In the wake of the 2024 election, we face a new reality now that the initial wave of emotions has passed. It is time for us to step up as citizens and do our jobs if we expect our leaders to do theirs. Citizenship is hard work. It requires us to educate ourselves and participate in the system we hold dearly. Many of us have abdicated our responsibilities, thinking that those we have elected to lead will do so with our best interests at heart. No one leader from any party can fix it for all of us. We need to take up the mantle and work together to build a society that works for all of us.
If we have learned anything from this election, we need to pay attention and hold our leaders accountable to the people they represent. It is past time that we rebuild our communities to be strong networks of people who respect the humanity of all, whether we agree or approve of how people live their lives.
Many have opined on the reasons why those who voted in this past election voted for a twice impeached, criminal felonious sex offender. How did an alleged billionaire relate to the everyday working-class American? How did a man and campaign based on lies and fear garner the support of most Americans who cast their votes?
People claim they did not feel seen or heard through the campaign. There was a sense that the current administration did not understand their pain or that their current policies addressed their needs. The increased cost of eggs was enough for people to turn from the current administration, regardless of the facts: the United States has the most robust economy in the industrialized world, people are making more money, more people are employed with a living wage, more people have access to health care, more people have money in savings, investment in the infrastructure, decrease in crime, no deployment of troops in active combat.
People took offense that there was a focus on immigrants, immigrants who were allowed to be depicted as evil, dangerous, and taking their jobs. People took offense that people who are transgender were treated as people.
Some have said that the Republican message is clear. It’s about the economy, and people are looking for change. They blame the current administration for the high cost of eggs, gas, and housing.
The Democratic Party stands for equity of opportunity for all Americans, regardless of sex, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, or national origin. This standard and value set is much more challenging to quantify or put on a bumper sticker. The Democratic Party has long been challenged to effectively communicate its values and continuously falls back on wonk speak that does not resonate with white working-class Americans. They have been ineffective in showing how the systems, policies, and practices we employ will benefit all people.
Mainstream media criticized candidates for spending time in the community and not conducting mainstream interviews. Candidates were also criticized for listening and talking to people rather than putting out position papers. Candidates were asked questions about race, gender, and identity and then criticized for stoking the culture wars.
This is another subtext we need to look at: the culture wars. We are on the brink of becoming a majority-non-white country sometime between 2041 and 2046. This prediction takes into account racial and ethnic groups. It does not take into account the multitude of religions and the overlay of women and LGBTQ+ citizens. Banded together, the white male dominant culture is threatened.
We hear a cry of wanting to make America great again, taking us back to a time when women, Black and Indigenous People of Color, and people who are LGBTQ+ had few to no rights. White men were able to make all the rules, keep all the power, and feel comfortable at the top of the American ladder.
People are afraid of ‘Other.’ Other threatens their norm. Other requires people to look outside of themselves and realize the humanity of all. However, Other also requires that we treat people with respect and dignity. Other requires us to move outside our comfort zone and be culturally curious about Other, making us realize we are not the center of the universe. Other places us in a position of admitting we do not know everything and highlight our insecurities. Other allows some to call for a government that will take care of everything for us so we do not have to take responsibility for our actions and our lives.
It was rather telling that one of the winning candidate's last slogans was "He Will Fix It." He permitted people to not worry about Other because he would deport them, prosecute them, limit their freedoms, and make it so that Other would not be seen.
The media significantly affected how people understand our government and this campaign. Unfortunately, our media is lacking the journalistic integrity to examine its role. A large part of this is because much of the mainstream media is now under the entertainment bureaus of their respective stations. Their role is to be good entertainment. Their role was to ensure a close election that would keep people watching. Their role was to give us a narrative that would keep us enthralled and tuned into their networks. Discerning Americans were required to research multiple outlets and find the truth. A very small percentage of Americans have the time and interest to do that research, so they depend on their favorite folks to tell them the truth.
All of the mainstream media let us down. We heard and believed what we wanted to believe because that was what we were told from our ‘trusted media source.’ Whether you were liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, independent or agnostic, your trusted media source led you to believe that ‘other’ was bad and would be the downfall of democracy. Some sources resorted to lies, some to creative editing, but very few, if any, resorted to the unfiltered truth.
Another avenue that must be explored is the use of social media and technology. We have allowed ourselves to build a society where people use social media and technology as the primary way to communicate. What is said on social media and via technology is devoid of personal interaction. It does not promote relationship-building or productive dialogue. We state our opinions as facts and then wait for the reaction. Major announcements are made on social media. Policy positions are announced on social media. And then we wait for the reaction.
We shift now to moving forward. If we want the society we know is possible, it will take a seismic systemic shift. This will require a multipronged approach and an active citizenry. Our government is designed for the people by the people, and therefore, it requires the people to step up and do their jobs.
We have elected officials that are tasked with representing us. Governors, Mayors, Representatives, and Senators are all elected by the people for the people. How have we instructed them to represent us? Are we part of the local meetings designed to implement programs, policies, and procedures that promote equitable access to all services the government is responsible for? This includes everything: housing, education, healthcare, food, transportation, social services, the arts, the environment, safety and security. The list goes on and on. Have we gotten involved in these processes? The work happens at the community level and filters up through the government.
We all live in communities. Communities are built stronger when there is a personal connection. It is harder to tell someone about themselves to their face when you know them and that the area of disagreement does not define the person. Living in a community requires us to interact and get to know people in our community. Understand their priorities while allowing them to understand ours. It is crucial to identify where there are commonalities and points of agreement that can move us forward rather than focus on the differences that tear us apart.
We must educate ourselves and each other. Many citizens lack an understanding of what the government actually does. Given the absence of Civics education in our schools, we must increase that education in our communities. Many do not clearly understand how federal laws and regulations impact local activities. Many do not clearly understand the government’s role in infrastructure like roads, transportation, and even garbage pick-up. There is an assumption that all these things just happen. God forbid there is a snowstorm, and it takes three days for our road to get plowed or if a community cannot rebuild within a month of a natural disaster.
What can we do?
Organize! The values we espouse are not going to happen via social media. They are going to happen through developing personal connections and networks of people who know each other, who have learned to communicate with each other, and who have learned how to work within the frame that we have more that unites us than divides us.
We must go out into the communities and build relationships around issues that matter to us, be it the economy, housing, food, education, healthcare, the environment, or other areas of interest. This must be done with diversity in mind…racially, ethnically, gender, identity, ability, and class.
In this time…I believe, unfair as it might seem, it will be imperative that those members of these diverse populations extend the hand of collaboration. We are the Other that they fear. To decrease that fear, we need to build relationships with all parts of our community. You fear what you do not know.
Advocate! Our political leaders have landed in a cycle where they are constantly campaigning for a job and not doing their job. We have examples when our leaders do their job, and beautiful things happen. We need to push our leaders to do their jobs. This means working in their communities on the issues that are important to the people.
A result should be that governors, mayors, local officials, residents, and our congressional representatives work together to solve problems in the community. Every strategy developed in our communities must be developed in partnership with them. There should be strategies that directly tie to the issues highlighted in this election.
For instance, if a community is developing low-income and affordable housing, we need to connect the dots to the development on the ground, the strategies employed, and the stated issue. People often do not see progress being made and forget that progress is usually a slow process.
Communicate! One of the biggest challenges we saw was the need for more communication of progress in critical areas. People needed to hear how policies directly impacted their lives. And they needed that information in clear, accessible language. In addition, there was a great deal of misinformation (lies). Journalists need to hear from the people on what they need: truth without spin.
We need to hold journalists accountable for their work. This can be done by writing letters to the editors, calling for meetings with journalists in your areas, and planning community forums with journalists to strategize how they can meet the needs of their communities. Understanding that much of journalism is now entertainment, frame discussions in terms of the bottom line and ratings.
We need to remember that social media is a communication tool, not the primary mode of communication or planning. It must be used in conjunction with authentic relationships. Social media allows people to hide behind their screens, waiting for a reaction, without considering the people they are communicating with. They are sounding off. They need to be more engaged in honest dialogue and real strategizing.
Align Your Spending with Your Priorities! Leaders and organizations respond to the economic realities of their work. From day-to-day purchases to supporting leaders and organizations, spend your resources in a way that promotes the community you would like to see. If an organization is doing the work you believe needs to happen, support them with your resources, financial or product donations, and volunteer. If a leader is working how you believe they should, let them know with your support. If an establishment - grocery store, gym, restaurant, or barbershop- aligns with your values, patronize them. These may seem like small acts, but small acts add up and impact how leaders and organizations move forward.
We must build networks of networks that intersect. As these networks grow and intersect, we build a strong foundation to address the people's needs with respect and dignity. This is not a solo act. There are groups and organizations in every community that have structured this work and aligned it with multiple priorities. Join them, follow them, volunteer, attend community meetings, get and stay informed, and share your ideas!
Systemic change is a journey. We must have a shared vision of what we need to build, then build it one brick at a time.
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