A reminder of the responsibility of being part of a Democracy.

Last week came one of those outsized don’t ignore envelopes, including a return address that I recognized – a statewide group I’ve been a member of for years, though never really been active within it.

Inside the large envelope were two other envelopes, one with my secret ballot, the other a postage paid return envelope.  And a booklet with brief candidate bios of those running for the indicated offices.  It was meant to be looked at, and acted on, and it was just a routine election….

There are three positions up for election: one has two candidates; the other two have 13 candidates each for ten available positions (“Vote for up to ten”).  I scanned the candidate list, and personally knew more than half of them, most for years.  For me it will be an easy election, with a deadline of two weeks.  In many ways it mirrored the Nov 5, 2024, election, including the machine scan for the first two of 39 (picture below).

I wonder how many who received the ballot will actually vote.  I doubt there will be anyone contesting (“stop the steal”) or such.  Just another election, one that is very familiar to most every adult in our society.  (In Nov. 2024, 90,000,000 eligible American voters didn’t vote at all, more than voted for either major candidate.)

We’re in tumultuous times here in our country – anybody who denies this is just not paying attention.  In the election just past, a certain number of people voted for candidate 1, a certain number for candidate 2, and the largest number didn’t vote at all….  Where was your mark?

There are so many issues, so little time.  It’s ‘shock and awe’ on purpose, and very dangerous.

I’ve basically decided to try to focus most on issues that have personal relevance.  Just a very few examples.

Last fall I wrote a long letter to my representatives, including the then-President, about my thoughts on public education, my career trade.  I didn’t expect a response from anyone.  I do know that someone at least scans the letters received.  Jan. 14, 2025, I got a response from Senator Tina Smith, one of two Minnesota Senators representing near 6 million people.  Her response was probably. form letter (fine by me) which details her views, which are here:  Education at Federal Level Sen Smith Jan 20250001.  At minimum, they cover some of the issue percolating at the national level, and I appreciate the response.  Legislators represent thousands of citizens.  There are many positive ways we can provide support as they do their work.

I’ve taken a particular interest in the intent to destroy USAID, in large part because I knew well a person who spent most of his career as an AID representative, ‘boots on the ground’, in 16 countries – his obituary is here, and was also in a recent post.  John has been gone for some years, but lives on in the memories and activism of at least one of his family, who I stay in touch with.  At minimum, I can be a support system, even though the family member lives over a thousand miles away.  USAID is not a thing; it is a person, representing our country to people in other countries.

I’ve made a list of personal things I can do.

This morning, a colleague sent a an e-mail with an idea, which I pass along here, from Larry: “Walter Enloe [referred to in this link] was a long time friend and colleague.  Feel free to send to anyone who might know teachers, or who might want to donate to increase the amount available for small grants.”

Also, today, Carol passed along an idea which appears to be getting lots of traction around the country – suggestion about what citizens united can do to raise awareness.  Here is the idea, as I received it from Carol. She didn’t recall the originating source, so just consider it somebody’s good idea.

The 24 hour Economic Blackout