Allow me to take you on a tour of the district that I am running to represent; Missouri's 8th Congressional.
Unfortunately it is a depressing tour, but I believe we need to talk about a problem when we want to make it better.
#Missouri #MO8
Unfortunately it is a depressing tour, but I believe we need to talk about a problem when we want to make it better.
#Missouri #MO8
Missouri's 8th Congressional District covers 28 counties of Southeast Missouri.
2022 redistricting removed Crawford and Washington Counties from the north of the district (added to the 3rd) - noteworthy because their health outcomes are like the 8th, not the 3rd
2022 redistricting removed Crawford and Washington Counties from the north of the district (added to the 3rd) - noteworthy because their health outcomes are like the 8th, not the 3rd
Poverty rates are higher in the 8th than in any other congressional district; and it's not due to being rural, because the 6th (north MO) doesn't suffer like the 8th does.
Systemic poverty like this is a failure of leadership.
Systemic poverty like this is a failure of leadership.
Here we see how many of our children in the 8th district are growing up under the stress and devastating effects of poverty.
Systemic poverty is a failure of leadership, a lack of investment in people, infrastructure, and local economy.
Systemic poverty is a failure of leadership, a lack of investment in people, infrastructure, and local economy.
Food insecurity is distressingly high in the 8th district. Poor access to healthy foods leads to so many health challenges for residents of the 8th, as you'll see below...
Noteworthy - this district is the 2nd largest ag district in the state; and @RepJasonSmith is a farmer.
Noteworthy - this district is the 2nd largest ag district in the state; and @RepJasonSmith is a farmer.
More upsetting, the 8th faces the greatest food insecurity, but there's hardly any food being distributed in the 8th.
Why, in an agricultural district, are people suffering for food?
Lack. Of. Leadership.
Why, in an agricultural district, are people suffering for food?
Lack. Of. Leadership.
The 8th has more Veterans living with a disability than the other congressional districts.
Poverty, food insecurity, those systemic problems harm our health, they create more problems for people.
@RepJasonSmith voted against veterans many times, most recently, the PACT Act.
Poverty, food insecurity, those systemic problems harm our health, they create more problems for people.
@RepJasonSmith voted against veterans many times, most recently, the PACT Act.
Frequent Mental Distress is so high in the 8th district; remember that the two dark counties drawn out in the north, were a part of the 8th up to this year - being a part of the 8th is a risk factor for mental distress.
Poverty, food insecurity, takes a devasting toll.
Poverty, food insecurity, takes a devasting toll.
Prevalence of asthma in adults is surprisingly high, only in the 8th
There are noticeably higher rates of people living with disabilities in the 8th.
Living rural is hard enough without a disability, the stress on a person is overwhelmingly compounded when you live rural with a disability.
Living rural is hard enough without a disability, the stress on a person is overwhelmingly compounded when you live rural with a disability.
I can share these all night long, but I think you see the picture by now; the 8th has hit rock-bottom, it's time for new leadership.
Our people deserve better, our local infrastructure & economy deserves investment.
The people here work so hard, someone should work hard for us.
Our people deserve better, our local infrastructure & economy deserves investment.
The people here work so hard, someone should work hard for us.
Despite the odds stacked against southeast Missouri, the people here are devoted to their neighbors and community.
People here always show up to support their schools, celebrate faith and community together, and work hard day-in and day-out to make life work for those they love.
People here always show up to support their schools, celebrate faith and community together, and work hard day-in and day-out to make life work for those they love.
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