This election mattered but few seem to know
Tonight in Houston, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) failed. Fear won. Discrimination against the other won. The same tactics some used to instill fear in white people in the 50s and 60s were successfully used to prevent its passage. While black people were the aggrieved then, some black preachers were enlisted by those with the same bigoted views to enlist their black pew to join the ranks of the oppressor. They knew not that in doing so they oppressed themselves and others because of a fear based on a senseless fallacy.
Those opposing the ordinance also had a powerful and malicious ally. Lieutenant Governor of Texas Dan Patrick unleashed $70,000 to help defeat it. It takes time and a lot of education to defeat lies, misinformation, and the money to mobilize.
But it wasn’t only Houston. Throughout the country many progressive candidates and issues failed. Voters in Kentucky and Virginia voted for candidates that will deny their families, friends, and neighbors, access to healthcare.
Kentucky had a Democratic Governor that accepted the Medicaid expansion to Obamacare. It saved the lives of thousands and insured thousands. Yet they elected a Republican governor, Matt Bevin that vowed to kill the Medicaid Expansion to Obamacare.
Virginia elected an ideologue to its Senate, denying the Virginia governor the option to get healthcare access to thousands of Virginians. One of our better news sources, pun intended, warned us. John Oliver warned that instead on focusing on the comedic 2016 characters, it is the 2015 elections that we should be focused on. He was right.
Why do people continue to vote against their own interest? One must not blame the people. Most are gullible because of the trust they have in those who inform them. One must blame the corporate media for allowing lies and misinformation with little if no pushback.
So what is the solution going forward? Those in the know must get in the ears of the misled.
We must be our brother’s and sister’s keepers.
We can do better throughout the country folks. But it will take folks individually investing in candidates and friendly outlets capable of getting the message out to educate. It requires all those reading this to engage and to get others to engage to engage to engage. We remain positive and optimistic. We stay positive and make 2016 a winner.