It’s been about three weeks since the shock of the election results has hit us. Many ask where do we go from here? My answer is this: fundamentally we go nowhere new, but stand firmly confident in our progressive values. But it may also be wise to reassess our operational methods for spreading the wisdom of what we hold to be true, good and beautiful.
We have always known that the fight to make the world a better place would not be easy. The reactionary forces of the rich, the powerful, the racist, the misogynist, the sociopathically selfish, the hateful religious fanatics, the ignorant anti-science ideologues, and the sadistically cruel narcissists have always been a challenge to defeat. If anything, the election has brought many of these ugly forces to the forefront and thus will be easier to recognize and confront.
So do not succumb to despair, but realize, as generations of idealists before us have seen, that the good fight for justice, truth, equality, freedom, inclusiveness and continuing education for all is worth our spirit, time and energy. And we are not alone – there are millions of us who believe in building a compassionate sustainable equitable world. Together we must, and we will, continue to strive to bring the light of human decency, intelligence and empathy to a broken world.
I was not surprised by Kamala’s loss. I had been dismayed for months that the polls had projected the race was a tossup between an intelligent, accomplished, well-qualified empathetic Black woman leader and an aging convicted felon fraudster of such low moral character and intelligence. I knew then that something was radically wrong with the American electorate. Political pundits today argue that Kamala’s messaging and agenda needed improving. Should she have talked more like the winner then? Should she have rambled on about Arnold Palmer’s penis size, Hannibal Lechter, and that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio had been eating cats and dogs (a disgusting racist lie). Should she have offered to the downtrodden masses huge tax cuts to the rich instead of lower healthcare costs, subsidies for new home buyers, and funding for childcare?
No. The tight race reminded me that our country was founded on the original sin of racist capitalist slavery where the white rich and privileged had no qualms cruelly exploiting the free labor of slaves for their own benefit with the complicity of the state, religion, and the will of the electorate. Yes, the pernicious effects of this ugly racist systemic social structure linger to this day. The election results also reminded me that it took this nation well over 100 years to even allow (white) women to vote. It also reminded me that the literacy level in this country is appallingly low due to a consistent and even deliberate underfunding of our educational systems. This education deficit has obviously created millions who are susceptible to oligarchic controlled media dedicated to spewing lies on multiple “information” outlets and who are therefore easily conned by the lies and fear mongering in the dumbed down rhetoric of a power-hungry criminal demagogue. Mark Twain would have a field day spoofing the rubes who believe Trump is the King of France or more currently, the Orange Jesus.
So I wasn’t surprised by the election results, only disheartened that the time for the inevitable triumph for the realization of our cherished progressive values will be delayed a few years as we must confront the inevitable backward agenda of the rich and power hungry in the next few years.
But I am confident still that we will eventually prevail, because our ideals, once grasped by enlightened caring people, will surely one day be the norm because people will eventually realize that a society where all citizens can participate in the wealth of the world, not just the rich and powerful, is the best of all possible worlds.
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It is important to understand that Trump has offered the electorate a fake populism. Economic issues are essential for people to enjoy a good life. But the agenda that Trump offers will eventually fail to deliver prosperity to the people since its focus is simply on exacerbating economic inequality as the privileged nests of the rich are feathered. We must be ready to point out these failures to the people so they can then understand the benefits that a true progressive populism will deliver. Trump is already talking about slashing Medicaid, but shoveling more tax cuts to the rich. He is proposing 100% and 200% tariffs on consumer products that will translate simply into an inflationary tax on all consumers. Even more Draconian cuts to other government programs that add wealth to the American people now are being considered in the Project 2025 planning document. Once the American people begin to feel the pain of these harmful cuts to their current and future prosperity, we must be ready to inform them and more importantly, offer a strong progressive economic agenda that reflects a true populism.
And in a way, there is a kernel of truth in the criticism of the Democratic Party agenda. Too often the Democratic Party has been overly cautious (and even complicit?) in not strongly advocating and implementing a truly progressive agenda. The economic horrors that will unfold over the next few years present an opportunity for the Democratic Party and the American people. We progressives must present a robust economic agenda that focuses on living wages for all, excellent educational opportunities for all, affordable medical care for all, affordable housing for all, and a strengthened, not reduced, social security system for all. Democrats must contrast their real populism to the fake populism offered by the oligarchic demagogue so that the American people will then be able to choose more wisely in the next elections.
The Democratic Party, both here and especially in Bucks County, also needs to reevaluate its operational methodology since its vast failure in 2024 needs to be confronted honestly to discover where old ineffective practices need to be jettisoned in favor of new comprehensive creative methods of outreach, especially to varied interest groups and the young. Doing the same old, same old with the same tired people is a recipe for continued failure.
But above all, do not despair. We need your help in correcting the missteps of the 2024 election and in leading us to a brighter future for all. Rest, renew, and then be ready once again to resist! We owe the realization of our progressive vision to future generations who will be grateful to us as we are grateful to the activists and visionaries who had dedicated their energy, spirit, and lives to bend the arc of history forward, and toward justice, for all of us.
