I didn't turn out for on a regular basis, especially in the last 2 decades. Complacency and apathy were the result of feeling my vote didn't matter. They were all politicians, they were all crooked, they were all in the pockets of the special interests and corporations. Some just wore red ties, and other wore blue. They all slung mud at each other, and all came across as disingenuous liars set only on obtaining office for their own interests, not mine. I think more than anything, that last part is why Beto has stirred me. He has espoused a message of unity, compromise to benefit everyone as much as possible. He hasn't reverted to the scare tactics. He wants Texas to lead in finding solutions, not cowering from the problems.
I too think Beto wins. And if he doesn't, then at least he has reinvigorated those of us who felt passed by by legislators who paid us lip service, but were puppets for much larger, greedier interests.
I, like many of you, have donated both money and time to a candidate for the first time. I see others rising up around me to do the same and feel maybe our vote does still count, it just needs leadership, organization and focus. Not only Beto, but MJ, Gillum, Abrams and others are standing up and running. We aren't beaten down into submission by the lobbyists, we are rising up and retaking our system.
Maybe a new party arises from this, maybe on old one is rebuilt to be better. Either way there has been an awakening and things are going to change. In the state of Texas the Dem system needs to be rebuilt, new blood needs to bring new fresh ideas and tactics. For a long time the Dem party here has basically given up, put placeholders in for statewide offices. But that is going to change.
The Dems of Texas need to use this campaign by Beto to re-energize. To rebuild for the future. Truly grass roots. Like Brisket thinks, maybe it is too late, but I hope it is not.