My past history with substance abuse is well known. I’ve been very upfront and honest about it because it’s the right thing to do.

140 days ago, I made the decision to quit drinking alcohol. I felt that alcohol was getting in the way of my goals, focus, and desire to be a better leader. I was right, and here’s why.

A lot of people have approached me to talk about their own sobriety. I’ve heard stories of pain, frustration, and determination. The people who’ve reached out are those I would have never expected to have a problem with alcohol…

Being a leader means you understand how to bring people together. It also means you have a certain level of self-control and understand how to exercise it. At the time of this writing, I was 127 days sober from alcohol. I realized that my drinking level over the summer reached a point of significant discomfort in that I was drinking too much. I didn’t endanger myself or anyone around me, but still felt it was something I had to stop doing.

The stress of running for office and anxiety from the pandemic were contributing factors, but I still decided to…

We have experienced loss, struggle, hardship, and anxiety. The issues we face are not unique to one person, but rather, everyone. Elections are over, and now it’s time for our new leadership to put up or shut up during this time of desperate need. The holidays are not as joyful as they would be without the current pandemic inflicting so much devastation on so many of our fellow Americans.

Accountability is a vital component of leadership. Leaders must accept when they succeed as much as when they fail. We have experienced what leadership failure and failure to be accountable look…

We have all experienced loss in one way or another this year. Some of us have lost loved ones, jobs, the ability to go out when we want to, spending time with friends, family, and so many other ways.

The 2020 election is finally coming to an end. Our future as a country is on the ballot as much as the candidates running. I know we are all ready for some new television commercials and social media advertisements. …

There are so many painstaking issues going on, and our leaders in Washington D.C. and across state legislators are failing people miserably.

A few days ago, I talked with a mother who is unemployed, recently single, and lost her job back in February. She was in tears talking about the struggles of paying rent and putting food on the table. With the pandemic unemployment insurance expired, and our elected officials doing nothing to address it, she fears being left without a place to live soon.

I can’t help but think about what our elected leaders are doing besides bickering like…

The current pandemic has taught us just how fragile our economy is. Over 8 million people slipped into poverty since May. To add insult to economic injury, America’s richest gained almost $1 trillion in wealth.

Key points from the Green New Deal are:

Transform our energy system to 100 percent renewable energy and create 20 million jobs needed to solve the climate crisis.

Ensure a just transition for communities and workers, including fossil fuel workers.

Ensure justice for frontline communities, especially under-resourced groups, communities of color, Native Americans, people with disabilities, children and the elderly.

Save American families money with…

Before we discuss the need for UBI, let’s discuss what it is:

Universal basic income takes on distinct forms in different historical and geographic contexts. It varies based on the funding proposal, the level of payment, the frequency of payment, and the particular policies proposed around it. Each of these parameters are fundamental, even if a range of versions still technically count as UBI (a universal, unconditional, individual, regular and cash payment). (Source)

UBI Urgency

A recent article from the BBC shows us just how dangerous technology can be for humanity’s future.

Half of all work tasks will be handled by machines…

So many things are on the ballot this year:

• We have climate change, which is an existential threat to humanity.
• Our health care system is imploding under the stress of COVID-19.
• Women’s rights are threatened.
• Racial tensions are higher than ever before in history.
• Education is failing our future generations and crushing so many with unprecedented debt.
• The right to vote is under attack.
• Corporate influence in our political system has reached unfathomable levels.
• Wages are stagnant, and our economy is on the brink of a depression.
• Tax breaks benefit the top 1%.
• We are experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Veterans are taking their own lives.

Yet we sit here angry, frustrated, and with the power to change it all.

Vote like your life depends upon it because it does.

Ryan A. Starzyk, Progressive Democrat