That is the question so many Americans are still asking themselves. Whether there was any collusion or meddling in the campaign or in the election doesn't really matter. The gut-wrenching feelings I had on the drive to work the morning after Election Day were real, are real, and they continue to linger. The feelings I had were of disappointment in fellow Americans. The feelings I had were of great disgust that anyone could have supported his candidacy at all. I knew people were, but a majority? I realize Clinton won the popular vote, so in essence, I'm right that MOST people who voted did vote for her. The electoral college is outdated and not helpful in this situation. Still, how did THAT many people vote for this clueless buffoon? How did THAT many people fall for his empty promises that only had HIS best interest at heart? Most everyone I knew was voting for Clinton, with a few exceptions I still can't wrap my brain around. I remember driving to work trying to find a news station on the radio to hear more about what people were thinking, because that day seemed so gray and dreary, so cold and surreal that surely the rest of the country was in mourning, right? Much to my frustration, the one station that wasn't currently taking a commercial break must have been a conservative station where callers, mostly white males, were reporting overwhelming joy and relief at Trump's win. They were touting the satisfaction that they were finally "being heard," they finally "had a voice." That voice that was being heard, in my strong opinion, was one of supremacy, hatred, xenophobia, ignorance, misogyny, intolerance, and quite frankly, stupidity. This is not the America I have lived in all my life. This was not the nation I wanted my children to grow up in and feel love toward.
Trump's victory is America's downfall, and that has been attributed to what has become known as "the silent majority." Well, this just down-right pisses me off. I don't believe that majority of our country shares Trump's philosophy, if you can even call his ridiculous rhetoric a "philosophy." (After all, he rarely makes a cohesive point, rarely uses a vocabulary greater than that of preschoolers, and contradicts himself on a near-daily basis.) I believe the votes for Trump were cast because he was a new face in politics, because he wasn't Hillary Clinton, because they couldn't bring themselves to vote for a woman, because he spoke to these people at their level.
But, I don't believe a silent majority voted for Trump. Instead, I believe a nonvoting majority let our country down. So, I'd like to talk about this major problem in society today. People have put their lives on the line to earn us the right to vote. People have marched, protested, starved, been beaten so that we can have a say in our government. Yet, too many people don't even exercise this right. I've learned that people really do have great opinions, they do want to see change, they do have awesome ideas. The problem is lack of motivation to get involved, laziness when it comes to getting out to vote, failure to engage and educate themselves on the candidates and the issues. Specifically, Democrats just don't get involved.
Early voting has begun, and while the Democratic turn-out in our area is significantly increased - a statistic that I am giddy about, we still turn out only half the voters that the Republicans do. Where are the people? What is so hard about taking 10 minutes to run in to the local library to cast a ballot that will take like 30 seconds to complete? Are we really asking too much of people? Are 12 days to vote not enough opportunities? I realize that polls close by 7:00pm, but geez... 7:00pm!! (And open on weekends too!) I realize you have kids. Take them with you! I realize you gotta get home and get dinner on the table and the kids have soccer practice and need baths and have homework and don't feel well. Plan around it! I know it's raining. Take a freakin' umbrella; you won't melt. If I can do it, you can too!
The silent majority didn't elect Trump, the non-voting majority did. If you didn't vote, I blame you for our current state of affairs. I get being undecided. I don't get being apathetic. I know what I'm writing could be offensive to some. I apologize if you don't like what I'm saying. I hope it will motivate you to GO VOTE. But, it won't. You'll just sit back and let others take charge of your rights, change the America you know and love into something unrecognizable, and enrage you to want to vote in the next election - which you will avoid when it really comes down to it. You'll get too busy or too lazy or too uninformed.
Did you know that Republicans are banking on Dems to not show up? Did you know that Texas has its gubernatorial election on off years, when there is not a presidential race, BECAUSE they depend on a lower voter turnout? It's a smart move to keep Republicans in office. They know that Democrats won't bother to show up. This is a huge problem! I've come to see that motivating Democrats to go to the polls is like trying to cheer on an obese sloth with ADHD as he attempts the Boston marathon while walking backward in molasses. COME ON, Dems! We know you're out there! Stop thinking about it, and just go VOTE already! (And, don't vote in the Republican primary JUST to vote against an incumbent or unattractive candidate. Smart tactic, but it rarely pays off, and now you've identified yourself as a Republican.)
The non-voting majority is okay with the status quo. You think someone else will take care of the problems. You don't really face the problems, anyway... at least that's what you tell yourself. You're white, you're well-off with a car and a roof over your head and plenty of food on your table. Your kids go to a decent school, you know how to advocate for your kids, and have means to access whatever they need. You have access to healthcare, and you even go to the most expensive doctors in the area because you would settle for nothing less for your family (nor should you). You have no major student loan debt since your parents were able to pay your college tuition. You are heterosexual, able-bodied, cisgendered citizens who were born in this country. So, you feel that you don't really NEED to go vote. After all, it's such an inconvenience, just like volunteering to help campaign with your good friend who is running for office. (Not to mention, you are really sick and tired of my political posts and just can't wait for the damn election to be over already.)
I hope I'm wrong. I hope you'll get involved. I hope you'll realize that your vote is a chance to speak up and speak out - whether the vote directly helps you or not. Perhaps your vote will help elect officials who care about others, who listen to the people, who want equality and justice for everyone. Perhaps your vote will make our schools safer, make immigrants feel more welcome, help families stay together, allow women to make their own choices for their bodies, and ensure quality affordable healthcare for every man, woman, and child. Perhaps your vote will put people in office who want to help parents take care of their children, assist others with paying off student loan debt so money can more readily flow into the economy, or ensure protection and freedom for everyone no matter how they identify themselves. Your vote may speak for Mother Nature and conserving our environment. Perhaps you can be a voice for those who can't afford to get to the polls or are too intimidated to do so. Most importantly, your vote could be the one that determines whether or not respect and acceptance are restored in the moral fabric of this country I so desperately would like my children to see united once again.
I hope you'll explore your options. You google your recent medical symptoms, but not your local candidates. Change that. Call your local political party office and find out more; look up voter guides in your area. Look for road and yard signs when you're out and about, then go home and look them up! Find out who will be on the ballot, and even if someone is running unopposed, VOTE for them. Find out what propositions will be on the ballot and decide what you'll support or not. Make a plan to vote. Take a friend with you. Congratulate yourself on participating in democracy and not being part of the non-voting majority. Let's make that majority disappear! You DO have a voice. A collective voice that, when utilized, speaks volumes and cannot and will not be silenced.
