I had breakfast with family a week ago Sunday and discussed the candidates and the issues appearing on the ballot. It is a habit I would like to keep.
The ballot for them was a little different than mine as they live in Adams County and I in Denver. We still discussed everything before filling out the ballot. I was particularly interested in the participation of a granddaughter that is not yet of age to cast a vote. She is the one that arranged for us to meet and had a lot of questions especially as it relates to educational support for the school districts.
The conversation also dealt with the state of the country and the need for change. We agreed that we are in a very challenging period in our history and that we need to vote for some of this change as well as prepare to do much more as time goes on.
We as a Latino family feel that we have been dealt a very difficult hand by a political environment that offers a kind of chaos that we used to only read about in stories and novels. Attacks on the institutions that hold our country together and guarantee our well-being are so prevalent that they appear to have become a new norm. Political, financial and social corruption on a large scale is no longer hidden and looks so ugly now that it is out in the open.
The cost of food, gas and other necessities are at an all-time high and getting higher. The safety nets that kept poverty at bay are being threatened, reduced or abolished. Our friends and partner countries around the world are leaving us because we can no longer be trusted. It seems that everything is becoming transactional at home and abroad where favor and support is exchanged for private gain.
America is severely divided along lines that do not make sense. We have neighbors that put up flags and other signs to let us know not to approach.
There is a concerted effort to dismantle the leadership of our military to make it easier to politicize and bend it to the will of a few instead of keeping it as an instrument of the people. The war in Iran is making the richest oil people in the world even richer at the expense of everyday common folks here and abroad.
The results of the elections in which we are participating is already being branded as a fraud by people with the power to interfere. The times require vigilant protection of our right to vote.
All of these things and more were the subject of our discussion around the breakfast table that day. However, rather than deflate our motivation to explore the issues and decide on the candidates, we felt eager to accept the challenge and make a difference.
My granddaughter was particularly impressed by our enthusiasm, especially after hearing about so many bad things going on in the country. But we told her that life has many challenges and many ways to navigate them.
So, at the end of our conversation we sat about filling out the ballot which seems rather long. I made sure that the circles that indicate my choice were filled in with my blue ink ball point.
Then we left the restaurant, got into the car and drove to the drop boxes provided for the purpose of voting. I was particularly happy to have my granddaughter there, with us.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.
