The January / February 2019 issue of Mother Jones had an article on Beto O'Rourke. Those who follow politics closely will probably recall that O'Rourke, then a Member of Congress representing El Paso, Texas, challenged incumbent Senator Ted Cruz in the 2018 elections, hoping to replace Cruz in the United States Senate.
Though he came close, O'Rourke lost in Texas; nonetheless, there are some who are hoping he will now run for president. The Mother Jones' article explains why. It also explains that O'Rourke may not really have "lost," at least in one way of looking at it, since O'Rourke's campaign played an essential role in what seems to be an ongoing transformation of Texas politics.
I recommend the article, which the magazine has titled, "Beto O'Rourke Was Just the Beginning." Among other things, the article talks about how voter registration efforts, throughout Texas, played an important role in bringing about the political changes outlined by Mother Jones.
As I was reading the article, for whatever reason, the image of an IV bag, helping to save the life of an emergency room patient, flashed into my mind.
Actually, I know why that image appeared. I kind of see our current political situation as a type of "emergency room" politics, with the life or death of American democracy hanging in the balance. In such a situation, the "IV" we need is more "Informed Voters."
The kind of grassroots voter education and voter registration campaign documented in the article on Beto O'Rourke would be a very good prescription for grassroots action everywhere. We basically have about two years, the way I see it. We are going to be facing a "life or death" decision aabout American democracy in 2020. Focusing our efforts on voter education and voter registration, from now till then, would be a good way spend that time, and to make sure that the patient makes it through!
Though he came close, O'Rourke lost in Texas; nonetheless, there are some who are hoping he will now run for president. The Mother Jones' article explains why. It also explains that O'Rourke may not really have "lost," at least in one way of looking at it, since O'Rourke's campaign played an essential role in what seems to be an ongoing transformation of Texas politics.
I recommend the article, which the magazine has titled, "Beto O'Rourke Was Just the Beginning." Among other things, the article talks about how voter registration efforts, throughout Texas, played an important role in bringing about the political changes outlined by Mother Jones.
As I was reading the article, for whatever reason, the image of an IV bag, helping to save the life of an emergency room patient, flashed into my mind.
Actually, I know why that image appeared. I kind of see our current political situation as a type of "emergency room" politics, with the life or death of American democracy hanging in the balance. In such a situation, the "IV" we need is more "Informed Voters."
The kind of grassroots voter education and voter registration campaign documented in the article on Beto O'Rourke would be a very good prescription for grassroots action everywhere. We basically have about two years, the way I see it. We are going to be facing a "life or death" decision aabout American democracy in 2020. Focusing our efforts on voter education and voter registration, from now till then, would be a good way spend that time, and to make sure that the patient makes it through!
Image Credit:
https://www.plasticstoday.com/content/innovations-boost-role-sbcs-medical-tubing-iv-bags/22260250417631
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