One-party state isn’t a democracy

Dear Editor,

A one-party state is not a democracy. Especially when that one party is hell bent on consolidating their power to oppress their own constituents. It is the calling card of undemocratic regimes and it creates chaos.

As I write this, it’s nearly the 4th week of the Missouri session and chaos is already ensuing in the Senate. A whole lot of that chaos is because of one group of extremist GOP Senators whom even the Republicans can’t contain. The Freedom Caucus.

The number one stated goal for the Missouri Freedom Caucus is “IP reform” meaning they want to make it nearly impossible for Missourians to win when we place petitions on the ballot. They want to override our majority vote—they want to cheat.

They do not have a care in the world for education (except to privatize it) or health care (except to strip it from Missouri women) or the myriad of other real concerns for our state. Their goal is to silence us permanently with IP reform.

A solution to so many of these issues is having nominees on every ballot in every race. 40% of Missouri House seats were unopposed in 2022 which helps the extremists get to Jeff City without so much as a job interview, only to pass laws that harm many of us and rip the voice away from all of us.

We can do better and should do better. No seat uncontested. Oppose every seat on every ballot in every election.

Jess Piper

Hopkins, Missouri