EDITOR’S NOTE: My friend and fellow journalist Joanne Rideout shared this on her personal Facebook page, and I reached out and asked to share it on the Pioneer. Now is not the time to sit back and relax. We must continue to be engaged and involved by contacting our representatives. We the People have shown our strength, and we need to make it clear that we will demand that they work for us, and they need to “Git’r done.” Here is a forum for you to share your thoughts about what our state and federal representatives need to focus on to help us all have the basic needs for a happy, healthy life. Send your “What Now?” thoughts to editor@tillamookcountypioneer.net
By Joanne Rideout, journalist/writer/creator of The Ship Report
Here’s what I want now, as a voter:
For the past two years, I have watched daily as a deranged group of extremists has done everything they could to dismantle my country and remake it in their twisted, craven image.
Now the tables have been turned by overwhelming voter support, and this is what needs to happen, starting as soon as the new Senate and House are seated, if not sooner:
Ongoing, relentless, unwavering accountability.
When I think of the daily assault we have all seen that exhausted us and broke our hearts as they took things apart, I want to see equal zeal on the part of Democratic leadership to hold those responsible accountable and right the wrongs done. And go beyond that to make this a better nation.
Why? Because we are not a fascist dictatorship and never will be. Because it’s the least we can do for those who have been harmed. Because we want our country to stand for good things, not just greed and selfishness. There are a million good reasons. I’m sure you have your own if you voted blue.
But equally important, the extremist factions that made this happen are watching us closely now. If we let any of this slide, any of it, any damn thing, they will see it as permission to try again.
So Democrats, we elected you to do more than allow us to breathe a sigh of relief.
We had our day of joyful celebration. Now, please, get to work. There’s a lot you can do before January.
Make us proud. Show the world we will not let this happen again. That we believe in the rule of law. That we want nothing to do with fascism and dictatorship.
And that we were right to vote for you.
This must never happen again.
Contact your soon to be Congressional delegation and let them know your views. It matters.
Here’s what Bernie Sanders has to say about “what’s next?”
