To the editor:

Babysitting for grandchildren while away in Maryland, I spend mornings at the baby’s naptime making calls on behalf of my upstate New York candidates Martz and Cobb. I mostly leave messages — Emily and Tedra stand in favor of single-payer health care, Planned Parenthood and environmental action. I’ve just added a Maryland Justice Democrat call list to my tasks. I am one cog in a growing wheel of nationwide phone bankers whose message is to VOTE this midterm.

Issues are daunting; the task is to vote in new leadership capable of action, creativity, conscience and strength. Last week’s main story was the United Nations IPCC environmental report predicting terrifying climate emergency. How can we even get to substantial climate action with rampant, corrupted deregulation and deniers in pivotal positions?

A just and livable planet is STILL possible; with a zero-emissions future comes transformative possibility for social, racial and economic justice. Renewable solutions exist (see “Drawdown” Hawkens), but only if there is committed political will and a proactive FDR-style mobilization, in partnership with a global coalition, can we hope for mitigation in enough time.

My “X”ennial daughter passes through on her way to work while I make calls. She overhears me daily explaining candidates’ positions for these Nov. 6 midterms; she is alarmed and feels helpless with two young children, inheritors of a dimming future. For the first time-yesterday, she asks me to connect her to a local campaign so she, also, can help get out the vote. Perhaps, she says, she and her friends can text from back stage between scenes.

Being one more cog in the GOTV wheel could be the single most important short-range action (in the long-range work) we could each take before Nov. 6.

Lisa Adamson

Lake George