Regarding the election, this is all I’m going to say: unlike in 2016, I was surprised, but not shocked. I thought the abortion issue would win it for Harris, but apparently, not enough people care about that. I’m sure plenty did, but not enough. Considering one Asian female friend here in Queens, NY, passionately voted for Trump and encouraged everyone else to do so because “he’s going to save me from the migrants, so I can walk outside again,” think about people of every background throughout the country were thinking. And after all the derogatory things he’s said about Asians. Considering most black men I know were for Trump. Most of the people I. play basketball with, even Muslims, were for Trump. Most of the people with small businesses I know are for Trump. And Harris won NYC, but think about that.
The conventional media keeps saying Trump keeps insulting America, but that’s exactly what resonates with working people. He’s saying there’s a problem, and he’s going to fix it. Just like in 2020, Biden said there was a problem and he was going to fix it. So each won for the same reason.
The last four years have been great for me, but yesterday two people asked me for money in downtown Syracuse, and there are ghostly streets and boarded up buildings here. How the hell cutting rich people taxes and putting massive tariffs on foreign goods is going to resolve that is beyond my economic comprehension, but I guess enough people are willing to give him a chance to try. He got lucky the first time by inheriting a great economy (just as he is this time, on paper — but people don’t live on paper), however enough people remember that fondly.
I know people are saying he’s going to become a dictator, and I have no doubt he will try his damnedest, but I’m fairly certain in two years and even fours years we will have the same people on CNN, MSNBC, FOX, Joe Rogan and everywhere else predicting election outcomes like it’s some gambling session based on polls which are likely to be much different than they are now, and people will have the same chance to correct things when they feel things aren’t going right for them. The two party dance will likely continue.
What we need is a true Independent with common sense and critical thinking skills to solve real problems both immediately and long term, but that’s not likely to happen for a while, it seems.
In the meantime, most people will continue to vote primarily on economic and safety interests and likely right of center on cultural issues. I know people in my very liberal bubble are saying Harris lost because she didn’t go Left enough, but she likely would have lost even worse that way. Even here in NY, democrats were running right of center campaigns, because it would have been political suicide not to.
Let’s keep our ideals and strive for freedom and safety for every person but also keep talking outside our bubbles and safe spaces to people of all backgrounds. We’re not going to persuade people by only talking to people who share the same exact beliefs we have.
That’s it. I’m hoping for the best for the next four years, but watching out, and discovering and telling real stories as always!
