FutureNowUSA

As everything shifts around us, we continue to be committed to our mission and values: State Legislatures Matter. /thread

First, make no mistake: this situation is worse than it had to be because of government failures. Failures in the last few weeks and failures over many years: The lie that government has no role to play in protecting and improving lives.

The cynicism that accepts special interest influence and public sector corruption as irrelevant or trivial. The opportunism of simplistic and divisive rhetoric in the face of a deeply complex and interconnected world.

Second, while we need to be vigilant about responding to the urgent challenge of arresting the spread of COVID-19 right now, we also must not take our eye off the ball of systemic change.

We know how self-interested special interests swoop in at a moment like this to reset the playing field in their favor. This time must be different.

This crisis, and all of the weaknesses and failures it lays bare, must be the beginning of something better. That will only happen if we focus on the immediate, the mid-term, and the long-term all at once.

Third, we know well that the lies, incompetence, and blatant self-interest we have seen from the president are not unique to him. His brand of politics is so potent and toxic because state capitals have been incubating this type of “leadership” for decades.

We will never defeat it unless our state governments are cured.