Listen to this note:
Donald Trump has been convicted in a court of law. Despite this historic conviction, there remains an overwhelming likelihood that he will be on the ballot for voters to elect in November 2024.
I, like many other voters, am not particularly enthused about the idea of voting in Biden again as president. But I will still be voting, and I will be voting for Biden.
It’s true Biden is an established politician that has been part of the system for years. There are still many issues that are affecting the country. It is reasonable to have doubts about Biden’s efficacy and ability to invoke change.
However, change on a rapid scale can often result in unintended consequences that can leave matters worse off than they were before. Change also needs local and community efforts. As much as Biden is faulted for not fixing everything right now, the reality is that it is not that simple.
But no matter our reservations about Biden or our desire for faster change, one thing is clear. Voting for Donald Trump will be a step backwards.
Trump has attacked the system- and while it’s true that the system isn’t perfect, it’s the best we have. Tearing at the legitimacy of the system isn’t a solution. Our current system has improved by addressing and improving from its flaws, not by tearing it down.
Trump’s main strategy is to establish a narrative of fear- fear about the economy, about drugs, about people, about the government itself. History has shown us this is a strategy of demagogues- political power seekers who desire to scare people into electing them rather than seeking to make improvements and to address issues.
You may have concerns about the economy, or crime, or the environment. But the most important thing is to be informed, to make decisions based on fact and not fear, and to vote on them.
You may not agree with either candidate. But in our democracy, your voice counts. One of these candidates will be our next president.
The responsibility to vote is a consequence of living in this society, where the effects of the election will occur. The opportunity to vote is the opportunity to make one’s voice heard.
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