Why do so few candidates talk about the issues children face? Sure, kids do not vote, but then 9 out of 10 folks in our network said in a recent survey that you do vote. A majority of you said that you organize, and you give of your time or your money to campaigns. In other words, you do all the things kids can't when it comes to civic participation.
Why then, as our friends at Voices for America's Children have noted, do the people who want to lead our country stay silent about children? Right here in Texas, we know our state leaders will sometimes overlook the issues that matter most for kids.
So what is a Texan who cares for children to do?
Years ago, we launched a "Put Kids 1st" pledge: a way that Texans of every party and persuasion could get behind a common vision for giving our state a stronger future. What became clear, though, is that this isn't just an issue for our state. The challenge of working together for a more promising tomorrow by meeting children's needs today--that is every American's challenge.
We at Texans Care for Children are proud to stand with Voices in taking a pledge to make kids a priority. We hope you will take that pledge. And we hope you'll let your elected officials and candidates for elected office know that they should take the pledge, as well!
Just as importantly, we want to hear from you. These weeks leading up to an election, these months leading into a new legislative session, are crucial for children. It is an important time for people in power to hear why Texans want better for the next generation. On social media, here on the blog, and elsewhere, we'll be asking you to share why you care.
To help kick things off, members of our staff and partners in the larger Texans Care community will be reflecting in the coming weeks about this important question of why Texans Care for Children . . . and why all of us should.
Our membership and development director, Sondra Lehmann, kicks off the series with some thoughts about how looking to children can help create a less partisan, more promising vision for a better tomorrow.
