independent artist – VICTORIA WATTS

Action is Power: Why Your Vote Matters (Part 3)

July 4, 2018 by admin

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Welcome to the third and final blog about the importance of voting. With this one, I’d like to discuss the importance of local politics and why “down-ballot” issues and policies are so important to all of our daily lives. According to fairvote.org only about 60% of eligible voters in America vote in national elections, which is substantially lower than most developed western democratic countries. What may be more disappointing is that a mere 40% of eligible American voters actually turnout in midterm elections and even fewer show up for off-year elections that only pertain to local issues.

There is so much hype and media coverage when it comes to national elections, which makes sense given that those elections and potential leaders will represent all of us, not merely regions or communities. However, we often overlook how much local laws and community-related topics affect us and those closest to us.

Most people I’ve interviewed get riled up about the presidency and maybe occasionally a Senate race, but don’t even know who their Representative is in the US House of Representatives. One point that’s important to understand is that not only do locally-elected officials and local policies often have a more direct impact on our lives, but we also generally have a more direct impact on local officials and policies, compared to national elections. In local elections, we are dealing with smaller numbers of voters; therefore, one vote really can have a substantial difference on the outcomes, not to mention our sphere of influence being an even bigger contributing factor to election outcomes.

One tangible example of this can be taken from Virginia. A state delegate seat was won and lost by one single vote in one district. The Virginia House of Delegates faced a 50/50 split in their State House so this one district solely decided who would have the majority, and, in turn, would have control of statewide legislation and policy. In this case, it truly was one vote that mattered. There are also countless other cases of tight races that we saw up and down the ballot of both national elections and special elections. Every vote counts!

Whether it’s local or at the national level, the first step to understanding how you can vote to affect change in your communities and regions is knowing who represents your interest in government; their decisions affect your day-to-day-life. Don’t just blame or shame; GET INVOLVED!!! We have no right to complain about the state of the world if we are not doing anything about it. The idea of “writing your congress person” is not just an adage; it’s your right and responsibility as a free voter. In this political climate, it’s more important than ever to get involved. Our representatives not only want our input, but they need it. These Representatives may not necessarily care whether or not you voted for them in the past, but they absolutely care if you will vote for them in the future; therefore, our opinions absolutely sway their votes in legislation, so DO NOT be silent. Both parties have their share of guilt for partisan gridlock and inability to work together to solve problems… how can we get their attention? Vote! Make sure the people who represent you are actually listening to you and have a true willingness and ability to fight on your behalf.

(If you’re not sure who represents you in DC or your Statehouse, click HERE to get more info)

In short, this is the basic idea I’ve been trying to drive home through these blogs about voting:

If you’re worried about the quality of your children’s education, vote.

If you’re worried about you and your family having access to and resources for higher education, vote.

If you’re worried about how to pay for and obtain health insurance, vote.

If you’re worried about who you’ll be allowed to marry, vote.

If you’re worried about the limitations imposed on who you’re allowed to be in our society, vote.

If you’re even simply worried about the amount of potholes in your city, vote.

Many people seem to view politics as a zero-sum game: as more people are given representation and a political voice, those who traditionally have power will lose their standing. But this is a narrow way to look at the democratic process. We should always be looking to expand representation; this is democracy at its very core. If we are worried about what happens when we bring more people to the table and how we will get everyone to fit in a seat, then maybe it’s time to build a bigger table. This starts with simply showing up. Vote.

(Check out Part 1 and 2 of this blog series here: Part 1, Part 2)

Action is Power: Why Your Vote Matters (Part 2)

June 19, 2018 by admin

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art blog, artist, being the music, female artist, female musician, independent artist, independent music, local artist, local music, music, music blog, music journalism, Musician, Philadelphia, philly, policy, political commentary, political issues, politics, voting

Welcome to Part 2 of my series on the importance of voting. Today, I want to discuss aspects of the “numbers game” that help make your vote so important. Many people say their vote doesn’t count. In reality, our vote counts for a lot more than we are often aware of. Particularly in the last few election cycles, we are starting to hear more reports of small margin victories and losses. We should bear in mind that while elections may not generally be won or lost by a single vote, the margin often amounts to small communities of people that we can have influence over by being engaged and vocal on political issues.

There are a few different points I’d like to consider. First, in huge presidential elections, we have now seen two major elections (Bush vs. Gore and Trump vs. Clinton) in the past 20 years that were won and lost by mere tens of thousands of votes in a handful of swing states. We’re talking about numbers that equate to the size of a few small college campuses or a handful of small suburban areas that decided our next president. In 2016, razor-thin margins unexpectedly flipped a number of key states in favor of Donald Trump: Michigan was decided by around 13,000 votes, Wisconsin by around 27,000 votes, Arizona by around 91,000 votes, etc. These are differences of mere percentage points. There was actually a case of a state level house race in a recent election being decided by a single, individual vote that had the potential to flip that state house from Republican to Democrat. Literally, one vote! But that’s a story for the next blog…

We generally get wrapped up in how OUR individual vote counts, but, perhaps, more importantly, we should be considering how our involvement and engagement in politics can have a substantial impact on how those around us choose to vote. The numbers game is not simply about the vote that you cast: it’s your vote AND the votes of those around you whom you can directly and indirectly influence. Think of all your family members, colleagues at work, classmates, friends, people at your place of worship, people in your community, those you network with via social media, and those involved in organizations you choose to participate in. If we each truly consider our sphere of influence, most of us would be surprised by how wide our nets can be cast. Do not undersell the influence you can have!

Another aspect of voting to consider is who is voting and who is not. Today, popular opinion is generally more progressive than it is conservative (roughly two-thirds of Americans support gun control, about 60% support gay marriage, nearly 80% support Dreamers becoming citizens or permanent legal residents, two-thirds oppose the new “Zero Tolerance” immigration policy, and approximately 60% believe the government has a responsibility to help every American obtain health insurance). However, Republicans control a majority of State Houses, Governorships, the Presidency, and both houses of the U.S. Congress. This is not a dig at Republicans; I simply want to point out that there is often a disconnect between what Americans believe and what those sent to represent them believe. One of the biggest reasons for this is that so many Americans do not show up to vote, especially among younger demographics of people.

Baby Boomers and Millennials each represent close to one-third of the electorate, yet Millennials had a mere 46% voter turnout in 2016. Contrast that to Baby Boomers at around 69% and the Silent Generation (ages 71+) at around 72%. Overall, less than 60% of the eligible voters in America actually voted in the 2016 election cycle. Half the battle here is just showing up. Younger voters (ages 18-30) are arguably the people who will be most affected long term by new legislation passed, yet they are the least represented in government because they do not show up to vote. At times, we essentially have people in their 70s and 80s deciding policies that will affect the lives of Americans 30 years from now, when those older folks voting will most likely not even be around to reap the consequences. We’re having other people decide what OUR future is going to look like

Also, Millennials have more access to information and convenience than any other generation before us. We can order food or household items at the touch of a button, we can apply to jobs from the comfort of our homes, we can even date using our smartphones. Yet, we don’t seem to care as much about the bigger policy choices we face: what kind of health care coverage will I qualify for? Will my kids be able to afford a college education? Will I be able to pay off the debt I accumulated from my education? Will gun violence victimize me or someone I know? The list goes on and on.

Young people with access to tools like social media have more power than we think. Ideas can spread at the speed of light. We possess a more immediate outlet for expressing ourselves and our beliefs than older generations; it’s simply a matter of embracing that and engaging in the issues that matter most to us. If younger people showed up, we would have the power to change the current political landscape. It’s a numbers game. I want to conclude this blog with one final thought: We must remember that while one person may not be able to change the world, a generation of people certainly can.

(Check out Parts 1 and 3 of this series here: Part 1, Part 3)

Action is Power: Why Your Vote Matters (Part 1)

May 22, 2018 by admin

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behind the music, blog, blogger, democracy, female artist, female entrepreneur, female musician, independent artist, indie artist, indie music, local artist, local music, music, music blog, music journalism, Musician, Philadelphia, philly, political commentary, politics, singer songwriter, voting

For those of you who don’t know me personally, I need to confess something: I’m fascinated by politics. We had a primary vote this past week in Pennsylvania, so I’ve had several political issues on my mind. However, I find that when I try to bring up politics with people, many are annoyed by the idea of discussing these topics, and they also do not see the importance of voting. While I fully respect someone’s choice to disagree with my opinions on policy, I do not support anyone’s decision to disengage from the democratic process. In order for our government and laws to work at their best, it requires all of us to participate. Here is why I think politics, and way more importantly, policy, should matter to all of us.

Let me start the first part of this series by painting a picture of how politics and policy affect me personally. As a musician, public policy helps shapes my career: I’m a small business owner, so I’m subject to meticulous tax rules, business regulations, and more difficult access to healthcare.

But my personal life has an even deeper connection to public policy:

I grew up low income

I’m a woman

I’m a lesbian

I work in the arts and in education

I have a substantial amount of student debt (Student Loan Forgiveness saves me about $500/month)

My partner has a serious pre-existing health condition for which she requires regular medications and sporadic surgical procedures

I don’t have healthcare through my job (The ACA saves me $400/month and protects my partner’s access to health care as someone with a pre-existing condition)

I deeply believe in social justice and the power of resources to change someone’s circumstance

I have friends in the military

I do not identify as a mainstream evangelical Christian

The high school I attended fell victim to a school shooting

It’s so difficult for me not to feel as though so much of politics is, in fact, personal. Countless policy decisions made at the local, state, and federal level directly affect nearly every aspect of my life. This leads to questions that circle in my head on an almost daily basis:

Will my partner and I still be allowed to marry and/or adopt children after new Supreme Court justices are appointed and may be able to overturn marriage equality?

Will the underserved youth I work with have access to the quality education they need to rise above their given circumstance?

Will my student loan debt be too great an obstacle to overcome in my pursuit to make a better life for myself and my future family?

Will my partner and I spend the rest of our lives together trapped under medical debt?

Will my sisters’ kids, my kids, your kids, grow up in a world where hateful speech and sexual assault are tolerated?

Will our freedom of religion be threatened out of fear?

Will sensible gun control measures that are adhered to by the rest of the western world ever be enacted here in America in order to prevent the epidemic of mass shootings?

Will my friends in the military be sent to a war they don’t believe in?

I understand that these concerns seem a little dramatic to some, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a worrier by nature. However, I also fall into several categories of disadvantage that these nay-sayers may not understand. Again, no one should have to apologize for having a different background or belief than me, but I do think it’s crucial to explain some of my concerns in order to reach common ground and better understand why policy matters to someone like me. Politics are personal. Policy matters; therefore, elections and voting matter.

I will save my other defenses of the democratic process for my next blog, in which I’ll further break down my argument for the importance of voting. I want to end this blog with one thought: apathy and complacency may be the two biggest threats to a free and safe society.
I respect the vote, even when I’m not happy with the results. I believe we need to be reflective and hold our leaders to a standard worthy of the America we know and love; one of the best ways to do that is by voting and getting involved in the political process. We should all be proactive in helping to create the America we want to see.

Thank you to EVERYONE (no matter who you vote for) for voting. It’s always amazing to see so many people get involved in our beautiful democratic process. And thank you so much to our polling place volunteers that work tirelessly to make this process available to us.

I hope and pray for the best, for every single American. By design, this place is for ALL OF US.

(Check out Parts 2 and 3 of this blog series here: Part 2, Part 3)

Music is My Lover

May 20, 2014 by admin

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behind the music, blog, independent artist, indie artist, indie music, music, music blog, music journalism, singer songwriter

It seems to be a known fact that the music industry is tough, perhaps one of the most difficult fields one can choose to enter. It seems to be agreed that it is a struggle to be the “starving artist” type. But it is a harsh reality for those of us who actually walk down this path. We are persistently faced with the toll it takes, not just financially, but mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Though I can never truly articulate the sacrifice or the obstacles or how completely taxing music is on me personally (and fellow artists I’ve worked with), I want to attempt an explanation.

I am writing simply to help all who love music understand the pain-staking work that goes on behind the scenes to make music possible for all of us to enjoy. I think it’s worthy of attention, and it’s important for outsiders looking in to try to grasp what it is that us musicians do for the love of music.

The best way I’ve come to understand my relationship to music is this: music is my lover. I feel so passionately towards music. I would give just about anything (short of compromising myself) to sustain my musical career. I give, sacrifice, and am always willing to do it again. I do all of this without promise of return and sometimes at a detriment to my own wellbeing, because love gives selflessly. There are some days I’m in love with music, because it feeds my soul in a way that nothing or no one else can. But there are other days that I despise music for taking so much out of me, and placing this burden within me to create music, no matter the cost.

In spite of having a college degree and having a number of promising career prospects, I’ve picked music. I’m still trying to make music happen, which is equal parts enriching and completely demoralizing. Some days I feel utterly defeated and financially crippled; other days I have the greatest natural high from the work I do and how much I enjoy it. It’s a bizarre back and forth, and one that takes an immense toll on every part of my being.

So, why keeping doing it? That’s just it! As with a lover, when you love, you sacrifice. When you desire, you pursue. When you are passionate, you give every piece of yourself.

Music is a part of who I am; it is not just something I do. It is in me to create and share. It cannot be denied, nor will it allow itself to be denied by me. It is like a lover that soothes my soul in a way beyond what anyone else comprehends, but also knows how to crawl under my skin and take the last ounce of sanity I have at the end of the day.

Music is something that I breathe. Nothing can ever change that. And while it sometimes sucks everything out of me and leaves me wondering where I will find the strength for the next day’s challenges, it is also my reason for getting out of bed in the morning.

Music is an integral part of what makes me, me. I would not be the same person if I just decided to ignore the musical need within me. I would not have the same zest for life or the same passion towards loving people. Music is what makes me tick. Like a lover, it is imperfect, but loves me unconditionally and gives me what I need to push forward and dream bigger. Music is why I feel I can reach seemingly unattainable heights.

Even as I write this, I’m brought to tears by how strongly I feel towards music. I believe that music is the means by which the intangible connects with the physical world. It is the greatest of joys and the deepest of sorrows lay bare. It can be used to communicate when even the sincerest of words fail. Art, what we create, is the only true connection of our three parts: mind, body, and soul; it is an adventure to which our whole being is invited. Art is beauty and truth uncovered through the expression of the human condition.

So to all of those who understand this need to create and choose to march onward: dream big, live loud, and do not give up. We have no guarantee of success or return on our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual investment into our art, but we don’t need one. All we need is to keep the fire burning within us, even on the days we feel we have nothing left. All we need is to keep creating, keep loving, and keep persevering. Despite what everyone else may think, I know we can chase the impossible!