It’s time we figured it out

This year, voting, particularly in local elections, is more important than ever. Under the current North Carolina General Assembly we have seen an unprecedented assault on the progressive values that I believe have made this state great — and why I call it home.

This is the legislature that defunded Planned Parenthood, passed Amendment One, legalized fracking and gutted our education system. The only way we are going to win our state back is by standing together and voting for our values.

This means you, busy college kid. I know you have an exam next week, but if you want your degree to still be worth something when you graduate, you should vote for someone who wants to continue funding your university.

This means you, ladies. I know you have a million other things to juggle, but the time it takes to vote for pro-women’s health legislators could save your affordable health care.

This means you LGBTQIAF activists. The only way we are going to be able to repeal Amendment One is by changing the makeup of the general assembly.

And this goes out to all the disenchanted progressive voters, who think their vote doesn’t count or doesn’t matter. It does, and the other side is full of reliable voters who have already figured this out.

I hope this year we figure it out too. Early voting started on Oct. 18. Go to ncsbe.gov to find all the information you need to go vote.

— Patrick Summers
Asheville