As climate chaos makes itself felt throughout America, the 2020 election heats up with a multitude of pressing issues from government corruption to election fraud, white supremacy violence to the worst income inequality and health outcomes in any developed nation. However, none of these issues threaten the existence of life itself more than one issue: Climate Change.
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee is the only candidate who has made climate change the centerpiece of his campaign. Analysis of Democratic candidates’ social media feeds by The Washington Post reveals the depth of Inslee’s commitment: 81 percent of his posts are about climate change; Hickenlooper comes in second at 33 percent; Gabbard at 13 percent, and Gillibrand at 12 percent. The remainder of the candidate’s mentions of climate change registers somewhere in the unreported zone of under 10 percent.
Far from being a discrete isolated issue, climate change is an overarching reality under which all other issues exist. As reported by Rebecca Leber of Mother Jones, Inslee explains why his prioritizing climate change does not make him a one-issue candidate:
The genial, wonky 68-year-old governor of Washington state is pushing the envelope by betting his long-shot presidential run on an audacious pitch: Climate change isn’t a niche issue, Inslee insists; it is the issue, the one that ties together everything voters care about, from the economy and health care to immigration and national security. “You can hardly point to anything you care about and say it isn’t necessary to defeat climate change to protect it,” Inslee told me from the “real Washington” as he recharged between campaign stops. “So we can’t succeed on these other issues unless we defeat climate change.”
Inslee has the vision born from his lifelong career in public service which revolved around the coming climate change. This is not a new fight for him, so he comes with the scientific and political background necessary to do what must be done.
Inslee will be featured in CNN’s Town Hall Tonight at 7pm PDT. Tune in and give him a listen. You can RSVP to the Inslee for America campaign to let him know that you will be watching. If you decide that you would like his message of prioritizing the climate to be on the debate stage, you can donate a buck or two to his campaign.