There are serious and thoughtful discussions occurring throughout Door County concerning the availability of decent, safe, and affordable housing in the county.
Most discussions are centered on the supply side: how do we induce and enable developers to build such housing. Very little thoughtful discussions appear to be focused on the demand side: how do we make it possible for the hard working families, that can’t afford such housing get to the point where they can afford it?
Job training, education, child care subsidies, reduced health care costs, and an increase in the minimum wage can all be part of that solution. What have the State Legislature and the Federal government done to help move such proposals forward in a meaningful way? In my opinion — little or nothing. Why is that? Why is it that those we elect to represent us and our communities fail to do so? I believe it is because of two issues related to the vibrancy of our democracy; (1). Citizen’s United & Dark Money Donors and (2) Gerrymandering & the distortion of voting district boundaries to favor one political party over all others.
When the outcome of an election is determined by big dollar donors and skewed boundaries BEFORE VOTING EVEN STARTS, there are serious road blocks to representative government. Our voices are silenced. Our votes don’t count. There are no listening sessions. There are no debates on the floor of the legislature. Those elements of a representative democracy are not necessary when the voters don’t count.
If we want to solve the housing problems in Door County, if we want livable wages affordable day care, common sense gun laws, pro-active climate legislation, we need to end Gerrymandering. Go to www.indivisibledoorcounty.com to learn what steps you can take to help.