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Rev. Al Sharpton said there is no reason to dream about next year if citizens do not vote this year.

Sharpton was the guest speaker during an April 11 panel in Lithonia at the Lou Walker Senior Center where he shared his views on the current state of the country, emphasizing that the future of Americas youth and senior citizens depends on the people elected into office.

He said many people unhappy in the wake of the election of President Trump are reacting way too late, after the house has already caved in.

The only way to salvage what we have is for local communities to come out and vote for people with spines, he said. Here we are in the outskirts of Atlanta with houses, kids and cars, but we are too lazy to go out and vote, which someone fought to give us the right to do. You can go out and early vote now, while your grandmother had no vote at all.

Sharpton also expressed disappointment over the nations currently proposed budget, which would increase defense spending by billions while cutting funding that benefits citizens, young and old, through the State Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency.

We are increasing our military, but decreasing what comes to helping our seniors and our young people to be properly trained.

The rest of the panel was comprised of event host and DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, Commissioner Gregory Adams, Rep. Pam Stephenson, D-Decatur, Rep Doreen Carter,D-Lithonia and Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson.

Stephenson said there was a time years ago when there was an opportunity to take action on re-adjusting the nations budget priorities to better serve youth and seniors, but nothing was done.

The problem, she said, is not enough people take a hard look at the budget or take real ownership of their communities.

Citizens must pay attention to what is happening both on a local and national level, Jackson said.

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What happens on the national level impacts us locally, even if we cannot see the connection, she said. We have to stay involved not just when there is an election.

Jackson said she and other local, state and national leaders often know what the problems are, but need involved citizens to help come up with solutions.

Carter said much of her focus recently has been on education.

House Resolution 610 is one Carter said appears well-intentioned on the surface, but could be part of a plan to eliminate public education. The bill calls for sending federal education dollars to the states in the form of grants, which the states can give as vouchers to public, private and homeschool students.

She said this kind of bill presenting one thing on the surface with a different agenda below is the kind citizens need to be aware of and vigilant about.

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Rev. Al Sharpton joins DeKalb leaders for panel on state of the country - MDJOnline.com