Tag: vote

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Gun Violence in America is becoming,“ Almost as commonplace as brushing our teeth.”

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Mission & Vision of GMW

Throughout the years Grandmothers, Mothers, Women (GMW) has championed many worthy initiatives, always addressed the impact of guns, drugs and suicide on our children, community and our country.

But our current focus is on the tragic and dire consequences surrounding the proliferation of guns in America. With, so little attention on the elephant in the room (Mental Health).  We are soliciting the involvement/support of all Democratic Leadership in particular and all politicians in general. GMW hopes to join in coalitions with other organizations and Virginians, to help stem the tide of Gun Violence. We also want our local, state, and federal governments to pass legislation to get these guns under control. Especially the banning of Assault Weapons. 

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GWM.believes that this issue is so important to the future of our children, families and communities at large,that we have developed both a Mission and Vision statements to guide our work. 

Mission

This effort to eradicate gun violence, beginning in the state of Virginia, is a clarion call to all grandmothers mothers and women ages (18 to 120) to use our collective power of our love, God, dollars and our vote to unite with all Democratic leadership, and every American whose soul is weary of the carnage that gun violence has reeked upon our children and our state of Virginia, in particular and America in general.

Vision

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The safety of our children is of paramount importance.  The vision of GMW is to solicit the involvement of all grandmothers, mothers and women to re-create an environment in our country where every child can both feel safe and be safe.

The most recent statistics from the Gun Violence Archive reveals there were 648 mass shootings in America last year. Twenty of the incidents happened in Virginia. Mass shootings are  defined as events in which four or more people are shot or killed.

 Mass shootings in Virginia have killed 37 people and wounded 75, In 2022  an average of 1,019 people die and 2,050 were wounded by guns. 

Virginia is the 29th-highest rating of gun violence in the US. And, the 4th highest in mass shootings.

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GUN DEATHS AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENS are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Virginia. An average of 85 children and teens died by guns. and 55% of these deaths are homicides. In the US, 58% of all gun deaths among children and teens are homicides.

We’re asking that you continue to follow GMW as we plan with concerted coordinated efforts to stem the tide of the proliferation of gun violence, in Virginia.

Please hold the dates, Friday November 3, 2023 and Tuesday November 7, 2023, for more details.

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 LETS GET READY TO VOTE-OR 4EVER HOLD YOUR PEACE

 

MIDTERM: November 8, 2022. The 2022 Primaries Dates For All 50 States are listed. 

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Know Your Candidate, Knowledge Is Power

For all GMW (Grandmothers, Mothers, Women) in particular and America in general. No Sane Adult, can ever repeat the phrase again, “ My Vote Doesn’t Count.†The Voting in 2020 Election was pivotal in demonstrating the power of your vote.  You must decide which Majority Party you want in Congress. What type of leaders agendas will they support: presidents, judges, governors, mayors, City Councils, police chiefs, or school board members. You decide with your vote, which will have a major impact on your life and community.

An educated voter is a powerful Voter. Well! America the 2022 MIDTERM are twice as PIVOTAL. Each of us (registered voters) gets to decide: What type of leadership we want. Dr Kurt Lewis, father of Social Psychology, identify three types of leaders: laissez-faire, authoritarian and democratic.

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What Type of leader are you voting for.

Laissez-faire leadership…

Laissez-faire leadership allows group members total freedom. Laissez-faire leaders do not participate in the decision-making process, and rarely offer opinions. This style can work well if the group is highly motivated and competent. However, laissez-faire leadership has many drawbacks. Without the leader’s input, the group can sink into conflict as members jockey over roles and responsibilities. In Lewin’s study, the children under laissez-faire leadership were the least productive and the most argumentative. 

James Buchanan’s presidency offers a historical example of the weaknesses of laissez-faire leadership. As slavery threatened to tear America apart, the nation needed leadership from the White House. James Buchanan failed to offer it.

Authoritarian leadership…

Authoritarian leadership means that the leader has full power. Authoritarian leaders tell groups what to do and expect group members to execute.  This style may work well, allowing the leader to make a quick decision and providing the group with direct instructions. An authoritarian leader who presents a clear vision can motivate a divided group. However, authoritarian leaders are more likely to disregard the good ideas of others. The style can also inspire resentment and stress. In Lewin’s study, the children under authoritarian leadership were productive but not very creative. 

President Lyndon Johnson provides an example of effective authoritarian leadership. In Congress, Johnson was known for his aggressive style and his remarkable ability to get legislation passed. When one senator quipped, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, another responded, “Lyndon Johnson wasn’t the foreman on that job.†As President, Johnson sought aimed to remake American society. His sweeping vision included civil rights, voting rights, and Medicare. To achieve his goals, Johnson would cajole, threaten, charm, and browbeatopponents into submission. Johnson’s sheer force of will drove his landmark bills through Congress.

The Kim family of North Korea is an extreme case of authoritarian leadership. In North Korea, senior advisers are terrified of Kim-Jong Un with good reason. Instead of honest advice, these men offer useless flattery instead. Unchecked, an authoritarian leader can prove disastrous.

Democratic leadership…

Democratic leadership balances decision-making responsibility between the group and the leader. Democratic leaders actively participate in discussions, but also make sure to listen to the views of others. This style often leads to positive, inclusive, and collaborative work environments. Furthermore, a good democratic leader can bring out the group’s creativity. Under this style, the leader still retains final responsibility for the group’s decision. In Lewin’s study, the children under democratic leadership made the highest quality contributions.

General Dwight Eisenhower and Nelson Mandela are examples of successful democratic leaders. During WWII, Ike was appointed Supreme Allied Commander. While that title might seem to imply unlimited authority, he worked extremely hard to hold together a diverse coalition.  He preferred discussing issues with his staff rather than simply barking orders. Never afraid to take blame, he once said, “leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.â€

Mandela displayed a democratic leadership style as a leader of the African National Congress (ANC) he believed that people of all colors and political affiliations could contribute to the good of all. When he became president, Mandela could have sought revenge on his former oppressors. Instead, in an exceptional act of forgiveness and reconciliation, he included them in his government. His decision greatly accelerated the national healing process in South Africa.

AN EDUCATED VOTER IS POWERFUL!!!