Op-ed: make sure not to fall asleep at the wheel

Many recall the 2008 election season. It's the dawn of a new day and under the theme of hope, there's a renewed sense of optimism and celebration. The first African-American President of the United States, Barrack Obama, is elected, and it seems to put many on notice something that is quietly discussed.

There's a change coming a little sooner than anticipated (click HERE to find out more).

And the response is what some would expect. A combination of false security (given the midterm elections in 2010, 2014, and 2018) and the shenanigans that ensure when an audience is not used to sharing a seat at the table takes place. Ranging from disproportionate application of policy and law in place to stunt voter access (click HERE to find out more), the continued maintenance of the doctrine of qualified immunity (click HERE to find out more), and the overwhelming subscription of too many to sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity (click HERE to find out more) across multiple segments of our social strata have people wondering why people insist on "singing the same old song" instead of dancing the beat of a different drummer.

Even though more are readily energized and engaged this past election cycle across the board, it's not a time to celebrate.

Earlier today under the Gold Dome (the Georgia State Capitol), the process is underway to limit early voting, which clearly is a key reason for the sweeping changes in a number of municipalities to the current makeup of the US Senate (click HERE to find out more). While there is a considerably-sized proposal to provide relief across the board, it's in the "to be determined" category as discussions and negotiation still needs to take place (click HERE to find out more).

Clearly, there are a number of political moving parts on the local, state, and federal level, and this is just based on what is reported. It can get overwhelming at times as on top of our day-to-day of our now (or any) normal, when you consider the things to account for with your family, employment, community, and more, who has time to really keep track of things?

However, not having a level of awareness is clearly problematic.

Not having a level of engagement hurts more than it helps.

Be it your school board (if you are a Gwinnett County Georgia resident, click HERE) whose CEO, in addition to augmenting the system's infrastructure, size, and technology, has shown a propensity for marginalizing those with ideas grounded in better practices during our pandemic times (click HERE to view), to being more aware of the particulars of HB 270 (click HERE to view the proponents of the bill to reduce early voting access along with reaching out to the full committee by clicking HERE), there are opportunities at different levels to be informed and engaged. Otherwise, if it can't be you directly, consider indirectly what you can do to lend support to those who are making sure as best as possible to make decisions to have the biggest positive impact on as many people as possible and not just the select few.

There's a time to rest and sleep, but not now, and certainly not at the wheel.