As the newly elected Vice Chair of the Grady County Democratic Party, I accepted this position with a renewed hope and belief that America is still a great country with unlimited possibilities and potential. As an officer within this body, I faced the unfettered truth that after the recent presidential election, America's constitutional legacy is at stake! Though I believe in an America that should be the home of all who are its citizens and that our laws should be honestly applied without favor or partiality to all regardless of race, creed or color, there others who insist on constructing a society that is based on White Supremacy and wealth alone! I believe we can be a country that is ruled by people and FOR the people. But it will take work and commitment to face the truth of who we are as a city, state and nation with the hope of creating a legal system that protects life experiences where justice for ALL is the practice and not merely empty words.

When I was on the Chickasha City Council, I was asked by one of our citizens why I always brought up issues on the Council about race. I explained that I didn't think that I did, but if that's what it seemed it was because my entire existence as an African American in Chickasha, Oklahoma and America has been shaped, guided, curtailed by race and class. As a member of the Chickasha City Council, I believed that my job

was to represent the citizens in Ward 3 and Chickasha in general. In that mission I believed that I was to assist the city's leadership in establishing policies and practices that all citizens were both seen and heard as well as served.

The election results of 2024 have illustrated for me that racial and class bigotry is of the cornerstone of the current president and his minions. I believe that America is in a Constitutional Crisis! No, I am not claiming that America is perfect, but I am claiming that because our Constitution is the standard by which we engage our political discourse, WE THE PEOPLE can forge a country where justice and fairness is law! To allow these Nazis and bigots to masquerade as the standard bearers of American truth would be a great injustice! The beauty of America is that we have a platform and an arena where our differences and disagreements can be examined by an impartial body (local, state, or nationally) that decides on what is in the best interest of ALL people (not just a few).

In this position of Vice Chair of the Grady County Democratic Party I am not calling simply democrats to save America. In this time of Constitutional Crisis, I am calling on all Americans to unite, save and restore democracy. I believe that we can't call ourselves Americans if we don't have a Constitutional democracy! It's only with Democracy can we say, "We the People".

A Younger View
By Rhett Hoaglin

Younger generations have little say in the world of today. Every generation was supposed to make the world a better place for their children and then move aside and "hand over the reins," and yet today the average age of a US senator is 64, only 3-4 years behind retirement. In March this year Reps. Turner & Grijalva died of old age. If that doesn't convince you of congress' old age, I don't know what would! Older generations have hoarded power, created a less secure world, destroyed the environment, and yet complain that the younger generations don't go outside enough. No wonder everyone is on their phones; that escapist fantasy full of pixels is infinitely better than our "drill baby drill" world of today!

Young people no longer have power. We are told that we need to start a family, and yet we cannot ever dream of buying a house in our lifetimes. Older generations buy up all the properties and turn them into rentals, and pass legislation that protects this unfair movement of wealth towards older generations. Social Security is not lowered for already rich retirees, but instead the retirement age has been moved up to 67. Men die around 75, meaning I have less than a decade to enjoy my retirement before kicking the bucket, and probably less than that from all the microplastics I've ingested.

In 1960 the minimum wage was $1.00/hr (around $10/hr today), the average house cost $11,900 ($127,000 today). Today the average house costs $419,200 (almost quadruple) that, while minimum wage has stagnated at $7.50 since 2009 (3 years after I was born!!!). Even as many older generations retire from the workforce, their influence continues to hurt

younger people. Most landlords are from older generations, and charge high rates that younger gens are forced to pay. USA Today found that while 16-24 year olds make $633-$778 a week, mostly retired boomers still make $1,121 per week. Older generations make laws that favor them, and hoard wealth and assets. It's time that older generations cede the power to younger people and allow us to control our lives and future. I don't want to rent for the rest of my life, and overpay for a house, car, and college education, with wages lower than ever in the history of the US. I have opinions, thoughts, ideas, and rights.

But what can I do to represent myself? Local, state, and federal elections and hearings are usually during the work week at inconvenient times that make it hard for all the still-working generations to be heard. Emailing, calling, or writing to my representatives is a time-consuming process. Even now in college with no job I struggle to find time to vote, protest at the capitol, and even writing this piece right now means delaying time I could be studying! I encourage anyone who feels the same to do what you can. It's hard, but there are ways around these hurdles. Go early vote, save up just a bit more money so you can take a day off, do anything to make sure your voice is heard. And to anyone reading who feels attacked, I want to calm some tempers. You personally probably didn't create this system, and it's the same one you probably lived through; however, I urge you to remember when you were young, and think about the hardships of the older generations snuffing your voice. The youth countercultures have always existed with such groups as: the hippies, the 80s punks, and hip hop. Today's youth just want exactly what you fought for: more freedom. Fight for a better future with us, and don't add to the system.

APRIL SERVICE PROJECT
We were very excited for the turnout to help repaint the Bullock Center in Chickasha, OK. We were able to help the Bullock Center Members get the main room and hell way completely repainted and got a good amount done in the bathrooms before the paint ran out. We were so busy I forgot to get a good picture with everyone who came to help. Thank you guys for helping out community be a better place, and thank you to the Bullock Center for giving us the opportunity.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

APRIL 26 – SERVICE PROJECT – We will be helping paint and set up new furniture at the Bullock Center,
917 1st St, Chickasha, OK. Time to be announced.

MAY 13 - MONTHLY MEETING - Speaker will be OK State Rep. Jared Deck, 6:30 PM @
Canadian Valley Vo-Tech, Meeting Room 4, Chickasha, OK

JUNE 10 - MONTHLY MEETING - Speaker will be OK State Rep. Jared Deck 6:30 PM @
Canadian Valley Vo-Tech, Meeting Room 4, Chickasha, OK

JULY 10 - MONTHLY MEETING - 6:30 PM @ Canadian Valley Vo-Tech, Meeting Room 4, Chickasha, OK