We need elected leaders who can’t sleep at night.

Those who lead our government should be individuals who cannot “un-see” the injustice that permeates our so-called modern civilization.

We need servant leaders who toss and turn throughout the night as they think about what they can and MUST do to make things better.

A palpable urgency of the moment, with the absolute certainty that together we can build a better tomorrow, MUST dominate the thoughts and actions of those who sit at the top.

We need leadership at all levels who see the people in our community living on sidewalks, under bridges and in their cars, AND the crying, starving, and dying children of Gaza – EVERY SINGLE DAY.

We need policy makers and government administrators who are unable to look away from the degradation of our water, our food, and our oceans – – and who are totally committed to making our world a better place.

NOW. TODAY. AT THIS MOMENT.

“After the mid-terms”…”During the next regular session”…”Once the budget allows for it…”

Any language of further delay or denial is simply unacceptable.

Imagine if our Governor, our mayors, state legislators, and county council-members each stood up and publicly condemned Hamas for the murder of between 1,200 and 2,000 Israelis since October 7, 2023, AND condemned Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for the horrific retaliatory slaughter of over 60,000 Palestinians – with nearly a third of the dead under the age of 18. (Reuters).

The United States provides significant funding to the IDF, and thus supports the ongoing genocide. The U.S. is the largest provider of weapons and has more troops stationed in more bases, and in more countries, than ANY other nation on the planet.

Imagine if our government leaders had the courage and resolve to actually shrink the budget and physical footprint of the U.S. Military, here at home and overseas.

Imagine our local state and county government leaders standing up to ICE…and passing local laws that prohibit law enforcement from hiding behind masks, AND requiring due process.

Imagine further if our political leaders made a commitment to NOT wait until the next election cycle — or the next regular legislative session — or the next ANYTHING. Imagine if they started NOW and didn’t stop until our community and planet turned the corner.

That’s the leadership we need and deserve.

Anyone presently holding public office who’s unable to make that commitment and/or does not feel in their heart the urgency of the moment must be replaced in 2026 — or sooner if there are legal, moral and ethical methods to do so.

The good news: We the people have the power to make this happen.

If we’re asking our political leaders for a total commitment, it’s only right we offer the same.

This means individual and collective ACTION.

It means calling and emailing our political leaders at ALL LEVELS and demanding they take action NOW.

We need a special state legislative session NOW. We need our political leadership to condemn the atrocities occurring in GAZA NOW. We need our County governments to protect our local communities against the abuses of ICE – NOW.

Of course those in power will likely tell us “There’s no money.” Our response should be “BS”.

We live in a time and place of great abundance. The wealth that surrounds us should go where it is most needed and most deserved — to support our planet and our people.

We must get rid of our own personal excuses as well.

TO WIN, WE MUST SHOW UP.

We must attend those public hearings, hold signs at the protest rallies, submit testimony, actively support the campaigns of new candidates, donate money when we can, and RUN FOR ELECTION OURSELVES IF WE CAN’T FIND OTHERS TO STEP UP.

Dr. King said it best, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

So, let’s DO this. Let’s grab hold of that arc and pull it towards justice with everything we’ve got…and then let’s pull some more.

Gary Hooser
Just a tūtū man who can’t sleep at night and feels compelled to share.
To: Blog readers – I post my missives and ramblings here on this blog first…before I send out to my mass email list or post on FaceBook or other republication…Your feedback is important and sometimes I may edit subsequent versions based on thoughts and impressions you share with me…after you read the original blog post.