Georgia Indians, vote for our future. I am not exaggerating when I say that the Georgia runoff elections may be one of the most important elections of our lifetimes.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the November 2020 general election by a large margin in Georgia, and the presidential election had historic turnout even amidst a global pandemic, sending a clear message that the country wants change and a new direction from the last 4 years. The Biden/Harris victory in November is a step in the right direction, but it is only part of the solution. Without a Democratic Senate to support them, their ability to make meaningful change is significantly limited.
We saw this during President Obama’s administration, when Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell did everything in their power to block Obama from making meaningful achievements. The balance of power in the Senate rests on two Senate elections in Georgia that will take place in January. Many experts say that the Indian community can play a crucial role in deciding who wins this election; there are estimated to be about 150,000 South Asians in Georgia; Joe Biden won the state by only about 12,000 votes. It is so important that all eligible Indian voters make a plan and come out to vote for Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock.
The country faces numerous challenges, the most urgent being the ongoing COVID19 pandemic and resulting economic recession. Based on my medical and public health background, I can write with certainty that the COVID19 pandemic was not managed optimally, leading to excessive deaths and suffering, along with economic turmoil.
Going forward we need leaders who will listen to medical and public health experts, and help fund the public health measures needed to fight the pandemic. And we need leaders who will create a meaningful economic stimulus package to help Americans financially during this crisis. We see that the Republicans under Mitch McConnell do not care about the average working person - they are actively trying to limit the amount of money that goes to struggling families.
We need Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in the Senate if we want progress on the COVID19 pandemic. There are numerous other long-term issues that need to be addressed, including access to healthcare, social justice, and climate change and the environment. The Biden-Harris administration will only be able to meaningfully address these important issues with a Democratic majority in the Senate; electing Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock is the only way to do that.
Whether you are a loyal Democrat, or traditionally vote Republican, undecided or “want to stay out of politics,†in this election, I don’t believe any of that really matters - there is only one good choice for the country at this moment in time, and that is Ossoff and Warnock. COVID19 continues to take lives, people continue to struggle financially - the need for strong effective leadership could not be more urgent. I am asking all Georgia Indians to make a plan and vote - make your voices heard. Early voting is from now until December 31st 2020. Election day is January 5th, 2021.
If you already have a mail-in ballot, drop it off at an official dropbox. Go to iwillvote.com/ga to get all the information you need.
