[Image: Morgan County Democrats and the Indiana Rural Summit participate in the 65th Annual Morgan County Fall Foliage Parade in Martinsville, IN]
As we hit the final stretch of the campaign season, every event, every conversation, every door knocked, every postcard mailed and every phonecall or text message matter.
When I began this campaign, there were a lot of unknowns. But one thing I was certain about - more Hoosiers share the same values around education, healthcare, housing, environment and economy than we realize. That’s because most hardworking Hoosiers just want the opportunity and resources to thrive. In the wealthiest country in the world and a state that is blessed with natural beauty and plentiful resources, life should not be this hard in 2024. Yet most of us are rarely asked how we are directly impacted by policies coming down from the Statehouse.
During a recent fundraiser at Butler Winery, I spoke about “Unintended Consequences and Willful Ignorance”. What that means to me is policies get put in place (largely by legislators out of touch with the folks they represent), and they aren’t thought through well, especially for those most impacted. For example, the 2022 abortion ban put Republican party ideology before Hoosiers’ medical care through punitive forced-birth legislation, and those unintended consequences have meant fewer OB/GYN practices in Indiana, further risking maternal health and exacerbating our already vulnerable healthcare system. For those legislators who voted for the near-total ban on abortion, including my opponent, their willful ignorance to address these core issues compounded the struggles already faced by too many women and families. We have requested and been denied increased maternal healthcare services, workplace protections for pregnant workers, affordable and stable housing, affordable childcare, and jobs that provide livable wages, strong benefits, and schedules that accommodate a healthy work/life balance. Instead of addressing our core needs, the Republican supermajority has put party over people and focused on culture war theatrics and a scarcity mindset. In other words, they have maintained a Willful Ignorance.
The recent ranking of Indiana 8th as a pro-business state and 49th for Quality of Life should say something about Unintended Consequences and Willful Ignorance. Hoosiers are hurting. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of policies coming from the Statehouse that offer carrots and sticks, with big businesses getting the carrots while we are left with the sticks. We need leaders committed to better ideas that help all of us, not just maintaining a status quo that has benefitted only a few.
There are so many good candidates on this year’s ballot. Candidates whose own political journey is diverse enough to understand nuance around complex issues and yet continue to put People over Party. When you look at your ballot, vote for the candidates that most closely align with your values and goals for Indiana. Encourage your family and friends to look deeper than party affiliation or single-issue voting. Why vote for the same people over and over and expect different results? Maintaining a Republican Supermajority definitely has unintended consequences. It’s up to us to stop the Willful Ignorance.
My name is Michelle Higgs, and I am running to represent House District 60. If you want a different voice in the Statehouse, someone who champions people over profiteers or partisan politics, please consider me your next State Representative. I would be honored to receive your support and, most importantly, your vote this election.
https://voteformichellehiggs.com
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[Continue reading this issue of Mondays with Michelle]
