By Don C. Reed
Many of us make a New Year’s resolution — and forget it right away. It’s understandable: We are busy with our lives, and don’t need any more chores.
So — maybe we should just skip the whole process?
I vote we try it anyway. Even the smallest improvement is a step forward. If we try to lose 20 pounds, for instance, and “only” lose two — is that not still a victory? Two pounds of fat is a fist-full of blubber. Wrapped around the heart, it can be deadly dangerous.
Plus, there is always the chance we might win.
Suppose you wanted to save the world — no, I am not joking. Anyone who recycles even a small piece of garbage is saving part of the world.
Group efforts can be ambitious. California’s Prop 71, our state’s magnificent stem cell program, made $8.5 billion available for research. That initiative, led by Bob Klein and his son Robert, was backed up by dozens of advocacy groups, thousands of dedicated individuals, and millions of caring voters.
The secret, I think, is to do a little bit, often. California needed 1.1 million petition signatures to get on the ballot. Some signatures were professionally collected, gathered by people who earned their dinner that way, paid for by top donors like Bob Klein and Ann Doerr. Other signatures were gotten by volunteers, some in wheelchairs like my son Roman, and Karen Miner. We stood outside stores and got as many as we could, day after day. After a while it was a habit, the habit of doing — and it got results.
My New Year’s Resolutions?
1. Develop a basic understanding of Long Covid disease, and what research steps might help. I am neither scientist nor doctor, but if I read long enough, I should get an outline of what needs to be done.
2. Support friends (and identify foes) of medical research: so that scientists have freedom and funding; we might have the greatest scientists in the world, but if grants are cut off, we’re through. No funding, no research; no research, no cures.
3. Focus on one vital subject, absolutely crucial to country and the world.
California’s Proposition 50 is that subject. Take a look.
President Trump started the ball rolling, when he ordered Texas Governor Greg Abbott to re-write five voting districts in his homestate. Abbott did it, virtually guaranteeing 5 new Republican representatives in the House. That would have given House Republicans an almost uncatchable lead.
Fortunately, California has a fighting Governor, Gavin Newsom. He led the charge with Proposition 50, to let California re-write 5 new Democratic districts, matching the 5 Republican districts passed in Texas.
In a special election, Calfrnia voters approved Prop 50 by a huge margin, 64%
Republicans challenged Prop 50, of course, but still it passed the Federal Appeals Court, 2–1.
Now it may be considered by the highest judicial body in the land: the United States Supreme Court.
May justice prevail!