OPINION: Hope has a plan
With the chaos swirling around us, it can be easy to check out and give in to cynicism. Yet something remarkable is happening across Idaho. More people than ever are interested in protecting our Constitution, standing up for their neighbors, and restoring a sense of peace and stability.
More than 100 Democrats have stepped forward to run for state and federal office, each driven to strengthen our state Legislature, our congressional representation, our Department of Education, and more.
Every voter in Idaho now has at least one strong, experienced Democratic candidate on their ballot this November. This year’s statewide Democratic gala shattered both attendance and fundraising records. In Idaho’s most competitive districts, people with the qualifications and experience to lead are declaring that they are done with the Republican “dog and pony show.”
Something powerful is happening: people are reaching for hope.
This past weekend, the Idaho Democratic Party gala’s keynote speaker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, shared a sentiment that our Kootenai County delegation carried home with them: “Hope is the most powerful word in the English language. But hope is not a plan.”
If you’re in need of hope, there are simple steps you can take to make it part of your own plan.
First, talk to your neighbors. Even if it feels uncomfortable, and even if you worry they might judge you for your centrist views. The time for timidity has passed; the time for connection is now. You don’t have to make conversation about politics. Find a shared interest and build a relationship. By the time a Democratic candidate’s yard sign appears on your grass this fall, your neighbors will have a clearer picture of who Democrats really are: people who care about their communities and want to make them stronger.
Take time to get to know local candidates. I promise they want to hear from you. Send an email, ask a question, or volunteer to help deliver literature. You can find the full list at KootenaiDemocrats.org.
One of the most powerful — and discreet — things you can do is vote with your dollars. Campaigns need resources to build websites, print materials, and introduce themselves to voters. Five or 10 dollars can go farther than you might think.
Make a plan to learn more about the issues and what candidates can realistically do to address the concerns that matter most to you.
Hope requires courage. If we want hope, we need to step outside our comfort zones. Hope is not this delicate thing made of good intentions: hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of asphalt in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go.
Hope has a plan. That plan is being bold about our values and setting an example, so others feel comfortable doing the same. When one person speaks up and says they don’t believe we should be rushing toward another war in the Middle East, or that our kids deserve fully-funded schools, it becomes easier for someone else in the room to speak up as well. Maybe not in that exact moment, but perhaps later, in a different conversation. The words we say matter. People listen, even when they don’t respond right away. The kindness we extend isn't just for the people engaging with us in the moment — it’s for the quiet listeners who may simply need a little more courage.
Hope dies without action. When we convince ourselves that we are too powerless or too small to influence the chaos shaping America today, hope begins to shrink. Luckily, in Kootenai County and across Idaho, hope has a plan.
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Sarah Martin is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.