Rethinking the approach to change

By Tony Farkas
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I was talking to a potential candidate for a future election about their reasons for running, and the answer was one I’ve heard before.

It’s time for a change.

Anyone even remotely following politics and the direction of the country can attest that massive change is needed. Society is fast becoming something that’s largely unrecognizable, and certainly becoming more untenable, given our fractious natures and seeming inability to compromise.

However, massive change would be decidedly more disruptive than the decline we’ve experienced, since it’s taken decades to get to this. To remedy that, I propose taking smaller steps, and the way to do that is to not only exercise our rights, but to do it in an informed manner.

It starts with you, and it starts with your vote.

Granted, there is not much on the ballot this go-around, but even so, they’re just as important as a presidential election.

Most counties in Texas are just voting on 14 propositions to amend the state constitution. In those proposals are plans that include creating new agencies, adjusting retirement, setting tax caps, even abolishing the county treasurer’s office in Galveston County.

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While it might seem boring, trite and not anyone’s problem, anything that’s put in a ballot measure will affect you somehow. Because of that, it’s critical that you not only show up at the ballot box, but also to educate yourself on the measures.

It should go without saying that if there is a candidate or two on the ballot, educate yourself on them as well, since we as voters are supposed to be in charge of this rodeo, not elected officials whose only reason for existing is to get re-elected.

In growing up Catholic, you learn in catechism and other areas about the myriad saints and their works, many of which you’re familiar with.

St. Nicholas, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Paul, St. Peter, etc., have been part of our collective lexicon for centuries. However, there’s quite a huge number of saints not commonly known; one I learned of years ago was Saint Thérèse, the Saint of the Little Ways.

In a nutshell, she believed that doing small things was just as important as miracles. So in her honor, and since it’s election season once again, let’s follow her example.

And to paraphrase someone else who isn’t a saint, but quite possibly could be — Arlo Guthrie — the next time an election comes around, vote so people think you’re in an organization. And if more people vote, it could become a movement.

Movements will make a difference. It starts with a vote.