"Leadership is not about you; it's about investing in the growth of others." -Ken Blanchard
With the midterm elections coming up right around the corner (Nov 8th) y'all probably noticed a lot more "talking heads" be it from political pundits to candidates themselves. To the average person, it looks like the typical political banter that comes with every election cycle. But for Missourians, it's slightly different, as those same pundits are telling everyone that some states are not worth investing in, because they are "a lost cause" or "do not donate to certain candidates" due to being in "Red States". Naturally, these same folks turn their noses down at rural areas and use these folks as a scapegoat instead of looking at the reasons why folks down here vote as they do and why the lack of support has turned this once purple state into the hot "scarlet red" mess. In democrat "safe zones" it's assumed that all rural folks are strictly republican-among other rural people nasty stereotypes tropes. But the reality is it's not that simple nor is it now seem to be when looking from the outside in. We were once a swing state that the National Democratic Party invested both time and money in, but they slowly started shifting focus on places they knew would be a sure "win". This act left us vulnerable to the fringe movement of the "Tea Party". This movement opened the door for the mainstream GOP to start staking their ground, with the promise of grandeur, and wealth across the state. It didn't matter that the promises were empty, because this was better than what folks had. This allowed the GOP to get a seat into power and start complete havoc across the entire state. At first, it started small with starting to get seats in the legislative branch to get the supermajority. First, the disconnection started with the lie that " your neighbor is coming after all your stuff and is your enemy". Then it start to flow into small pieces of legislation that loosened up regulations on various industries, cutting budgets, taxes, etc. You know the little things that look appealing to the average voter but are a disaster in the making. Then it came time for redistricting counties for the legislative races. Naturally, the super majority took full advantage of this and heavily divided counties where they had the most support and influence to push out what little was left of the democratic party. And when this happened, opened the floodgate to a whole sea of consequences that voters are still paying for to this day. Our legislators started ignoring the constituents, and seats started going uncontested across the state. Then came the overriding of ballot measures that had been passed by voters like Prop B in 2010. In 2013, we started losing actual representation or at least the purpose of the meaning of representation anyways. State legislators started doing whatever they wanted to with little to no consequence to the legislative branch. By the time the 2016 election cycle hit, we had no options, no choices, or any kind of voice to push back on the supermajority. The main democratic party shifted its focus to metro areas and places they knew were a "sure" thing. And in 2022, that situation hasn't changed in the slightest except now we have a plan and a whole new grass root movement going and it's making some waves because it's all about giving back power and a voice to folks that have been utterly ignored for years. It's beyond infuriating when political strategists, consultants, and any talking head basically tell folks to keep doing more of the same and ignoring the rural folks but have the audacity to then blame us for how election results turn out. A good example of the narrative being pushed was an article that was recently published in "Washington Post". It went on to say that rural folks vote strictly republican out of jealousy, spite, and retribution to the urban areas. That article is an opinion-filled untruths, half-truths, and a lot of speculation due to the lack of understanding of the real issues that folks are facing in these areas when it comes to the politics involved. Articles like this and consults that go on about how we're a bunch of "money pits" are pushing the narrative that we're scapegoats for bad leadership within the party. It also deters from grassroots movements like "Dirt Road Democrats". Why? It doesn't exactly align with their platform. With it being more about getting people a voice and doing whatever it takes to get what people need. Opposed to the idea that it's a "one size" fits all style. What folks are not grasping is the current democrats running under this new movement for state and national seats are doing their campaigns without any support from both the state and national democratic parties. All their funding comes from supporters, and out of their own pocket. They do not have the luxury of getting funds from super PACs, corporations, or the party itself. It's all their blood, sweat, and tears making this movement of renewal and hope happen because they understand the consequence of not pushing back. Myself, my involvement is trying to get more "boots on the ground", and inform folks about the serious issues we have. Be it getting our basic needs for survival met to democracy itself, and explaining the consequences if we don't change. At the end of the day, it takes all of us doing our part in this movement to see it succeed and see it spread into other places that could benefit from the same kind of philosophy in their politics. In short, the narratives being pushed about not donating or wasting your time with movements like "Dirt Road Democrats" and scapegoating rural folks are designed and meant to keep the blame off the leadership that failed the rural parts of the "Flyover" country. While they're telling you we're not worth the investment, please know we are. We are working to get the needed change and get us back to being the great state we once were. Working to get back to our community-minded, neighbor-helping neighbor, and a sense of civility philosophy. And with the folks, we got running there's no doubt that we have a shot of taking back our state. I mean I haven't seen this much political activism and community initiatives in years, but what we need from people that are on the outside looking in is to stop spreading defeatism, and stop telling us that we're not worth investing in. I mean our democracy as a collective whole is on the line, and you need us as much as we need the extra support. Remember that the next two election cycles isn't about you or hanging on to the strongholds. This investment is about everyone else to make sure that the bedrock of liberty we all hold dear and would like to keep it. Much love and peace out, Jojo
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