Water Warriors:
We are preparing for that special time of year when state lawmakers convene to do the business of the people in capitol complexes across the west. A cynic would say that this time of year merely implies that politicians will do the bidding of corporations and deep-pocketed interests. And of course that will happen.
But we want to assert that when we come together collectively to advocate for what we know is best, we can have the results that we want at the state level.
Our years of collaborative outreach and advocacy have made the improbable, at key times, possible. And we can’t forget that if we weren’t working together, in our own special ways, the desert would look much different.
Civic engagement is the cornerstone of our democracy, and state legislative sessions are where we can truly exemplify what it means to participate in our republic.
Today, I write to advise that we will be asking you to reach out to lawmakers of all stripes on proposals in multiple states.
And if you decide to meet our request and share opinions with lawmakers, yay or nay, we will all be better for it — no matter the outcome.We won’t always get what we want, and it isn’t always pretty. But we can valiantly harness our liberties in the form of public participation. And the act of participating is just as important as impacting a decision.Active citizen participation is the grease that keeps the gears of democracy grinding.It’s what we live for here at GBWN. And that’s not possible without you.