It’s Probably Fine

My early political consciousness came from Schoolhouse Rock, Bloom County, 1776 (the musical), and Rush Limbaugh. Bloom County taught me what a liberal was, which didn't seem so bad, but Rush taught me what a late 80/early 90s-era conservative was, which seemed strong and practical and righteous...way better than those bleeding heart feminazi commie libs. He pioneered the infotainment medium, working on my fears and indignation and my basic teenage need to feel overinformed so I could win arguments and look smart. I remember listening to him pound the desk and shuffle his papers, explaining the ways the democrats were ruining this country, feeling my blood pressure rise and shaking my head in mystification of how 'other' people could be so ignorant. It made me feel smart and superior. It also made me feel a sense of us vs them, and an anxiety that I hadn't really known before...the feeling that we HAD to vote those assholes out of office so WE could take charge and make everything right. I was so glad W won in 2000 and that the grown-ups were back in charge....and that election was the last time I voted republican.

I say all that because in the ridiculous fb posts I've read in the past few weeks I see the same fear and anxiety. Old high school friends, acquaintances, neighbors...they consume the same media, they share the same memes, they give each other knowing nods signaling that they are in the smart club. Some of them are just low information voters and don't really know the truth, others have heard the truth but don't believe it, and still others know it, believe, but don't care. They want what he is selling. They want the benevolent dictator to come down and crush those enemies from within, taking their country back, making it great again. Or maybe they just think they want to burn it all down. But in practical, immediate terms...none of that is what they want. They couldn't even articulate what any of that would look like in their daily lives.

What people want is the basic human need to reduce their stress, to take away their fears and anxiety. Ironically they have this power already...all they have to do is turn off Fox and Carlson and Shapiro and Bongino and all the other info-grifters. Just like I did when 30 years ago I discovered that turning off Rush made me a happier person, and suddenly my world was 'made great again' simply by ignoring people who told me how bad it was.

All that said, I get the impulse. Choosing a candidate to vote for is mostly an emotional decision, like buying a car. When you're displeased with your situation in life you seek to align yourself with someone you think best represents your interests, or at least is willing to go to battle with those enemies who you think are responsible for your woes. But it's all bullshit. This is just a job interview. Pick the person you think can do the best job, but with only incomplete information. Look at their resume, listen to their words, watch what they do. I know very little about Kamala but from what I can tell she's a competent politician, a decent person, and seems genuinely interested in delivering the best possible outcome for the greatest number of people. I have no idea if she will be successful, but I can believe that is her intention. I wouldn't hire trump to pick up my dogs' shit in the back yard.

My best friend growing up posted a video of Harris delivering one of those word salad responses to a question at some town hall, with a note saying something like 'anyone who would vote for her is an idiot'. So here is why this idiot is voting for Harris (clearly this is not an exhaustive list, just what I think are the most impactful, specific reasons):

January 6. More specifically, two hours into the riot the first thing we heard from our president was the tweet “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done.” He should have been convicted by the senate and we wouldn't be here.

26 credible accusations of sexual assault, the proof of which is backed up by his own words.

More than half of his cabinet have refused to endorse him, among many others who have worked for/near him, and some have actively come out against him. There are signed letters by hundreds of national defense/security officials endorsing Harris and calling him a threat. That's what your HR person would call 'poor references'.

Even if I had major policy differences with Harris, she would almost certainly have a divided government and likely get very little done. Conservatives have their Dobbs decision and a a SC supermajority, so their little pet policy agendas are safe for four years.

Trump clearly has some secret alignment with Putin. Put aside the reports about recent interactions, sending him covid testing equipment, or all the claims that the Kremlin had been grooming him since the 80s...just listen to what the dude has said during his presidency and since.

If you've ever known a true narcissist, you know he is one. You can't have an effective public servant who is incapable of acting selflessly and for the greater good.

The way he treated his contractors, vendors, and business partners when he was actually a real estate developer. Refusing to pay them, taking them to court, bankrupting many of them. My family ran a small business and this is when I truly began hating him, which was way before he ran for president.

I would also add his age, but I honestly think his being this close to death is a plus.