Vote And Work For A Healthy Democracy In Arizona
By Jan Manolis
During this extraordinary 2018 midterm election season, Democratic candidates throughout Arizona have advocated specific, commonsense remedies to redirect our State and its people on a path toward a stronger and healthier democracy. In the moving words of progressive activist Ady Barkan, “The cure to what ails American democracy is more American democracy.”
During this extraordinary 2018 midterm election season, Democratic candidates throughout Arizona have advocated specific, commonsense remedies to redirect our State and its people on a path toward a stronger and healthier democracy. In the moving words of progressive activist Ady Barkan, “The cure to what ails American democracy is more American democracy.”
We must join together to stop the train going down the track of
authoritarianism, racism and kleptocracy. Yes, The People must vote, but The
People must also get organized and take action — individual and community
action — in redirecting our future to an Arizona that respects, honors
and cares for its lands and all its people, not just a few
wealthy elites.
During my campaign for Arizona House, I have joined thousands
of good women and men who have chosen to participate in redirecting Arizona
away from a diseased, weakened condition to one of recovered and restored good
health. What efforts will this recovery require? For our children and grandchildren
who face a future of complex challenges that demand a quality education, we
must provide them well-funded public schools and universities. To improve the
health of every Arizonan, we must implement and increase access to quality
medical services, from pregnancy to eldercare. For our ailing desert
environment and fragile economy, we must expand every opportunity for clean,
renewable solar energy. We must immediately put groundwater protections in
place, and prohibit uranium mining in our national treasure, the Grand Canyon.
To accelerate necessary changes, Arizona must ratify the Equal Rights Amendment
— there must be equality for all under the law. Many describe this election season as the Year
of the Woman, with thousands of women candidates nationwide, including myself, entering
politics for the first time. We have heeded the call, and so have millions of
volunteers, supporters and patriots who had not previously worked for a
candidate’s campaign or political cause. I believe this is only the beginning
of a major shift and new chapter in the women’s movement. It is The People’s
movement — our call to rebuild Arizona’s health through democratic action.
