Charlie Wilson was 13 years old and he was furious. His dog had wandered into the yard of his next door neighbor, Charles Hazard, a city official in Trinity, Texas. Hazard's response was to mix crushed glass into the dog's food. The dog passed away.Wilson told his parents. Nothing happened. Hazard faced no consequences.Then Wilson found out Hazard was up for reelection. He didn't have a vote. He was 13. But he had a driver's permit and access to his family's two-door Chevrolet. So he came up with a plan.Wilson drove to the homes of 96 voters, loaded them into the car, and drove them to the polls. As each one stepped out of the vehicle he said the same thing."I don't want to influence your vote, but I'd like you to know that Charles Hazard poisoned my dog."Then he drove back and picked up the next group. Hazard lost the election by 16 votes.Wilson later described that day as "the day I fell in love with America." The realization that one person, even a 13-year-old with nothing but a driver's permit and a two-door Chevrolet, could hold power accountable never left him.He went on to serve 12 terms as a United States Congressman from Texas. It all started because a politician poisoned his dog.
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