women's control of her reproductive rights. The Supreme Court had previously granted these rights through legal precedence based on a myriad of past Court decisions such as Roe v Wade. In a recent Democracy Now! interview, David Cole, American Civil Liberties Union, repudiated the current Court's decision to reverse Roe v. Wade and its reliance on "originalism" in interpreting the U.S. Constitution. Since the Constitution did not “originally” stipulate abortion as a right for women, the conservative-majority Court overturned Roe v. Wade, weakening the private bond between a woman and her medical provider. The Court pushed the decision of women’s access to abortions down to state politicians and legislatures, creating chaos and confusion. The resulting legal patchwork leaves fewer options for some women over others, depending on the state. Despite the polarization of political parties about safe access to abortions, a June 2022 PewResearch.org article stated, "The rate of abortions among women has been declining in the U.S. since 1981." In this mid-term election cycle, Americans must mobilize and vote to ensure that our democratic principles are protected and accessible to all.
Every voter must hold elected officials accountable for providing social safety nets to women who do not have the means to bear more children or whose health, mental well-being and lives are in jeopardy. Unlike the violent insurrectionists on January 6, 2021, American citizens must use voting; civil disobedience; running for office; protesting; and/or, writing/calling politicians’ offices at the state, local and federal level to redirect the course of our democracy. In a MSNBC interview, Matt Dowd raised the alarm about the current dangers to our democracy. He highlighted a recent vote by the Texan Republican Party to remove women’s access to abortion, restrict LGBTQI individual rights and reject the 2020 Presidential results. With abortion decisions about women’s bodies directed to the states to determine, all voters must become informed on their state's policies and laws that impact:
o Infant mortality rates
o Maternal mortality rates
o Poverty rates
o The annual number of abortions in their state
o Child Support Collection System
o Health coverage, including uninsured rates, mental health funding, access to care and women's health disparities
The answers will let voters know whether decisions of Legislators are based upon their own personal biases and agendas or following the will of the state's citizens about policies and laws.
In a June 13, 2022 televised event, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders debated South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham about the methods to create a strong, supportive America that protects its most vulnerable. The Fox Nation Entertainment Streaming Service, Edward M. Kennedy Institute, Bipartisan Policy Center and Orrin G. Hatch Foundation sponsored the show. Video excerpts are below:
a. "What the political establishment won't tell you," Bernie Sanders, Jun 15, 2022
b. "My message to Fox News viewers," Bernie Sanders, Jun 14, 2022
Senator Sanders brought up great points, which deserve political action. America has the money but needs to force our state and federal governments to fairly tax corporations and wealthy individuals. For the necessary reforms, voters must demand politicians support:
o A Livable Wage through raising the Federal Minimum Wage
o Universal Health Care
o Paid Parental Leave
o Child Tax Credits
o Overhauling the Child Support Collection System
o Free School Lunch
o Affordable Housing
o Quality Public School Education regardless of zip code
o Reforming the Criminal Justice System
These programs will cost money and require raising taxes. America has a moral obligation to protect and support marginalized groups to ensure that our Republic reaches its full potential. For instance, a January 2022 U.S. Census Bureau report estimated 37.2 million people lived in poverty in 2020, which was approximately 3.3 million more than in 2019. America is supposed to be the greatest democratic republic and one of the wealthiest countries in the world. That cannot be true if it only caters to the wealthy and the powerful. To facilitate new ideas for America's problems and break the political stalemate, voters must insist on term limits in the U.S. Congress and Senate. Additionally, citizens should limit campaign contributions to only political action committees, candidates and parties who fight for all of us as a nation by implementing solutions to America’s problems. Well-intentioned politicians and citizens cannot stand idly by and hope for change but must consider every resource to address the crisis within our Republic.
Unfortunately, the majority’s grievance has become mixed with religious organizations that support numerous politicians who cloak self-interest and insurrectionist values in patriotism while attacking our democracy. They lie to their constituents, block reform legislation, and take our political institutions for granted. In a MSNBC interview on "Morning Joe," Senior Pastor Andy Stanley, North Point Ministries, raised the alarm on the spread of fanatical faith into our political discourse. In a similar warning, Reverend Dr. William Barber II, President, Repairers of the Breach, described the current state of our democracy due to corrupt, power-hungry politicians and the religious messengers who support them. In a 2018 sermon, he dissected the Bible’s passage of Ezekiel 22:27-29, which states
"Your politicians are like wolves prowling and killing and rapaciously taking whatever they want. Your preachers cover up for the politicians by pretending to have received visions and special revelations. They say, 'This is what God, the Master, says . . .' when God hasn't said so much as one word."
His call to action starts at 20:19 below:
Rev. William Barber Delivers Masterful History Lesson, Declares 'It's Movement Time Again
With this year’s mid-term elections, I encourage all voting age young adults to research the issues and candidates. Every single vote counts; so, unite and vote to let your voices be heard. It is also vital to hold elected politicians accountable. Additionally, use all of the democratic tools of civil disobedience, protesting, and contacting your elected officials to bring America back on course as a strong, vibrant Democratic Republic, which protects and supports its most vulnerable.
Have a great summer!
(Previously Published on LinkedIn)
As a career author, I encourage voting age young adults to get involved in our political system. I promote developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills to make decisions based on facts and evidence. Since this is a mid-term election year, problem solving and critical thinking should be the foundation by which informed citizens vote on issues and candidates. I stated in my book, The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons, “An informed, questioning public is dangerous to demagogues and politicians." Voting is not just a Democrat or Republican action. It should involve measures taken by the American public to elect bipartisan politicians who will fight to ensure our Republic works for all. In the last few years, however, extreme factions have taken over our three branches of government. For example, in June, the U.S. Supreme Court as an institution exercised its power and deliberately stripped away fundamental liberties tied to a women's control of her reproductive rights. The Supreme Court had previously granted these rights through legal precedence based on a myriad of past Court decisions such as Roe v Wade. In a recent Democracy Now! interview, David Cole, American Civil Liberties Union, repudiated the current Court's decision to reverse Roe v. Wade and its reliance on "originalism" in interpreting the U.S. Constitution. Since the Constitution did not “originally” stipulate abortion as a right for women, the conservative-majority Court overturned Roe v. Wade, weakening the private bond between a woman and her medical provider. The Court pushed the decision of women’s access to abortions down to state politicians and legislatures, creating chaos and confusion. The resulting legal patchwork leaves fewer options for some women over others, depending on the state. Despite the polarization of political parties about safe access to abortions, a June 2022 PewResearch.org article stated, "The rate of abortions among women has been declining in the U.S. since 1981." In this mid-term election cycle, Americans must mobilize and vote to ensure that our democratic principles are protected and accessible to all.
Every voter must hold elected officials accountable for providing social safety nets to women who do not have the means to bear more children or whose health, mental well-being and lives are in jeopardy. Unlike the violent insurrectionists on January 6, 2021, American citizens must use voting; civil disobedience; running for office; protesting; and/or, writing/calling politicians’ offices at the state, local and federal level to redirect the course of our democracy. In a MSNBC interview, Matt Dowd raised the alarm about the current dangers to our democracy. He highlighted a recent vote by the Texan Republican Party to remove women’s access to abortion, restrict LGBTQI individual rights and reject the 2020 Presidential results. With abortion decisions about women’s bodies directed to the states to determine, all voters must become informed on their state's policies and laws that impact:
o Infant mortality rates
o Maternal mortality rates
o Poverty rates
o The annual number of abortions in their state
o Child Support Collection System
o Health coverage, including uninsured rates, mental health funding, access to care and women's health disparities
The answers will let voters know whether decisions of Legislators are based upon their own personal biases and agendas or following the will of the state's citizens about policies and laws.
In a June 13, 2022 televised event, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders debated South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham about the methods to create a strong, supportive America that protects its most vulnerable. The Fox Nation Entertainment Streaming Service, Edward M. Kennedy Institute, Bipartisan Policy Center and Orrin G. Hatch Foundation sponsored the show. Video excerpts are below:
a. "What the political establishment won't tell you," Bernie Sanders, Jun 15, 2022
b. "My message to Fox News viewers," Bernie Sanders, Jun 14, 2022
Senator Sanders brought up great points, which deserve political action. America has the money but needs to force our state and federal governments to fairly tax corporations and wealthy individuals. For the necessary reforms, voters must demand politicians support:
o A Livable Wage through raising the Federal Minimum Wage
o Universal Health Care
o Paid Parental Leave
o Child Tax Credits
o Overhauling the Child Support Collection System
o Free School Lunch
o Affordable Housing
o Quality Public School Education regardless of zip code
o Reforming the Criminal Justice System
These programs will cost money and require raising taxes. America has a moral obligation to protect and support marginalized groups to ensure that our Republic reaches its full potential. For instance, a January 2022 U.S. Census Bureau report estimated 37.2 million people lived in poverty in 2020, which was approximately 3.3 million more than in 2019. America is supposed to be the greatest democratic republic and one of the wealthiest countries in the world. That cannot be true if it only caters to the wealthy and the powerful. To facilitate new ideas for America's problems and break the political stalemate, voters must insist on term limits in the U.S. Congress and Senate. Additionally, citizens should limit campaign contributions to only political action committees, candidates and parties who fight for all of us as a nation by implementing solutions to America’s problems. Well-intentioned politicians and citizens cannot stand idly by and hope for change but must consider every resource to address the crisis within our Republic.
Unfortunately, the majority’s grievance has become mixed with religious organizations that support numerous politicians who cloak self-interest and insurrectionist values in patriotism while attacking our democracy. They lie to their constituents, block reform legislation, and take our political institutions for granted. In a MSNBC interview on "Morning Joe," Senior Pastor Andy Stanley, North Point Ministries, raised the alarm on the spread of fanatical faith into our political discourse. In a similar warning, Reverend Dr. William Barber II, President, Repairers of the Breach, described the current state of our democracy due to corrupt, power-hungry politicians and the religious messengers who support them. In a 2018 sermon, he dissected the Bible’s passage of Ezekiel 22:27-29, which states
"Your politicians are like wolves prowling and killing and rapaciously taking whatever they want. Your preachers cover up for the politicians by pretending to have received visions and special revelations. They say, 'This is what God, the Master, says . . .' when God hasn't said so much as one word."
His call to action starts at 20:19 below:
Rev. William Barber Delivers Masterful History Lesson, Declares 'It's Movement Time Again
With this year’s mid-term elections, I encourage all voting age young adults to research the issues and candidates. Every single vote counts; so, unite and vote to let your voices be heard. It is also vital to hold elected politicians accountable. Additionally, use all of the democratic tools of civil disobedience, protesting, and contacting your elected officials to bring America back on course as a strong, vibrant Democratic Republic, which protects and supports its most vulnerable.
Have a great summer!
Valarie R. Austin is the author of The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons. She has a wealth of knowledge on the subjects of career and college preparation. She also conducts career and college readiness workshops for high school students and parents. Check out her author’s pages on https://www.linkedin/in/valarie-r-austin, https://www.goodreads.com/valarie_r_austin and https://www.amazon.com/author/valarie_r_austin. A Youtube.com review of her book can found at https://youtu.be/xy_GSHlJsa0. This article was edited by Raffie Johnson. Copyright 2022, Vauboix Publishing LLC. Like, comment and/or share this article! (Summer 2022)
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