"Dirt road" democracy-The birth of a movement

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."---Maya Angelou One of the greats that Missouri has ever produced is Maya Angelou and her wisdom. And given that she proved exactly what our state motto of "Show me state" means with her activism. But the greatest piece of advice (and she has some real pearls of wisdom) she left in her wake was this quote. It can be applied in just about every aspect of daily life when dealing with people. Particularly, when it comes to Missouri politics. One thing is for sure the masks and gloves certainly tend to fall off at the end of an election cycle, and we see what people stand for at the end of the day. I mean it seems like Democrats can't keep their act together long enough to cross the finish line and the Republicans are stoking the "big money" machine to drown out anything that might give folks some hope in their future. In short, it's the typical political trainwreck. But we do have a little hope that comes from this mess and that resonates with all kinds of people. This hope originally started with Jess Piper and her fiery disposition set on her terms with several issues including how we're a one-party rule. She caught my attention when I started to organize my pro-choice rally and pointed out the same issues she had been. And while I would love nothing more than to say that I played a part in this unofficial movement exploding across the state. I can't say that, because that would be a lie. Like so many folks, I just followed her lead and what started as her little revitalizing project of getting a two-party system birthed a grassroots movement called "Dirt Road Democrats". Now a little about the folks that are embracing this movement and have the hopes of rebranding and rebuilding the rotting democratic infrastructure with the hopes that it will still be going strong in the 2024 election. Yes, we are a bunch of "Liberty" loving, beer-drinking, four-wheeling, live-on-dirt roads, rowdy crowd on a Saturday night. But what we're not is what "Tractor Rap" (Country pop) tries to pretend we are. We are very community-minded, our heart is the schools, and social hour is at church on Sundays. We're also about helping our neighbors and pretty accepting as a collective whole when it comes to people. When it comes to politics we typically vote for the candidate themselves and what they plan is to fix our major issues, but that changed to voting for one singular candidate for one party or an independent who typically ran as an independent because they couldn't get the ballot as a Republican. That's how this movement was born from folks from in rural communities that have been heavily suppressed by being lost or forgotten by both parties until it's "election pandering season". And guess who does all the pandering? Well, it's not the democratic party--The state party left town years ago leaving us to fend for ourselves, but I digress. It came from having no real choice in representation besides choosing between the lesser of "evils" that have no interest in doing their jobs other than trying to land a gig on Fox News or some other right-wing news syndicate. This movement came from folks that are tired of both parties not doing a damn thing that would improve our lives on a state level. I would argue that rural Missourians haven't been this united or intuned with issues since the creation of the state itself. It's a big thing for rural folks to get to use their voice and be heard for a good country mile for once instead of being silenced. Sure, it sounds like it's a "Third-party" in the making, but it is not. It's just renewing a decaying platform that brings back the idea of civility, and common sense for the common good. While some call it "progressive", I would argue that "progressive" is subjective by nature and we would have to use the definition that is associated with the Woodrow Wilson era. We're fighting to get our basic needs met. Like access to health care, broadband internet, funding for schools, funding for law enforcement agencies, human rights restored and protected, etc. I mean I will not lie to you and say that people don't freeze up because they do when they hear the word "Progressive". They automatically jump to the assumption that it's the same as the progressives in New York or California. Let's face it, those progressive ideas wouldn't go over well in Missouri as we're not quite there yet. I mean we're mainly made up of a bunch of farmers, and blue-collar workers that don't take change well. We're just a bunch of folks that like the quietness and the relaxed way of life without the fuss. That's not that movement hasn't been met with resistance from the main democratic party, because it certainly has. Jess and a few others have been asked to hand in their fundraising earnings over to "winnable" campaigns. Not to mention the pushback that happens when you ask questions about their activity or get radio silence from committees. However, that is small fries compared to the real fight that a few people don't seem to want to admit --is the fact our state government is insistent on pursuing the "Bigger Government" overreach. Yes, the same kind of overreach the GOP has screamed about for the past 40 years. Between the lack of accountability, transparency, loss of rights, and our current ballot measures--It's the Banana Republic of the United States. Keep in mind, we're kind of "mind your own business" type of people. We're not keen on any kind of government sticking its nose where it doesn't belong in local matters, but we do appreciate knowing that there is some kind of oversight going on when we need it, but that's just who we are. I think the best way to sum up this movement in one quote is by Woodrow Wilson " The history of liberty is a history of resistance. The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it.” [The papers of Woodrow Wilson]. Because this gesticulation is an act of defiance and rebellion against the grain and to restore some common sense in a world that is upside down and engulfed by fire. This is who we are with or without the masks-Believe us and hear us out. Luckily for us, we do have some fighters that would like to reestablish "For the people by the people" back into both state and national government. I already mentioned Ms. Jess Piper but we also have Kristen Radaker Sheafer and Randi McCallion. We also have Tara Anura and Bernadette Holzer running for state seats in this area with the same kind of passion. However, our job is to make sure this movement stays going into the next election cycle. Ms. Jess gave us the blueprint for how to do it and maintain it, but it's up to us (Yes you the reader) to do your part and keep it alive. These ladies can't do it on their own and we need them as much as they need us. And should we not get it this election we definitely can pull it off by 2024 no doubt but we got to do the work and stay hungry so our "dirt road" democracy doesn't die in vain. As always take care and be good to one another, Much love and peace out, Jojo