Our Children Deserve Better

Guest Article by Joe Jaworski

Hello readers of the MeidasTouch Substack. My name is Joe Jaworski, Texas lawyer, Democrat, and former mayor of Galveston, Texas. I’ve been thinking about my friend, a mother whose eight-year-old daughter is missing along with her young campmates following the Guadalupe River flood. This tragedy has rocked us to the core. I wrote this piece as an opening monologue for my radio show The Midterms, which broadcasts live Tuesday, July 8 at 9:30 a.m. on KPFT 90.1 FM Houston. You can stream the show live at that time at KPFT.org.

The Fourth of July Texas Hill Country flood has brought us to another assembly of tragedy.

We are still in shock over the substantial loss of precious life—of so many children and the brave adults who tried to save them. We cheer the heroism of our tireless first responders. We are amazed by the miraculous appearance of the survivors. We are in awe of nature’s raw power. We acknowledge we have been here before.

Again, we see much was left undone—that could’ve been done, that should have been done—that would have made the outcome different. I hope our leaders will consider what can be improved to make sure this loss of life can be avoided next time. There is always a next time.

The children’s deaths have brought us to our collective knees, just like every time we are humbled by the tragedy of senseless death of our youth. There are countless examples. As a recent one, I’m reminded of the 19 children who died three years ago in a school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

These two tragedies couldn’t be more different. One tragedy was flood; another was murder. But when children die, whatever the cause, it shakes us to the core. Their smiling faces on TV, in newspaper pictures, and on social media will be how we remember them always.

My heart breaks for the grieving families who survive these children.

We must protect our children from harm—protect all of them. Our youth, wherever they reside, whatever their zip code, are precious. All government policy—whether it concerns funding weather forecasting, implementation of natural disaster warning systems, development of fair gun ownership rules, or funding students’ education and nutrition—must take children’s well-being into account as an important matter of primary consideration.

Children are our responsibility, and they are our future. Until they can take care of themselves, we must ensure their well-being. We must not fail them.