I am Alyssa, I am a Progressive, and I live in a Poor, Rural, Red state. I hate it here, but I hope we can be better.

I don’t like to make my identity about politics, but rather develop myself as it pertains to my hobbies, my loved ones, and my intelligence. However, our society has progressed in a way that has challenged the separation between political preference and morality, gradually degrading to routinely treating people as far less than human.

I grew up in a loosely conservative, “disciplined” household. We had all of the conviction of my father’s military service and none of the consistency. South Dakota is where we landed after he left the service.

There was always an air of Christianity in our house, but we didn’t go to church until I was a teen, that is when I was baptized Lutheran at the age of 13. I Ieft about a year later when my confirmation leader said, “God has a plan, there is some reason your brother deserved to die.”

I wish I did not have the experiences I have in my life, but I am still here. I used to say I live my life in spite of the bad things that have happened to me and around me. Now, I believe that I have always been determined to do my best to not put anyone into a situation I have been in, and that includes strangers.

• I believe no person should go hungry, no matter what.
• I believe our Veterans, our elderly, and our children deserve to be taken care of, even if they cannot work.
• I believe every person deserves a roof above their heads, with water, power, and climate control.
• I believe that if you work, you should be able to afford small luxuries, like vacations, hobbies, and creature comforts we are accustomed to.
• I believe that our government should be in place to foster a healthy, intellectually developed, and connected society.
• I believe that our differences do not reflect our value as human beings.
• I believe that every person deserves and needs to have access to the wealth of knowledge and truth that human beings have gathered over millennia that is constantly changing as we develop the tools to test, prove, and improve what we have learned.

Because of this, I cannot support a conservative nation. I cannot support a country where anyone is treated as less than because they are a woman, old, poor, disabled, foreign, LGBTQ+… I could go on but there is no modifier that should be excluded here. A person is a person. We know far too much about human development and genetics to still cling to this concept that any person deserves less for any fiber of their being.

This brought me to you. I want to share current events and discuss why you should be paying attention. I know a lot of people who want to learn more about our society and don’t know where to start – I hope to be that place. I want to approach this reporting with a focus on why I believe we are going in the wrong direction. And yes, I will be sharing my opinion, but I will also bring you the facts, first. I will be doing the leg work. I will not be reporting speculation. If I cannot find confirmation from multiple sources, I will not discuss it here.

I may not be your cup of tea, but I hope someone, somewhere can find a little hope here. I don’t see many things to be optimistic about as my state, and my country, take leaps backwards in time. However, I am here because I want to stop sitting back and letting things happen. I hope with all my heart that you will consider joining me as I try to find empathy in the progress of our country.