John-
On Christmas Eve, kids all across Idaho will fall asleep believing in something simple and beautiful, that someone is watching out for them, that if they’ve been good, their needs will be met, and that tomorrow morning will bring a little bit of magic.
Santa can take care of the wish lists of children.
But it was never supposed to be Santa’s job to take care of the people of Idaho.
That responsibility belongs to the people we elect.
And if you listen closely this Christmas, if you pay attention to the quiet conversations at kitchen tables, the real wish lists aren’t about toys or gadgets. They’re about dignity. Stability. A fair shot. Accountability.
-They’re about being able to earn enough to take care of your family, without working yourself into the ground.
-They’re about grocery prices that make feeding your kids possible without standing in the aisle doing math and hoping the total doesn’t go over what’s in your account.
-They’re about knowing your child can get a quality education, whether they grow up in a small rural town or a growing city, and that their future won’t be limited by their zip code.
-They’re about access to the public lands our families have enjoyed for generations, places where memories are made, traditions are passed down, and Idaho still feels like home.
-They’re about knowing that when our loved ones grow old, we’ll have the resources to care for them with compassion and respect, not fear and exhaustion.
-They’re about believing that home ownership can still be a reality, that working people shouldn’t be locked out of the American Dream.
-They’re about trusting that if we do everything right, work hard, play by the rules, we’ll be able to retire one day without wondering how we’ll survive.
These aren’t radical demands. They’re not partisan talking points. They’re the most basic promises a government should keep.
And yet, when we turn to those with the actual power and authority to make these dreams a reality... we are met with a deafening silence.
This campaign exists because Idaho deserves better. Because leadership should be about responsibility, not excuses. Because hope isn’t something we wait for, it’s something we build.
This Christmas, I hope you had a holiday filled with the people you care about, with the food you love, and a sense of community that makes Idaho second to none. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas, and in the New Year, we'll take on this wish list together.
Santa can handle the toys.
Together, we can handle the future.
With gratitude and hope,
Kaylee Peterson |
