Ken Obel

I've been following politics for a long, long time. My political consciousness was formed in fifth grade, under Ronald Reagan. And fun fact: I was a big Reagan supporter in his first term! It was very much in favor of "nuking the Ruskies." 🤣

My parents were appalled. But actually, they were kind of tickled and proud that I read the newspaper and had opinions about these things. (And by the time 1984 rolled around, I was safely in the Mondale camp—not that that turned out so great.)

Never in my life did I imagine we would be where we are today. Especially growing up as a New Yorker, knowing Donald Trump from the front pages of the New York Post—tabloid grist. But here we are.

I have no intention of standing by idly and watching as Trump and the Republican Party destroys our country and institutions. I'm getting involved in any way I can:

• Writing opinion pieces and letters to the editor in local and national publications.

• Being involved in my local Democratic organization and trying to participate in any way I can in bringing reform to the national Dems, and breathing some life (and ideas and courage) back into this party.

• Sending angry screeds to Republican U.S. Senators.

• Trying to organize you, my friends, to vote for some good people!

I hope you will join me.