Political Jumble-tron: Saturday Political Soap Box 184

Lisa Ring with her wonderful family.  Lisa Ring, our future Georgia First Congressional District Representative.

My political thoughts are all a-jumble this morning.  It's hard to focus on any one theme.

Donald Trump and his administration have routinely done such horrible things, it makes my jaw drop in horror on a daily basis.  But I don't want to write about their shenanigans every week. Many have made permanent decisions about him, and nothing will change how they feel. 

People are more flexible on policy.  Poll after poll demonstrates that most voters, when stripped of partisan bias, side with the progressive stance on issues.  The American people have always polled positively on almost all individual aspects of Obamacare.  Once the name Obamacare is attached to that, support would quickly fade, retreating to partisan boxes.

There are other issues where an overwhelming majority of Americans are in support, such as background checks for gun purchases and other common sense gun reform measures, backing the Iran deal, supporting the climate change treaty, strengthening Social Security, campaign finance reform, and many other issues.  Why aren't these bipartisan issues easy to pass? Because voters won't vote on the basis of these issues, leaving the lobbyists and big moneyed interests in control of what our legislators do.

I thought I might come up with a list of endorsements for the upcoming primary, but I decided against it.  People began voting a week or so ago, so I'm already too late.  And although I'm getting enough information to decide my own vote, I don't feel comfortable in telling others what to do.  The two Staceys running for Governor is confusing enough.  Deciding who would support education the best (fully funding public education, remove support for private and charter schools, and restore and improve the Hope Scholarships) has not been easy.  I leave everyone to make that decision for themselves.  Whichever one is chosen will be vastly superior to what we have now, or what the Republicans will offer.

Greg O'Driscoll is running unopposed in the Democratic State House Representative race in my district 178.  I  look forward to voting for him in the primary and the Fall election.  I admire him for stepping up.  It's a tremendous pleasure to know that the Republican nominee will finally have vigorous opposition.

So, I won't endorse for the primaries.

With one exception.

I fully and heartily endorse Lisa Ring for Congressional Representative of  Georgia's 1st District.  There has never been a more competent and qualified candidate running for this office, certainly during the time I have been living in the district.  For once, there is someone I can be excited about voting for.

For those who think, at first blush, that Lisa is not representative of the politics and culture of the area, think again.

There is no better representative for veterans than Lisa Ring.  She is in a military family, with both her husband and son serving, the son having just been deployed overseas.  She knows how vital veteran benefits are, and will do her utmost to make sure every veteran will get the hard-earned benefits they deserve.  She will support an efficient and targeted military budget, one that focuses it's resources on the most urgent threats rather than fighting the battles of yesteryear, and will never short shrift the pay and resources dedicated to our fighting men and women.

There is no better representative for the small farmer and agricultural worker than Lisa Ring.  She will always represent your interests over that of large corporations.

There is no better representative for working families.  She will defend and support your ability to make a living wage, and for families to have what they need to grow and prosper in society. 

There is no better representative for those who are sick or hurt and have to face the ravages of our broken medical system.  Fundamental to her beliefs is the idea that everyone has a right to healthcare.  She supports a move to Medicare For All, which would end the tyranny of the private insurers and big pharma.  She will deal with the opioid crisis head-on, by supporting rehabilitation and clinical care, and by checking the pharmaceutical industry that is promoting the abuse of these dangerous drugs,

The money to support Lisa's campaign comes from the people.  She is not supported by big money interests and their political pacs.  I have never seen any candidate do so much to put up a grassroots organization in the district, or pour so much time, blood, sweat, and tears into her effort.

And it is that same energy and strength you will see when she becomes our district's congressperson.

I encourage you to vote for her in the primary, and in the general election.

Once you strip yourself of your partisan bias, I think you will see it too.

She will not be a blind representative to any corporate interests, be they Democratic or Republican.

She will be a true representative of the people of the First Congressional District.

It's what we deserve.

It's what we need.