We the People, still have power. #VOTE

There's a reason I'm so outspoken about politics and bringing awareness to what's happening in America and around the world. I worked for the government. I was a federal employee at the Internal Revenue Service for twenty years. It's the main reason I'm so vocal about politics today.

Generations of families have lifelong careers in government. My grandmother spent thirty years working at the IRS before me. I started working there in 2002, just four months after the September 11 attacks. I was nineteen years old, straight out of high school, a hopeful millennial. 

During my career, I worked in several different departments, went from a clerk to a tax examiner, and made lifelong friends. I also experienced the not-so-great side of our government. I saw firsthand what budget cuts, pay and hiring freezes, shutdowns, and $0 paychecks did to our agency. I saw the impact on my co-workers, whose bills didn't stop just because two sides of the political spectrum couldn't agree on a budget. I saw the impact on American taxpayers, months of backlogged work, tax returns waiting to be processed. The bureaucracy and tax laws that made every day life harder for people.

In 2022, I decided to leave the IRS. The pandemic had given me a new perspective on work-life balance, (an office relocation and the revocation of remote work, may have expedited my decision.) I was forty years old. I had spent my youth working for the government. It was time to move on. 

The DOGE cuts came soon after I left, and the federal workforce faced devastating cuts. Thousands of federal employees lost their jobs, their careers. Decades of knowledge and expertise discarded for a political agenda under the guise of "economic savings."

The oath I took to support and defend the Constitution didn't end when I left federal service. I saw how government policies negatively affected my life, my family, my friends, and the American people. I want better for all of us. We deserve better. 

It's time to remember that it's WE THE PEOPLE who elect the politicians in charge of our towns, cities, states, and federal government. It is We the People who fund the United States government through the taxes we pay from our hard-earned paychecks. For too long, we've looked the other way and allowed corruption, greed, cruelty, and divisiveness to run rampant inside our government. The house is burning from the inside. It's time for change.

I don't know when we became complacent, when we bought into the lies: "Politics are boring." "Politics don't affect me." "Why should I vote?" "Nothing changes." I was guilty of saying those same things when I was younger. I thought it didn't matter. Working for the U.S. government through several administrations opened my eyes. It does matter, a great deal. Our collective voice matters. 

We may not see change overnight, but if we start taking an active part in our democracy today, we can absolutely change the trajectory of this country and the world for the better. Utilize your First Amendment rights.

First Amendment

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

We have the power to change things. We have the power to save the American dream. Speak up and use your voice! Vote in every election! Stay informed about current laws and policies and how they can affect you, your family or your community. Support politicians who don't take corporate bribes. Support independent, unbiased journalism. Stop treating politics like a sport. It's not ride or die for one party or one person. It's ride or die for the nation as a whole.

I want an America that represents freedom and democracy for ALL, not one based on income bracket, political party, color, creed, or orientation.

I want an America that is beautifully diverse. An America that is a safe haven for immigrants and refugees. A country that respects and celebrates all cultures.

I want an America where healthcare is a basic human right, where a trip to the hospital won't bankrupt you.

I want an America that invests in its citizens well-being and education.

I want an America that cares about how employers treat their workers.

I want an America where people can afford to own a home and earn enough to provide for their families, where small businesses can flourish.

I want an America that builds and strengthens alliances worldwide and recognizes the value of our allies and trade. A country that strives for peace, not endless wars.

I want an America governed by WE THE PEOPLE, not one ruled by corporations, shareholders, or corrupt politicians. They say greed is the worst sin of all. Looking at the state our world is in right now, it's not hard to see why.

We the People need to start voting for leaders who believe in and protect the Constitution. Leaders who respect the framework the Founding Fathers put in place and uphold the rule of law. Leaders who lead with empathy and compassion, conduct themselves with integrity, and genuinely want to serve the people who elected them. Not people who serve only their own egos and greed, who revel in cruelty and destruction.

They may try to divide us, but We the People still have power. It's time to use that power and make our voices heard. Let's make the 250th anniversary of the United States of America one for the history books by preserving democracy.

Vote, vote, vote!

Make your voice heard.

• Register to vote: 
https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-rules/

• Check your states voter registration deadline: 
https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/

• Consider taking part in No Kings Day:

https://www.nokings.org/