The Secretary of State reports that roughly 62.73% of eligible voters in Cowlitz County voted. https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/data-research/election-data-and-maps/ballot-return-statistics. A clearer picture on the state democracy will emerge. We get the government we deserve. People need to remain engaged, informed and curious for democracy to work. Andre, your efforts are appreciated and badly needed.
We're waking up today facing a radically different world. The future, for the Country and our County may well be ugly and very dark. Perhaps we are even facing peril and changes unrecognizable even unthinkable just days ago.
I admit I am struggling with all that has transpired on the national level, what the outcome of yesterday, Nov 5 means, and how this day may, likely will, forever change our national history. Yesterday was truly a day of "Infamy" and exposed the true soul of a majority of our fellow countrymen and women.
I'm struggling less with where our County will go and the consequences of having placed folks in leadership who are less empathic, more philosophically driven, and less willing to hear voices other than the loudest. Our County leadership, I fear, will take it in a direction that will have unpleasant, even damaging consequences.
But the majority has spoken.
And there in lies the problem with our County. The R's have done a better job of attracting folks to their msg---which is grievance, white fear, libertarian philosophy, and anger. Their leadership is strong. They are organized and they are active, engaged.
In my opinion, and for what it's worth, for the D's to rise from the ashes of the next 4 years in the County, the most critical issue is leadership of the party. Leaders are needed who understand why the R msg resonated and will be key. Leaders who understand how the R's emphasized organization and messaging. How the R's tapped into grievance and fear and used these to succeed.
Fact is, now is not the time to fall into despair, a hand wringing sense of hopelessness. Now is the time to channel anger and frustration into activism. Rethink how the party can grow, how and what it messages. Become what it once was, a party of hope and inclusiveness.
But to become what the D party once was in this County, it starts with leadership and will depend on folks getting off their behinds, getting active, and recognizing that we, as individuals recognize what's at stake if we don't.
Malcom Gladwell just released an updated version of The Tipping Point where he examines how trends are formed and why beliefs without merit take hold. As the country moved to November 5, I reflected on how a story takes a life of its own and what can be done to tame that. It is difficult to defeat a message of fear. It seems many are wired that way and that takes a life of its own. The notion that the economy was horrible was not IMO based on reality. People are rightly upset with inflation. Neither Biden nor Kamala not control the Federal Reserve. Neither Biden nor Kamala not control the stock market (which was at an all time high). The stories about the threat of transgender kids and athletes took a life of its own, despite it not being an issue and that was not handled well by the Dems. In short, fear and anger won the day. Dems need engaged and younger people and have to prepare themselves for a media that will distort reality to get coverage. We have a divided country, not a mandate.
In a few years, the election cycle will be start up, so we need to remain engaged, informed and focus on unity. The question of whether we are better off then than during the 2nd Trump administration will be asked by Dems and the voters.
My plea is for people to reflect and in the coming weeks, commit themselves to identifying leadership candidates and truly support them in their growth and once they start running, help get them visible and elected.
We just got the government we deserve. We had a chance to elect a really qualified county Commissioner in Amy Norquist, instead we get a man that doesn't really want the job but didn't have the personal integrity to drop out and what we have is an ignorant electorate that can't see the forest for the trees and have yet again voted against their own best interests because they refuse to educate themselves instead giving over their power to Fox News etc. I'm disgusted by the Republicans move to fascism and if I had the option I'd move out of this county in a heart beat because it's never gonna be anything other than what it is right now no matter how hard we fight for change. You can't educate someone to the facts if they don't want to hear it and MAGA doesn't want to hear anything that requires them to do anything different in their lives. They are terrified little people who are bringing us all down because they are to lazy, to stubborn, to ignorant to hear the truth or do anything to fix the mess the world is in. They choose NOT to believe it, but sit them down in front of Tucker Carlson and they are all in on his craziness....I'm just so done trying to drag them out of their dark place into the light. There is something very wrong with the numbers in this election and some day we might find out what that's all about, but I gaurantee you it's not good, it's an assault on democracy from foreign agents and I hope we have the courage as a nation to call it out or we are done as a functioning democracy.
Sowing division is a lazy and easier path to get someone's attention. The Dem's will be able to ask many of the same questions asked regarding the economy and ask whether they were heard when social institutions were unilaterally dismantled. I think you speak forcefully and based on facts and remind them that their voices count.
The Secretary of State reports that roughly 62.73% of eligible voters in Cowlitz County voted. https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/data-research/election-data-and-maps/ballot-return-statistics. A clearer picture on the state democracy will emerge. We get the government we deserve. People need to remain engaged, informed and curious for democracy to work. Andre, your efforts are appreciated and badly needed.
The turnout figures will go up as late ballots are counted and tabulated.
We're waking up today facing a radically different world. The future, for the Country and our County may well be ugly and very dark. Perhaps we are even facing peril and changes unrecognizable even unthinkable just days ago.
I admit I am struggling with all that has transpired on the national level, what the outcome of yesterday, Nov 5 means, and how this day may, likely will, forever change our national history. Yesterday was truly a day of "Infamy" and exposed the true soul of a majority of our fellow countrymen and women.
I'm struggling less with where our County will go and the consequences of having placed folks in leadership who are less empathic, more philosophically driven, and less willing to hear voices other than the loudest. Our County leadership, I fear, will take it in a direction that will have unpleasant, even damaging consequences.
But the majority has spoken.
And there in lies the problem with our County. The R's have done a better job of attracting folks to their msg---which is grievance, white fear, libertarian philosophy, and anger. Their leadership is strong. They are organized and they are active, engaged.
In my opinion, and for what it's worth, for the D's to rise from the ashes of the next 4 years in the County, the most critical issue is leadership of the party. Leaders are needed who understand why the R msg resonated and will be key. Leaders who understand how the R's emphasized organization and messaging. How the R's tapped into grievance and fear and used these to succeed.
Fact is, now is not the time to fall into despair, a hand wringing sense of hopelessness. Now is the time to channel anger and frustration into activism. Rethink how the party can grow, how and what it messages. Become what it once was, a party of hope and inclusiveness.
But to become what the D party once was in this County, it starts with leadership and will depend on folks getting off their behinds, getting active, and recognizing that we, as individuals recognize what's at stake if we don't.
Jim Hill
Malcom Gladwell just released an updated version of The Tipping Point where he examines how trends are formed and why beliefs without merit take hold. As the country moved to November 5, I reflected on how a story takes a life of its own and what can be done to tame that. It is difficult to defeat a message of fear. It seems many are wired that way and that takes a life of its own. The notion that the economy was horrible was not IMO based on reality. People are rightly upset with inflation. Neither Biden nor Kamala not control the Federal Reserve. Neither Biden nor Kamala not control the stock market (which was at an all time high). The stories about the threat of transgender kids and athletes took a life of its own, despite it not being an issue and that was not handled well by the Dems. In short, fear and anger won the day. Dems need engaged and younger people and have to prepare themselves for a media that will distort reality to get coverage. We have a divided country, not a mandate.
In a few years, the election cycle will be start up, so we need to remain engaged, informed and focus on unity. The question of whether we are better off then than during the 2nd Trump administration will be asked by Dems and the voters.
My plea is for people to reflect and in the coming weeks, commit themselves to identifying leadership candidates and truly support them in their growth and once they start running, help get them visible and elected.
Peace!
We just got the government we deserve. We had a chance to elect a really qualified county Commissioner in Amy Norquist, instead we get a man that doesn't really want the job but didn't have the personal integrity to drop out and what we have is an ignorant electorate that can't see the forest for the trees and have yet again voted against their own best interests because they refuse to educate themselves instead giving over their power to Fox News etc. I'm disgusted by the Republicans move to fascism and if I had the option I'd move out of this county in a heart beat because it's never gonna be anything other than what it is right now no matter how hard we fight for change. You can't educate someone to the facts if they don't want to hear it and MAGA doesn't want to hear anything that requires them to do anything different in their lives. They are terrified little people who are bringing us all down because they are to lazy, to stubborn, to ignorant to hear the truth or do anything to fix the mess the world is in. They choose NOT to believe it, but sit them down in front of Tucker Carlson and they are all in on his craziness....I'm just so done trying to drag them out of their dark place into the light. There is something very wrong with the numbers in this election and some day we might find out what that's all about, but I gaurantee you it's not good, it's an assault on democracy from foreign agents and I hope we have the courage as a nation to call it out or we are done as a functioning democracy.
Apparently, playing nice and trying to bring a positive message doesn’t work in this country anymore. Dems, I hope you’re paying attention.
Sowing division is a lazy and easier path to get someone's attention. The Dem's will be able to ask many of the same questions asked regarding the economy and ask whether they were heard when social institutions were unilaterally dismantled. I think you speak forcefully and based on facts and remind them that their voices count.