What's at Stake

These two photos say it all. A sad lonely man who never has had a kind word for anyone, who’s “friends” are only those who think he can help them get ahead, only to have him turn on them at his whim, a convicted felon, an unfaithful husband, a psychopathic narcissist who is obsessed with his image over any common good in the country he’s supposed to represent. Then, by contrast, there’s the unstaged and unabashed authentic joy in the photo of kids and parents celebrating a good-hearted man’s signing of a free-lunch bill. A man devoted to public service, to the common good, a former beloved teacher and coach who understands all pronouns beyond “me.” 

 

One is running for President again, having won once through his campaign based solely on fear and hate, lost once and then refused to graciously accept his clear defeat, is back on the campaign trail without addressing a single useful political issue and just ranting to his “Stepford-Wives-brainwashed followers” about his hero Hannibal Lecter and bragging about passing a cognitive test a 2^nd grade could ace. His main strategy is to come up with demeaning nicknames for his opponents to avoid discussing the actual issues a candidate needs to address. His main promise seems to be an above-board dismantling of Democracy— “vote for me and you’ll never have to vote again.”

 

One is on the Vice-President ticket representing actual issues the Presidential nominee is addressing. Just little things like climate change, women’s rights, health care, child care, things that are not about her but about us and the things facing us that we need help with from those in charge. 

It’s clear that issues don’t even make it onto the debate stage these days, it’s all about hype and image and branding and slander and false claims. One side is based entirely on promoting fear and hate, the other on help and hope.

 

So in this election year, what is really at stake is our national character. Yes, there are also frightening political ramifications if we spiral down to the pit of fascism, but asking voters to vote based on that very real fear is still based on fear. I think the questions to ask are these: 

 

Do we want the fellow in the photo with the kids to inspire us, to represent us, to offer something to aspire to or the other guy sitting alone in the dark chamber of his confused mind and shut-down heart? Do we want to react to purposefully manufactured fear or to mind-opening, heart-opening hope?

 

To be more specific: Look at those two photos again. Who would you choose for your child's teacher? Who would you want for your neighbor? For your co-worker? Who would you pick to represent your values? Who would you entrust decisions to that can impact your life? (Literally, could be a matter of life and death when it comes to health care, elder care, pandemics, etc.) 

Then go to the polls and vote accordingly.