The Fight
I met with a constituent last week. He has been fighting an uphill legal battle against the state of Missouri, who is garnishing him for “unpaid” child support that he does not owe.
The heartbreaking thing is, I cannot tell him he will win. I am certain he should win, and that the state has no leg to stand on. But, based on my observations of the state of Missouri, I’m not sure he will win.
We just passed the 2 year anniversary of the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia thought they would overtake Ukraine in days. They did not account for the love that Ukrainians have for their country and their love of freedom. Ukrainians will fight as long and as hard as they can against the fascist dictatorship that is attacking them.
Americans should support their fight against Russian fascism. Not because of a country across the world or of a people they will never meet. This is America’s fight, too.
America has been attacked—not by planes and bombs, but by lies and propaganda. This long assault on our democracy has been going on since before the Civil War, but has increased dramatically in recent years. It comes from the loud debate about whether the government should keep trans kids marginalized while quietly acquiescing to the government not filling potholes. The assault comes from a loud debate over abortion care while not discussing how some people have no access to healthcare. The assault comes from wall-to-wall coverage about the presidential primary with no information about who is running for school board.
And you can see this assault in the January 6 reaction to the 2020 election. You can see it from our reaction to COVID-19 and from our crumbling infrastructure. You can see it in the wealth gap that leaves low-wage workers homeless. You can see it in Missouri’s high number of foster children and in our child care deserts.
The assault on democracy has taken place at all levels. We have been assaulted by foreign spies who have lied to the FBI, and by the FBI agents who allowed it. We have been assaulted by government workers who do not do their job, and by the courts who refuse to hold them accountable. We have been assaulted by tax policies that strip governments of the resources needed to govern and blame under-resourced schools when we fail our children.
I am running for Governor of Missouri against this assault on democracy. I hope you will join me in this fight.