To the Editor:

Recently I was asked, “as a young adult in the North Country, what makes you optimistic about the future of your community?” And after some thought, what came to mind was two things. The first was the reason I decided to move back home to Massena, after living in New Haven post graduation from Clarkson University, which was for my community. I enjoy going to the grocery store and hugging my old teachers, and saying hello to friend’s moms who have since moved out of town.

The second was all the moments in the past few years I’ve experienced where a tragedy took place, and North Country folks of all walks of life, came together in the streets by the hundreds and even thousands for historic moments where they, in their good conscience, couldn’t remain idle. I remain optimistic because I know we are building a movement of workers who want a better future for the next generations, and it’s exciting and hopeful to see new emerging leaders in communities taking the risk to speak up about atrocities committed against humanity.

As we head into the 2024 election, many of us across the North Country are grappling with a hard truth: both the Democrats and Republicans have abandoned the working class. Our struggles are ignored in favor of corporate interests and the wealthy few, while the North Country continues to decline experiencing less access to healthcare, education, and a clean environment.

With the opportunity to vote for real change, I’m writing-in the Party for Socialism and Liberation candidates Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia for president and vice president this November.

We’ve seen what happens when we trust the same two parties to fix things—they don’t. Democrats and Republicans alike have promised to revitalize our communities, to support unions, to invest in good jobs. But what have we gotten? corporate tax breaks, school budget cuts, overpriced healthcare and low wages. The political establishments that claim to represent us have turned their backs on working people time and time again.

Claudia and Karina care about the North Country. This Wednesday, October 2 Claudia hosted a talk at the SUNY Potsdam’s Knowles Hall Multipurpose Room. She talked about breaking the two party system and answering questions about how their socialist platform will serve the North Country. Their loyalty is to the people—people like us, who are tired of struggling to make ends meet. Their platform is rooted in democratic working-class power and community solidarity, focusing on issues that directly affect us: fair wages, affordable healthcare, housing, and ending war.

We need a people’s movement! We can either continue down this road of corporate greed and neglect, or we can come together to build a better world for all of us. I choose the latter. That’s why I’m organizing with my friends, family and neighbors and voting socialist in 2024

McKay Burley
Massena