The New Yorker---- By Clint Smith: Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” as a Parable of Our Time
The Politically Invisible
By Richard L. Bayles, Jr.
Ralph Ellision's “The Invisible Man” is one of the great works of mid twentieth century American literature. Ellison's novel is, in part, about a minority the greater society ignores until something unusual (often bad) happens.
Sound familiar?
The political season is on us and what are the topics? Transportation: check. Jobs: check. Education :check. Taxes: check. Their opponents personal flaws: double check.
Where are their stances on the invisible disabilities like mental illness, head injury, and other cognitive problems? Their policies on these are, for the most part, also invisible.
Political visibility only comes with effort. Don't expect politicians to seek you out (unless you're wealthy). Question the candidates or their surrogates when you meet them. E-mail them. Educate them. Form coalitions. Raise money. [Editor's Note: Non-profits do have prohibitions against contributing directly to candidates. There may be some opportunity for like minded individuals to form a Political Action Committee] Let them know there are votes at stake.
The advocacy community should realize that the moral high ground has its limits when it comes to affecting policy. Even sound legal reasoning has no guarantee of changing policy.
Want to change the policies? Change the politicians.