I’m in the high country, above treeline, walking through a rock garden. Undulating slabs smoothed by glaciers are dotted with smaller boulders, stones and pebbles that broke off from bigger formations. It is a riot of color: Deep reds fading to red-orange, crystalline white cutting through a light gray substrate, bluish-green facets so polished they resemble jade. I’ve spent the week exploring a “research natural area” where no overnight camping is allowed. The flora here is stunning: Late-season yellow-and-red groundcover and swaying grasses. The patterns and symmetries evidenced in the rocks and vegetation seem holy to me somehow.
It’s election season, but I’ve been beyond the range of texts and emails and the nightly news — a blessing. From one of these long, rolling rock slabs decorated with erratics, I decide to establish my own platform with the following tenets: I believe that ecological systems are wise beyond our recognition. I also believe that there are tipping points beyond which there can be rapid and catastrophic collapse of those systems accompanied by an equally catastrophic loss of species.
I believe that future generations have a right to a planet with clean water and a habitable climate, with mountains to climb and deserts to roam. I believe in justice and equity for all peoples and beings, even the inanimate ones, which, for all we know, might well be animate. I believe in the right of all citizens to vote in fair and free elections. And I believe in the democratic process by which we vote for local officials, congressional representatives and presidents who will represent our beliefs and values as they carry out their jobs. My campaign slogan is: Be kind to one another. And: The only way out is through.
In this issue of High Country News, we bring you election coverage you’re not likely to find anywhere else. Roberto (Bear) Guerra and Bernardo Ruiz hit the road with organizers in Arizona and Nevada, reporting on efforts to get Latino voters to the polls in the West’s two swing states. And in central Washington, Natalia Mesa explores how Latino power is rising after a redistricting effort that diluted the Latino vote was challenged in court. B. “Toastie” Oaster explains why some Indigenous voters feel conflicted about voting in U.S. elections, while Jonathan Thompson rounds up some of the West’s more interesting ballot measures and legislation.
The practice of democracy is precious; some might say it’s as holy as a high-altitude rock garden. Yet it requires a well-informed populace to function properly. Thank you for choosing HCN as one of your sources of information.
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