Editor’s note: This commentary is by Lissa Schneckenburger, a fiddler and folk singer from Brattleboro, who plays traditional New England style dance tunes and folk songs blended with contemporary acoustic arrangements.
[I] believe people are good. I believe in helping each other, in peace, unity, inclusion, equality and justice. This is not just blind faith in humanity, I know I am not alone. The majority of Americans want to take care of and educate our children, they want stricter gun laws, good health care, and to protect the environment. The majority of Americans believe immigrants are an important part of our country’s identity. We are all doing our best to be good people, and make the world a better place. Now it is up to us to elect politicians who will listen to the American people, not corporations and special interests.
Now is the time for us to elect leaders who will put policies and legislation in place to protect our right to education, a healthy clean environment, and safe spaces. Let’s support our politicians in the creation of more legislation to combat climate change. It’s time for our leaders to do more than just talk, we want to see real positive change in our immediate future that will benefit all of our citizens.
On Oct. 8, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a special report on “Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius” detailing action needed on a global scale to avoid climate chaos. The report was compiled with the help of 91 scientists from around the world, and leaves no doubt as to the reality of human-caused climate change, its devastating effects, and the need for immediate action. The report was terrifying, perhaps even more so for me as a parent with young children. Even if I do everything in my power as an individual, lawmakers have the power to do so much more. I support carbon pricing, creating better infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation, shifting to 100 percent clean energy and making companies that pollute accountable. We all deserve a healthy clean place to live, and our politicians have the power to create it. We must hold them accountable and make sure they use their power to save our state, our country, and the future for our children.
As we inch closer to midterm elections, it has been easy to despair and get lost in the chaos of hateful lies and propaganda. But we have the responsibility to stand up for what is right, stand up for each other, speak the truth, and take back our government. We are swimming against an overwhelming tide of voter suppression, international interference, and corporate lobbying, but they are outnumbered, we are in the majority. We owe it to each other, to our country, and to our children. GET OUT AND VOTE!!! I still believe in democracy, I hope you do too.
