We’re familiar with the tale of the frog in the pot failing to recognize the gradual increase in the water temperature until it’s too late and he’s boiling. If only he was aware and could take evasive action….My question is simple, when did we become frogs?
Wake up
This administration’s blatant lawlessness, grift, racism and contempt for justice is on full display every day. We watch people randomly rounded up, detained, abducted and deported — without evidence, without due process and without legal representation. Now they are arresting judges and elected officials acting in their official capacity and contemplating targeting and deporting US citizens. Wake up. It’s time to stand and say no.
We’re watching supply chains return to the bare shelves, hoarding and price gouging days of COVID. Our neighbors lose jobs, face reduced hours and see their earnings plummet while costs soar. The republicans promised cheaper eggs and a booming economy and now say it’s our patriotic duty to suffer through this “short term pain” of untold duration. Wake up, their economic agenda is a massive failure and we’re footing the bill.
They are writing plans and budget resolutions that will abruptly reduce medicaid and access to healthcare for millions of Americans in order to secure tax breaks for the wealthy. Drastic unfocused cuts across all aspects of the government has yielded very little in savings and unleashed chaos in our lives. Wake up, we know this is a recipe for disaster.
They evict POCs here legally, legitimately, seeking asylum and deport Afghan refugees that partnered with and helped us during that war; as they welcome and support remnants of apartheid from South Africa. You don’t have to be a subject area expert to know none of this passes the sniff test.
Speak up
Thoughts and woe, are about as effective at getting us through this political moment as thoughts and prayers were for addressing gun violence. After we wake up, the next step is to speak up. Speak up by joining the Greenwood County Dems as we flesh out our collective voice. Speak up by actively writing or calling our congressional delegation. Speak up by actively protesting to show the world, the administration and each other that the silent majority of us don’t see these acts as American, legal or moral.
Act
Finally after waking up and speaking up, we need to act up. Saturday May 17th we will see the first of several demonstrations designed to encourage our neighbors, family and peers to act now to preserve our rights. Of course we look forward to the midterms, but what will be left by the time 2026 arrives? We need to step outside of our comfort zones and raise the alarms seeking immediate action, now.
The heat’s on, the water is simmering. Do we sit and wait for the boil or do we get out of the pot now?
R. Allen Moore,
GWCDP Chair
