2025 is behind us, and as we reflect on the year with all of its twists and turns, I thought it would be a good idea to speak about what we might expect in 2026. Our country is being led by people who literally said “let them starve” when SNAP benefits were paused in the longest government shutdown a few months ago. Education is no longer considered a priority, and healthcare is essentially on the chopping block. As hospitals close in rural and urban areas, our leaders are now debating what "affordability" even means. Family-owned businesses, from farms to restaurants, are closing down with announcements about the cost of doing business due to tariffs and other executive orders. I reached out to Attorney Rodney Strong with Griffin & Strong to give us an update about what we can expect in the coming months.
We made it through 2025, the constitution is still standing, but some citizens are discovering just how fragile democracy is when the rules of engagement are not even considered. Attorney Strong speaks about checks and balances that exist in our government’s framework and the need to vote in every election. Additionally, he encourages us to make sure the folks who are in our sphere are aware of the need to vote.
Strong speaks about the current administration’s attempt to rewrite history and roll back all of the gains from the Civil Rights era. He also speaks about the upcoming Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship. We should all remember when the Roberts Court eviscerated the Voting Rights Act and how municipalities immediately began to roll back access to the voting booth.
The current administration was elected on and continues to deliberately promote their belief in white supremacy. Strong reminds us that we have to teach our community about civics, the need to pay attention, and that voting is paramount, but after you vote, you still have to do the work. Call and visit your local, state, and national representatives to make sure they know how you feel and the needs of your community.
Strong speaks about our state, Georgia, and the upcoming Senate elections. Senator Ossoff is up for reelection, there is a governor’s race, and state legislature, and all of these offices will have an impact on business, education, and access to civil rights. He goes on to explain that Atlanta hasn’t experienced some of the terror that other metropolitan areas have under the new administration. This allows us to organize and educate our communities ahead of the upcoming election.
We were also reminded that in the Civil Rights Era, voting rights laws were passed due to public pressure from citizens and the international community. For folks who want to get involved with the Strong and Griffin firm and their work, you can reach out to them at gspc.law.com or call their offices at 404.245.4290.