With one week until the election, anxiety is riding high. Anyone who voted for Clinton and willed her win in 2016 remembers that dramatic evening of disappointment and surprise. A couple of weeks before that night, I sat on the bleachers at a college football game next to a Harvard Law professor. He was worried about the election and thought Trump had a good chance. I listened to his words, but still was hopeful for a Hillary Clinton win. I watched the returns come in on multiple channels--I witnessed the pundits as they initially predicted Clinton to be the winner and then, slowly and dramatically, shift their predictions as the results rolled in. Then, very late in the evening (or was it already the wee hours of morning), Trump was declared the winner. I was very sad, but decided to give Trump a chance.
Trump's acceptance speech at his inauguration was okay--I still held hope, but then, soon after, when he visited the CIA and began spouting out silly, self-serving lies and comments about inauguration numbers and other matters, I knew we were in trouble, and like a snowball rolling down a steep hill, his lies and contempt for the American people, values, and promise have grown dirtier and bigger day after day. Trump is a disaster and danger for good people, places, and events throughout the United States and the world. Yet, he has his fair share of followers. Why?
I've researched Trump followers and also considered the Trumpians I know to try to understand why these people follow a man who acts with disrepect and demeans good people all the time--a man that lies, cheats, disregards the important work of the Presidency, and surrounds himself with countless self-serving crooks, criminals, and fools. Why?
I've learned that Trump followers are often people who have not had a lot of diversity in their lives--people who live in White communities, people whose knowledge of our country's great diversity often comes from biased television shows and disinformation campaigns. I also know that some of Trump's followers noticed an uptick in their retirement accounts during the past four years, and they vote for Trump for that reason alone--what they don't understand is that Trump's errant ways will cost them a lot of money down the line and also threaten the good living for their children and grandchildren in the future. Trump's quick-fix, shortsighted policies put us in danger today and put our children and grandchildren in even greater danger. He is an irresponsible leader who uses dangerous marketing campaigns to trick and fool the masses in order to prop up the wealth, power, privilege, and pleasure of a small group of wealthiest Americans. This is exemplified in the massive wealth his daughter and son-in-law have accrued while working in the White House, and this is also exemplified in the great wealth his backers have made during a devastating pandemic, a time when most Americans are suffering losses rather than gains.
My 60+ years of living have taught me to trust my instincts, knowledge, and choices--with thought, I generally am on the right track, and I know that another four years of Trump as President spells disaster for the United States in multiple ways--he will bring even greater strife to us via his ignorance, irresponsibility, and disinterest and lack of investment in the American people. My desire to rid our country of the Trump team's hold on the White House and our government is great, and that's why I need a plan for the final week in the election--how will I right this deep desire for change and worry about a Trump win into positive action?
Donate
I'll send a few more dollars to both the Biden/Harris campaign and the campaigns to support a democratic senate. It's worth the investment, and I hope you'll do the same via Actblue.com
I'll commit to making a few calls beginning today to support a Biden/Harris win.
Remind friends and family members to vote
So far, most family members have voted, but not all. I'll continue to call to remind those who have not voted to vote.
Prioritize healthy living
Next Tuesday is going to be an emotional evening, so I'll be as healthy as I can to be able to ride the waves of that evening. I also need to be strong and healthy to work against what I expect to be seven days of extreme Trump manipulation, hate, and negativity.
Action plan
If Biden wins, my plan is to shore up some personal goals, and then commit to a single organization that matches what I value--an organization that helps others in some way. If Trump wins, I'm going to have to think deeply about next steps--I'll study what others are planning to do, and find ways to act against his greed, bigotry, cheating, and inhumanity.
I encourage all that want a Biden//Harris win to do something everyday to help make that win a priority. Vote, encourage your loved ones to vote, donate, make calls, or help the campaign of any democrat in some valuable way. We've learned a lot about the dangers our country faces if we stay passive and let ignorant, irresponsible, and self-serving people lead us. The United States is a country by the people for the people, and what makes this machine work well is people's investment, advocacy, and actions for what is right and good for this country today and into the future. Onward.