Election results have yet to come in as I write this. We are all wondering whether the election will be resolved in a day or two or if something will occur that drags this out.
Participatory Democracy
I write to remind you that no matter what the results, we live in a participatory democracy. If your candidate(s) don’t win, there will be the temptation to curl up in a ball and try to shut the world out. But that won’t help.
No matter how the election turns out, the new president is not sworn in until January 20, 2025. There may be lots of talk about what the winning candidate wants to do when he or she takes office, but nothing official can happen until that time. What’s more, the founding father established a system of “checks and balances” so that no one section of the government has too much power. A divided Congress will indeed make it more difficult for the winning candidate to accomplish goals, but it also assures us that both parties are represented to decide our way forward.
We will need to address issues like these: How can we manage immigration? What’s to be done about prices? Climate change means sacrifice. Are we ready to make changes so we can give a healthier world to our children?
Do women truly deserve to have their medical decisions made by others. For fifty years, women showed that they could be good mothers and contributing members of society. Why don’t we give them back that power?
Deeply Unsettling Election
This election will long be remembered for its chaos, its change of candidate for the Democratic Party, and of course, its acrimony and unacceptable name-calling of people who have put aside their lives in order to run for different positions in local, state, and national government.
Americans on both sides stepped forward to participate in the campaign process from attending events to making phone calls, knocking on doors, and sending postcards. Not since women worked long and hard for the right to vote has there been so much organized, [mostly] non-violent energy invested in our election process.
Voter turn-out may be record-setting as well.
Treasure What We Have Though it is Imperfect
We all must remember to treasure what we have— a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” We do not want it to “perish from this earth.”
Once this election is settled, there is still so much to do. This is our country. No matter who becomes president, violence or shutting out the world is not the answer. Our energy needs to go into work that makes us better. Whether it’s ladling out soup at a homeless shelter, cleaning up a local park or working through government channels to address local, state, or national issues, we can all find a place to invest our energy.
Don’t waste it on anger or regret. No matter who wins, our communities still need us.
And if your candidate wins, reach out to others in the community who might have voted differently. Wait a few weeks, so tensions may ease, but our country needs all of us to move forward together. If you’re packing lunches for the homeless at your church or synagogue or community center, it doesn’t matter how you cast your ballot. There are plenty of things we can all do together.
The election on November 5 provides a “chance for change.” It’s up to us to help bring about the change we want. This is the very essence of a participatory democracy. Americans have died in wars and on our own streets fighting for the rights that should be a “given” in a country like America.
We cannot let them down.
Thank you for trying to be comforting. I haven’t been so distressed since January 6, 2021; I spent that whole afternoon crying. Today, my stomach has been in knots; I don’t understand how people can vote against against common decency. I know that feeling sick will pass, but not the feeling of sadness for our country and its people. -Sandy
I understand exactly what you are saying. I fear that many who voted for Trump will be hurt in the process. This morning I decided what I needed to do for myself for now was focus on my own day–be kind to people, help anyone who seems to need it, but focus on how my own life can move forward unchanged–enjoying grandkids included…As the days pass, I will start figuring out what will be helpful to the new world order. And I can guarantee that whether you want to help at an animal shelter, a soup kitchen, or a hospital, you will be greeted with open arms. There is still much to do–and maybe more if federal programs are cut. Thanks for posting, and I hear you!