Sands through the hourglass

When you suffer the sudden death of a loved one, extreme pain confronts you with big questions about life and why we’re here. When my brother, Johnny died at just 19-years-old, I was forced to grapple with deep, dark themes—Faith and fairness, love and legacy, time and memory—all as a high school freshman.

I’m a father now of two young children and I reflect often on my own childhood. Grains of sand pulled by gravity escape the most tense fingers. I find myself smiling at the memory of Johnny Michael’s beloved James Bond. He was a voracious reader of countless novels, including Ian Fleming. A eulogy for 007 takes place in the 1964 novel “You Only Live Twice” that cites Jack London:

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”

I contemplate the future and the world my girls will join—what kind of culture and society they will find. Our kids, born and yet to come, undoubtedly deserve more than this. It’s been a scary few years and we’ve all had a dramatic confrontation about many of these questions and how we use the limited time we’re given.

A decade ago I decided to hang out my own shingle and start a business. I then served in local elected office. You supported me along the way with your friendship, your ideas and your kindness. I need to ask for your continued support as I make a leap of faith and pivot to write my next chapter. The return I seek from my investment of time is not monetary; It’s real, lasting, cultural and social change. I aim to reshape our political system to serve the people, not the most powerful. It’s time we catalyze a good government come-back.

Regretfully, I grew cynical and apathetic for a time. Did you? The past is fixed, but now, we’re critically called to meet our civic duty and culture-shift politics to mend the social fabric and revitalize our democracy. More than 74% of Oregonians agree that democracy has become more at risk in the past few years. Together let’s act with the urgency and unity the moment demands.

As a proud son of Oregon I’m deeply humbled to help organize a new civics-centered partnership, All Oregon Votes (AOV) www.AllOregonVotes.org

We’re free from all special interest funding.

We run on a shoestring budget.

We’re a small, impartial group of concerned Oregonians from all corners of this wondrous state.

We have decided bold action can’t wait another second.

Our first goal: No voter be excluded in primary elections. Our new ballot measure proposal will revitalize democracy and establish uniform, equal voting rights for more than 1.2 million Oregonians. Right now 41 percent of Oregon voters—independents—are excluded from the taxpayer-funded May election that determines which candidates advance to the general election in November. It’s anti-democratic, plain and simple.

Further, candidates independent of the two-party system face structural, statutory discrimination. Principled candidates who wish to run for office nonaffiliated with any political party face highly restrictive requirements to qualify for the ballot. AOV demands a level playing field for all who seek elected office to realize equal access to seek positions of power in government.

Open primaries seek baseline fairness for all voters and all candidates, regardless of political party. The antiquated, century-old closed primary imperils our democracy and can drive candidates to hyper-partisan extremes. Unduly influenced by limitless dark money from corporations and special interest, partisan political parties should be participants in our elections, not gatekeepers. Our democracy belongs to everyone — not the loudest or richest.

The team at AOV is proud to have a loyal community of conscientious, concerned, and engaged supporters. Will you renew your sense of civic duty, and your concern for the future of our democracy here in Oregon?

I humbly ask you consider taking these three simple steps for democracy:

• Register to vote or update your voter registration online.
register: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/register.do
update: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do

• Sign-up to receive AOV email newsletters.
https://alloregonvotes.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9ff42f19577e56d7fce487e90&id=ce9e140e6a

• Contribute $4 a month to AOV.
https://www.alloregonvotes.org/donate/#donorform

I’m working pro-bono until we hit our fundraising target so anything you can do is more than gracious, beautiful and special. Thank you.

I know our best days are yet to come.

My brother would have turned 38 this week. Planet Earth has continued to spin for just as long as he’s been gone as he shared his gifts with the world. He was a very special Oregonian who’s first chance to vote was also his last.

Sincerely,

Michael Calcagno