Voting is giving your candidate a ‘Critical Mass’

BY HOWARD PEARRE

In nuclear engineering, a critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed to achieve a sustained nuclear reaction. You have to have enough plutonium to make a bomb. Otherwise, instead of fission, you get fizzle.

It’s the same with politics in a democracy. After a candidate makes it through the primary season “playoffs” and gets their party’s nod, they compete headto-head with the candidate of the other party (or sometimes, parties) to achieve a critical mass of votes. In this sense, a candidate’s “critical mass” is at least one vote more than the other candidate’s total. Fission!

And “critical” has meaning in another sense. To say that the current midterm election that is in process is “critical” is an understatement. Which party will control the U.S. House and/or the U.S. Senate will have critical ramifications for years to come. Which judges are elected to the N.C. Supreme Court will have critical ramifications for years to come in terms of redistricting. Which candidates will gain seats on the school board will have critical ramifications for years to come in terms of student performance and what is taught.

It is no exaggeration to say that women’s rights to control their own bodies is “on the ballot.” It is no exaggeration to say that the climate is “on the ballot.” It is no exaggeration to say that continuing to allow weapons of mass distraction on the streets is “on the ballot.” It is no exaggeration to say that gerrymandering is “on the ballot.”

It is no exaggeration to say that teachers being allowed to accurately teach about the country’s treatment of Black people is “on the ballot.” It is no exaggeration to say that voter suppression is on the ballot. It is no exaggeration to say that democracy itself is “on the ballot.”

You could also look at the election this way: Imagine it’s Wednesday, Nov. 9, the day after Election Day. You watched the returns late into the night and had a particular interest in one candidate. It was back and forth, and when you went to bed, your candidate looked like she was pulling ahead.

But apparently, in the wee hours of the morning, that candidate who you knew to be honest, tuned in to the issues, and a hard worker, the candidate for whom you voted, lost her race by a slim margin to a blowhard sweet talker whose campaign stances were almost all the exact opposite of your values.

What happened?

You may be feeling a little sick and probably are wondering what you could have done other than voting to help give your can- didate the necessary critical mass that would have put her in office. And, keep that other guy out. What extra effort could you have made that would have made a difference? You have the bad feeling that if you had just made a little extra effort, the race could have gone the other way.

The good news is it’s not that Wednesday morning yet. It’s not too late to encourage someone else to vote. It’s not too late to help someone get to an early voting site from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m on a weekday or on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. And, of course, it’s not too late to vote yourself!

Voting - or not voting - is about deciding which candidates you want to achieve critical masses, and what extra effort you are willing to make to assure those outcomes. If you lean toward one candidate but don’t vote, you are, in effect, voting for that candidate’s opponent.

Be a part of the right critical mass. Don’t regret being a part of the wrong one.

Vote!

Howard Pearre retired after a career as a counselor and manager with N.C. Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He has led training workshops on voter registration and is a board member with Winston-Salem Writers.

SUBMITTED EDITORIAL

Hardman’s “Back to Basics” plan focuses on:

*Safety in our schools, *Setting high standards and accountability for students and staff, and

*Engaging families to continue the learning at home.

Michael was raised in Winston-Salem and received his K-12 education at Speas Elementary, Paisley Middle and Mount Tabor High School.

He is a parent, not a politician. Michael has three children who are all currently enrolled in the WS/FCS schoolsone in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary school. He spends as much time as he can at his children’s schools.

Michael is a problem-solver. He earned a bachelor of science in civil engineering at Virginia Tech. He is a licensed professional engineer and works for a local construction company where he manages multi-million dollar projects. His projects include K-12 and university buildings, and many have been high profile and award-winning, such as the recent

Submitted Editorial

I’m Dan Besse, the Democratic nominee for the At-Large (countywide) seat on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

Many of the Chronicle’s readers will remember me from my 19 years of service on the Winston-Salem City Council. I worked with my Council colleagues for stronger, safer, and healthier neighborhoods across our city. I supported equitable investments in all areas of our community, from streets and sidewalks, parks and greenways, and public safety, to economic revitalization.

I am running for the Forsyth County Commission to bring that approach to our county government. Whether you live in the city, the smaller towns, or the countryside, you are an equal citizen, taxpayer, and voter of the County, and you must be treated with equal respect. I will work to bridge the gaps in good public schools, health, housing, safety, and opportunity for all our people.

Our public schools need our attention. We must do more to attract and retain good teachers and other educational staff restoration of Union Station. countywide.

Michael has seen the quality and content of our K-12 public school system decline from when he was a student. Only one in four students can read at grade level. Only two in five can do math at grade level. These measurements were taken before the COVID pandemic! Our children deserve better. Our K-12 schools must prepare our children to be successful in life.

Let’s refocus on the basics of education in a safe environment, so our students are learning and achieving again!

This editorial was paid for by the Michael Hardman campaign.

The other problems that we face today, from gun violence to the rising cost of housing, do not end at the city lines. County government must actively work together with our city and towns, school board, and sheriff to solve our shared challenges.

Finally, I pledge to stay out in our community year-round, listening and learning from the voices of our people. I will show up, listen, and respond to you on the Forsyth County Commission.

This editorial was paid for by the Dan Besse campaign.

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