The midterm elections are Tuesday, November 6. Let me tell you why they’re important and why you should be concerned about the candidates running for office all over America, not only those in Vermont.
Your immediate response to that statement was probably, “Why should I care?” Let me explain.
It’s easy to assume that what is going on in another state doesn’t affect your community.
Who cares that southern states have weird bingo laws? Unlike seniors getting a little too wild at Sunday night bingo, the legislators serving other states actually do affect all of us.
The reason why is simple: for a bill to be taken to the President for approval, it first needs to be approved by both the House and the Senate.
That’s why it’s so important to know who your current Representatives and Senators are and what they are doing in Congress. If you don’t like what your legislators are doing, let them know via email, phone, or letter
You could also ask a citizen of another state to contact their legislator(s) on your behalf if you’re dissatisfied with their performance in Congress.
The outcome of the bitter Senate race in Texas could make all the difference for not only Texans, but all Americans. Incumbent (that means he’s running for re-election) Ted Cruz (R) is in an intense battle with Beto O’Rourke (D), a Representative of El Paso, Texas.
Ted Cruz has been described as “slimy” by multiple sources, “Lyin’ Ted” by Donald Trump, and “vampire-like” by my mother.
He caused a 16-day partial government shutdown in 2013 because he refused to cooperate with President Obama on Obamacare laws.
Cruz opposed Obama’s proposition to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10.
He is adamantly outspoken against abortion and vowed to have the DOJ investigate Planned Parenthood when he was running for president.
He believes that being LGBT+ is a choice and urged states to ignore the Supreme Court’s decision in 2015 to extend the constitutional right to marry to same-sex couples.
Ted Cruz has held us all back repeatedly in more ways than one.
I could go on for eternity about the abhorrent things Ted Cruz has done in his political career, but instead, I would like to discuss his opponent, Beto O’Rourke.
This man is literally the anti-Cruz. Beto O’Rourke is America’s version of Canada’s dreamy Justin Trudeau.
He’s held a town hall or rally in all of Texas’s 254 counties. He supports universal health care, immigration reform, and common sense gun control. He has spoken out against police brutality and has expressed his support for Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest.
First, Cruz’s campaign released a mugshot from a DWI and burglary charge O’Rourke faced in the 1990s, even though it was later dropped.
Then, they released a photo of O’Rourke with his 90s band Foss.
Next, it was a video of O’Rourke skating through a Whataburger parking lot late at night.
Each of Cruz’s misguided jabs have only backfired by making Beto O’Rourke more appealing to young people. A cute bad boy who turned into a handsome family man – isn’t that what every Millenial and Gen Z-er looks for in an adult role model?
O’Rourke has the largest grassroots campaign in the history of Texas, and a large amount of his donations have come from out-of-state. This proves that O’Rourke’s charm along with Cruz’s tactlessness are turning people everywhere blue – figuratively, of course.
The reason why I went on a tangent about the Texas Senate race is because I wanted to explain how the actions of Ted Cruz have impacted the entirety of the United States, including us here in Vermont.
It’s amazing that a kind, centrist Democrat has come along to snatch the Senate seat from Nosferatu-esque Ted Cruz who has harmed his home state and country time and time again.
This particular Senate race also displays the political revolution occurring in our country right now: it shows that people are finally realizing that our current government is not working for the majority of the American people.
I’ve focused on the Senate in this article, but it’s important to be aware of what all your elected officials are up to.
Our current governor Phil Scott (R) is running for re-election against Christine Hallquist (D), the nation’s first openly-transgender major party nominee for governor.
I’m rooting for Christine Hallquist, Bernie Sanders, Beto O’Rourke, and all the other people running for public office who want to reform our country.
My bias is apparent, but I don’t expect everyone reading this article to immediately assume my beliefs. Instead, I encourage you to do your own research. Support the candidates whom you believe will help change your community, state, and country for the better.
Blue & Gold 