At times, I hear among friends and acquaintances that there is no point in voting for anything since nothing is ever going to change. I hear speculation, conspiracies and countless reasons not to care or get involved in politics. I feel a lot of people have given up and focused their efforts on finding ways to cope with the state of things rather than taking a leap of faith toward a solution.
The missing part to put Oklahoma back in order is you. For change to happen in our community, you must be part of it. You must advocate, be loud, be proactive and, most importantly, be persistent because change does not always happen immediately. Sometimes it takes resilience and a lot of trying when things do not go the way we expect. However no matter how long it takes, change will eventually happen.
For a few years now, I feel politics have become a contest of which side can piss off the other the most, and both sides are responsible for this. I ask you not to vote with your emotions. I ask you to vote with the future of Oklahoma and your children in mind.
The aluminum smelter in Inola has made it evident that some fights go beyond party affiliation. When our way and quality of living become threatened, we can find common ground. Folks, despite its problems, Oklahoma is a beautiful place to live. Remember, people like Trump and his billionaire friends do not live here. You do. Do your research and vote for whoever you think will protect the sacred ground beneath your feet and not sell out your land to further their career.
Remember, early voting starts Thursday, June 11, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., continues Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can vote early at your county’s designated early voting location, and no excuse is needed. Bring a valid photo ID issued by the federal government, the State of Oklahoma or a federally recognized tribal government, or bring your voter identification card. You can check your registration, sample ballot and early voting location through the Oklahoma State Election Board before you go. The only thing left to do is show up.
