Georgia’s Midterm Election is On My Mind
Questions and concerns about the mental health and fitness of our politicians
The last day to vote in the midterms is November 8th and I’m worried about all the election-denying people and politicians on the GOP side.
Georgia — America are we really watching and listening to our politicians?
I believe everyone deserves grace for being their unique, authentic selves or an occasional gaff — but making misleading statements that shape public opinion and create policy has reached an all-time high.
One of the biggest examples are voting fraud legislation and the critical race theory (CRT) debate. CRT is a law school theory that has never been taught in K-12 schools. Yet, the false information and political talking points have resulted in the national state, and local level policies banning books and any lessons that involve race.
Creating laws based on false information and fear isn’t new — but the high speed and spread of false information and the level of instant access and influence through social media is and it’s proving to be powerful and scary.
The blessing and curse of American democracy — anybody can run for public office, but should they?
The blessing is grassroots organization and mobilization can change democracy primarily on local and state levels. That’s important and it’s needed to push to change the status quo of old, biased, and simply racist policies and politicians.
The curse — money rules politics on every level and all it takes is the right millionaire, corporate sponsor, PAC and media outlet like Fox News or a combination of 2 or more and you have the perfect political formula to win.
Many candidates ran and won on platforms that promoted conspiracy theories, and racially divisive Southern strategy talking points.
Now racist replacement theory has surfaced as America experiences an unprecedented increase in school and mass shootings. As of May 2022, we’ve had 27 school shootings and 200 mass shootings. Yet, Georgia’s Black Republican primary winner hasn’t offered any serious or sound solutions.
Watching the linked clips raise the questions of political integrity and mental capacity and fitness.
I know every state is different, but is there a basic (mental) fitness test to run for election in Georgia or any other state? If not, why? If so, is it conducted by a neutral party or is it like the MAGA era pork deregulation laws and candidates can self-disclose any mental or physical disease or disorders that could negatively impact or diminish their capacity to make sound, rational political decisions like CTE.
“Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease found in athletes, military veterans, and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma. (Concussion Foundation.org).
CTE became a household name due to its connection to former NFL player, Aaron Hernandez’s diagnosis, and tragic stories and several documentaries about the debilitating disease.
I’m not sure what Georgia’s primary winner’s CTE status is, but a 2021 AP reports said,
Walker, now 59, has at times been open about his long struggle with mental illness, writing at length in a 2008 book about being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, once known as multiple personality disorder. But it’s unclear how he would discuss these events as a candidate.
I know this gets into dicey waters when it comes to HIPPA and self-disclosing an illness or diagnosis and could create a slippery slope of bias and discrimination. However, running for a political office on any level can have deep and far-reaching power that could impact countless people’s lives. Shouldn’t voters be able to make an informed decision on a candidate’s mental and physical health or racial philosophy and ideologies?
Georgia’s primary candidate wouldn’t be the first or last to raise these concerns. Nixon used the Southern Strategy that empowered and politicized racism on every level of government and former President Reagan’s mental state was questioned by journalists and his son when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, 5 years after he left office. However, it was never confirmed that he had the disease while serving.
If a politician’s mental capacity is compromised or they willingly ascribe to and spreads racist, biased and false information, should they withdraw from the race or at the very least self-disclose?
I raise these questions as we see the deadly and dangerous effects of unstable minds play out in irrational, fear-based and racially biased attacks and policies.
At the end of the day, no one should be discriminated against or have their health status be subject to public scrutiny — but if you run for public office — how much is enough or not enough information?
Sources:
https://concussionfoundation.org/CTE-resources/what-is-CTE
What can you do?
You can start to have a calm and open conversation about mental health, its stigma, and politics?
We should all try to understand racism and bias — its national and global history and how it shapes politics, the economy, and the inequities it caused and continues to cause.
Really look and listen to candidates' policy positions over party loyalty — if it doesn’t make sense or could potentially harm other Americans- research and vote for other candidates that do.
If you’re concerned about our food supply:
If you need Mental Health Resources
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month
Here is a list of mental health resources:
