[LWVNM Action] Action Digest, Vol 10, Issue 13

Sun Aug 23 11:10:32 MDT 2020

Thank you Meredith For this important information!

On Sat, Aug 22, 2020 at 2:32 PM <action-request at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Advocacy for the vote, League as elections resource, the need
>       for bipartisan agreement on investment in broadband-so critical
>       for our schools and rural communities, especially with COVID
>       (Meredith Machen)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2020 14:32:07 -0600
> From: "Meredith Machen" <mermachen at cybermesa.com>
> To: "LWVNM Action" <Action at mailman.swcp.com>
> Subject: [LWVNM Action] Advocacy for the vote, League as elections
>         resource, the need for bipartisan agreement on investment in
>         broadband-so critical for our schools and rural communities,
>         especially with COVID
> Message-ID: <02e201d678c3$4f553b70$edffb250$@cybermesa.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
>
> <
> https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/commentary/voter-apathy-is-not-an
> -american-value/article_0ca17c08-de4e-11ea-89c0-9b569a7b3c1f.html
> <https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/commentary/voter-apathy-is-not-an-american-value/article_0ca17c08-de4e-11ea-89c0-9b569a7b3c1f.html>
> >
>
> https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/commentary/voter-apathy-is-not-an-
> american-value/article_0ca17c08-de4e-11ea-89c0-9b569a7b3c1f.html
> <https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/commentary/voter-apathy-is-not-an-american-value/article_0ca17c08-de4e-11ea-89c0-9b569a7b3c1f.html>
> Women in the United States take seriously their role as engaged citizens -
> something that is evident by data that shows in the 2016 presidential
> election, 63.3 percent of women voted as opposed to 59.3 percent of men.
> Even though women have outnumbered men at the polls in every presidential
> election since 1980, there is more to be done to honor the work and
> sacrifice of the suffragettes whom we must thank for this right.
> We know we can do better for a nation founded on the cry for
> representation.
> Today, while 86.8 percent of U.S. citizens are registered to vote, actual
> turnout languishes at an average of 55.7 percent for presidential elections
> and far less for municipal elections. When comparing U.S. voter turnout to
> other developed countries, we see Americans rank 26th out of citizens from
> 32 nations in major elections.
> Apathy is not an American value.
> The many battles fought to bring democracy to the reach of white,
> land-owning male citizens, then to male nonwhite citizens, then to women -
> and to those disenfranchised because of Jim Crow-era laws and more - must
> be
> honored by each citizen by way of casting a ballot in November and every
> other election we are eligible to take part in. I am proud to say I've
> never
> missed an opportunity to cast a ballot in any election - a right won thanks
> to those who spoke, organized and marched for it.
> This election season certainly is like no other in our history, and there
> are clear challenges to seeing every eligible elector cast their ballot.
> Americans, though, are a people battle-tested and up for the challenge.
> I call upon every citizen to help us honor each of our ancestors who fought
> for and won their place on the voter rolls by ensuring you are registered,
> you are informed and you are prepared to let your voice be heard in
> November, and in all future elections.
> Know the deadline for registration and for requesting a mail-in ballot if
> your state encourages the practice or you wish to take advantage of it for
> your safety. Or, make sure you know your physical polling place, as some
> have been or will be changed in the face of the pandemic, and schedule
> ample
> time to wait if necessary to cast your ballot in person.
> We cannot allow disenfranchisement to happen today after such hard battles
> were fought to extend this right to all, and must call especially on those
> entrusted with the responsibility to maintain our democracy to do so with
> every citizen in mind.
> We must also do our part.
> In the era of information overload, it is imperative for each citizen to
> use
> reputable sources, such as the League of Women Voters website and print
> materials, to learn more about the candidates who will appear on our
> ballots
> and ensure you're making an informed decision.
>
> <
> https://www.annistonstar.com/the_daily_home/free/op-ed-parties-must-come-to
>
> gether-to-invest-in-broadband-for-present-future/article_b8053960-de5b-11ea-
> a558-57467e901e39.html
> <https://www.annistonstar.com/the_daily_home/free/op-ed-parties-must-come-together-to-invest-in-broadband-for-present-future/article_b8053960-de5b-11ea-a558-57467e901e39.html>
> >
>
> https://www.annistonstar.com/the_daily_home/free/op-ed-parties-must-come-tog
>
> ether-to-invest-in-broadband-for-present-future/article_b8053960-de5b-11ea-a
> 558-57467e901e39.html
> <https://www.annistonstar.com/the_daily_home/free/op-ed-parties-must-come-together-to-invest-in-broadband-for-present-future/article_b8053960-de5b-11ea-a558-57467e901e39.html>
> Fiscal responsibility is a huge component to endurance, and we stand firmly
> on the side of it, but we realize responsible choices sometimes come with a
> price tag.
> Decisions to spend billions, let alone trillions, are tough. Knowing how we
> will pay back the money allocated today though, helps ground our reasoning.
> We must invest where we will see return today and far into the future, when
> generations not yet born will help heal an economy stressed by this virus.
> As such, we must invest in infrastructure and technology that will allow us
> to work, learn and live today and build a stable economy and educated,
> workforce-ready individuals for the future. Simply stated - broadband is
> essential. It must be part of the next package and the next until the
> digital divide is erased.
> We call on both parties and the president to include in the current package
> broadband expansion and relief, or to quickly bring to the floor a package
> that will address the vital infrastructure and funding for broadband
> expansion.
> Betsy E. Huber is the president of the National Grange, America's oldest
> rural and agricultural advocacy organization, and serves as a member of the
> FCC's Precision Agriculture task force on the working group looking at
> broadband deployment.
>
> She wrote both opinion pieces, which I excerpted.
>
> Meredith Machen
> League of Women Voters of New Mexico
>
>  <tel:505-577-6337> 505-577-6337 c
>  <mailto:projects at lwvnm.org> projects at lwvnm.org
>  <mailto:meredith.machen at gmail.com> meredith.machen at gmail.com
>
> Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy
>
>
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> End of Action Digest, Vol 10, Issue 13
> **************************************
>
-- 
*Nevertheless She Persisted, 2020 Centennial Celebration of Woman's Vote   *
*Sonya*
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