‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land, the people are worried. Good Lord! What’s the plan?
The billionaires lie sleeping all safe in their lairs, with visions of profits that soon will be theirs. By selling the country to those who can pay, our leaders point proudly to the oligarch way.
In Boise the right wing makes plans in the dark, to cut things like healthcare. They think we won’t bark.
Our children’s bright future they wish to impede. With vouchers and book bans they seek to proceed. When children start thinking we lost our way, we must only ourselves blame, we voted that way.
One could continue indefinitely with this sort of doggerel, but the grammar checker on this laptop and the patience of the reader can only put up with so much nonsense.
Seriously, folks, we need to tell our elected officials that good government and the rule of law matter. The system of governing ourselves in Idaho is amazingly transparent. All bills, hearings and debates at the state and local levels are accessible. It is possible for the average citizen to investigate an issue and participate in the process.
Here are two issues that cry out for citizen input.
We face some hard choices this year. Starting on January 6, forces that hated the 2018 expansion of Medicaid will actively work to turn back the clock and either repeal or reform what the voters of Idaho demanded. Remember that 61% of Idahoans voted to expand access to healthcare. We must let our representatives know that the ability to see a doctor, counselor, or emergency clinic is a human right.
Good government demands that we seek to manage costs, but not to do so on the backs of hard workers who, despite their efforts, can’t afford our current system.
The debate is on again regarding school vouchers. How can we reward educational excellence without stifling the vision that all children are entitled to a public education? Public means we, us, the shared experience of being a resident of Idaho and a citizen of the United States. Idaho’s legislature has shown itself incapable of fully funding the educational system we have. There are some who seek to siphon off the tax dollars to support special interests. We must say no to their scheme.
There is much disillusionment and anger abroad this Christmas season. Many believe our system of government is irreparably broken. Whether in housing, healthcare, education, or economic inequality, people on both sides of any issue feel they are disenfranchised.
The only way to counteract this sense of disillusionment is to share your story with friends and neighbors. How does the policy affect you personally? Next, find people of like mindedness. Take your tale to a city councilmember or to a state legislator. This is how we take our state and country back from the billionaires and special interests who seek to divide us. One story, one relationship at a time.
Todd DeVries is a mental health professional in Idaho Falls. He is the state committeeman for the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee.