David Nagel: Voters do matter and united, we can change the world

To The Daily Sun,

It has been my honor to serve my friends in Belknap District 6 and beyond for the past four years as state representative. I firmly believe that for every complex social problem, there is a solution that is neat, simple, and wrong. We only solve our collective problems by working together, no matter our party or other affiliation. I ran for office to do that and to give a voice to the 70% of Americans who feel disenfranchised by the system, who identify as independent or politically moderate. Together, we have proved we can be socially and fiscally responsible.

Voters matter.

In one of my roles, I serve as the vice chairman of the Opioid Abatement Commission. I worked with my colleagues to create a priority list for how we distribute the funds we oversee.

About a year ago, I received a letter from a woman who suffered the ravages of addiction as a child of addicted parents, and, later, an addict herself. She was stuck in a downward spiral, with no hope and a sense of worthlessness. Then, a miracle happened. With the support of others, she dug herself out of the hole she was in, gave up drugs, and got educated. First a GED, then a college degree, then a masters. She is now close to getting her Ph.D. Her only goal is to pay forward her good fortune to others by helping them out of that same hole.

The letter she wrote was a blueprint on how to help others in need, and it was the blueprint we used to create our priorities.

Voters do matter. Political divisiveness only wins if they let it. So, pick up a pen and write. Share a story. Maybe it will change the world too. United, we will. 

Rep. David Nagel

Gilmanton