Faith,
This might be a bit of a hot take, but the biggest threat to the future of American democracy is not the convicted felon Donald Trump. And it's not the MAGA Republicans in Congress and state legislatures who enable him, either.
The real threat is the itch that so many people have for one charismatic leader to come along who's perfect in every way and will magically fix all of our problems. Just one good guy who's "not owned by anyone" and can fix everything.
Because when you really think about it, that's not the description of a leader in a healthy and functioning democracy. It's the description of a dictator.
So we can't end this threat just by defeating Donald Trump in November or outliving him as our candidates will (Thank God!). What we need is a long-term investment in our democracy — by electing the best possible people to serve in government and defend our democracy. Not by having one person who comes along to fix it all at the cost of our democracy, but 30 of our nation's best and brightest young people to protect our democracy by showing that, while the system is broken, it's not impossible to make it better. People who don't take corporate money and who actually fight for their constituents.
I know this will work because I am already seeing it. Just the other day when I was door knocking with Leaders We Deserve endorsed candidate Molly Cook's campaign — I knocked on the door of a 20-year-old named Kai. When I told him about Molly and the election he said she sounds great, but "what corporations are funding her?" I was able to say none are — because as a Leaders We Deserve endorsee she agrees to not take corpprate money. I immediately saw his face shift from a look of suspicion to excitement. He then said, "I don't usually vote in elections for state legislature, but she sounds awesome." I got his phone number for the campaign to make sure he got out and had no problems voting, and he did! Molly won by only 74 votes.
That's why Leaders We Deserve is focused on building up young leaders who can fight back against this threat, today and for decades to come. And to fight the threat hopelessness and apathy pose to our democracy.
But we can't do our work without your support, Faith. We don't take corporate donations — we rely on grassroots donations. Please consider making a donation so I can focus more on the work an less on editing emails at 30,000 feet as I am doing right now!
Thanks,
David Hogg
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