** Speaking Up: The Country I Believe In **

I’ve been reluctant to speak up about the current state of our country and the man who wants to be king. But the truth is, I can’t stay silent anymore.

I am a progressive. And I am an Independent.

I believe in a country where we focus on doing what is in the greatest good for the most people. A country that leads with compassion and upholds the values our Founding Fathers intended—not through a distorted lens of fear and control, but through the principles of fairness, justice, and collective well-being.

That means healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. No one should have to choose between paying rent or getting the medical care they need.

Earning a fair, living wage should be the norm, not a luxury. Hardworking people deserve to afford a home, feed their families, and have a future they can look forward to.

We can have gun rights with common sense guardrails—because weapons of war designed to fire 100 bullets per minute have no place in our streets, our schools, or our communities.

People should be free to love who they love and identify as they wish, without judgment, without discrimination, without interference.

And at the very core of it all: we need to return to a time when honesty and truth meant something. When we could disagree politically but still respect each other. When leaders led with integrity, not self-interest.

I believe in a country that inspires the world—not one that sows division, fear, and hatred.

And to achieve this return to sanity, I commit to speaking up—even when it’s uncomfortable. I commit to voting for leaders who prioritize people over power. I commit to having real conversations with those who see things differently, with the hope that understanding can bridge divides. I commit to supporting policies that uplift, protect, and empower all of us—not just the privileged few. Because silence is no longer an option.

That’s the America I believe in. That’s the America worth fighting for.

Wishing you love and magic,

Arielle

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