We're at the end of election week 2024 and like so many people, I am having a lot of big feelings. What better way to deal with them than to write? So here goes nothing. I hope you'll read all the way to the end.
First I'd like to start off by saying, "congratulations to the other side!" And I mean that sincerely. It wasn't but 4 years ago that I was feeling the elation you're currently feeling. I was excited "my guy" had won the presidency and I was feeling optimism and relief. So I understand what you're probably feeling right now. Enjoy it.
I'm an American and I believe in our electoral process, our democracy, and our freedoms. I love this country and I feel lucky to live in it. I don't like how the election turned out, but I am not going to stomp around for the next 4 years denying the legitimacy of the election, I am not going to fly flags that say "F Trump", and I am not going to storm the US Capitol and try to overthrow the government. That would just be insane, right?
I'll say now what I said in 2016 when Trump was elected the first time: I think it's a mistake that we put him in office, but he is our president, and as an American, I sincerely hope he does a good job and makes this country "great again", whatever the hell that means. Of course I want our country to be successful. I want unemployment rates to fall, I want inflation to diminish, I want people to live happily ever after. I want good things for everyone - and if people have fallen on hard times, I want them to be lifted up and supported. I don't wish for Trump be a failure because that will make us, our country, a failure. We hired him, so like any employee you bring into your company, let's hope he does a good job.
Now I will say some things that I didn't say in 2016: If you voted for Trump, I think you are selfish. I didn't say this in 2016 because quite frankly he hadn't served as president yet and I was thinking that maybe the people who elected him into office knew something I didn't. Maybe this guy can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. But a lot has happened since 2016, A LOT, and I know now that anyone who voted for this man to be president in 2024 is thinking only about themselves, about their bottom line, and no one else.
Hey, I care about money, too. I am not sitting here in some ivory tower rolling around on $100 bills without a care in the world. My husband is a public school teacher and I work for a non-profit, we're not exactly raking it in. Last year our family had to take a lien on one of our vehicles just so we could buy Christmas presents. My husband and I literally live paycheck to paycheck - if one of us ends up out of work for some reason, we could lose our house. So I know money struggles first hand. But I don't put those personal struggles, like the cost of my grocery bill, in front of the bigger problems in our country: reproductive rights, gun control, healthcare access, and basic civil liberties for all Americans and those seeking asylum (or just wanting a better life) in our country who may not have been born here - to name a few.
I don't believe Trump has the ability to fix country's financial woes. But okay - maybe he will prove me wrong. But even if he does, the fact that people would choose THAT over everything else is - well - selfish. Truth is that you, Trump supporter, chose your wallet over people's basic civil liberties. If it bothers you that I am saying this, you can unfriend me in life and on social media. I invite you to go ahead and do that. I am done being nice. I am not going to walk around acting diplomatic anymore, pretending your Trump flag doesn't bother me, looking away from your MAGA bumper sticker and shaking my head like you're just an incorrigible child. I am telling you right now - you're an adult who made a selfish choice with your ballot. You care about you - you don't care about women, minorities, LGBTQ+, or our constitution. You're selfish. You have looked the other way on all of the terrible things Trump has done as a human being. Or worse than looking away, you support them.
Since 2016 you've probably been walking around calling me a hippy liberal socialist. That's fine. If caring about the rights of others is somehow wrong, then I don't want to be right. I am not looking the other way. I see what's really happening, and fuck if isn't terrifying.
In 2016 I was baffled by the election results. But here in 2024, I'm scared. I am terrified that more than half of our country blatantly voted for a convicted felon, a liar, a racist, a misogynist, and a sexual abuser to serve as our next president - AGAIN. This man incited a riot to overthrow the government when he didn't get his way. He colludes with Russia. So yeah, I am scared that this is the person that our country chose. I don't know what that says about the people who live here. But it actually makes me afraid for my life.
Lastly, to my "friends" who are telling me to "go to Canada if I don't like it" (gee, thanks for the suggestion) - I sincerely hope it won't come to that. As I mentioned at the beginning of this piece, I love this country and I feel privileged to live here. But someday it might be illegal for me to write a blog like this because our president-elect has already talked about throwing people in jail who say negative things about him. Someday we might find ourselves living in a version of Gilead from The Handmaid's Tale because, well, Project 2025. And if it comes to that, then if Canada will have me, I will seek asylum. But for now, I will stay put and do what I can to help others. And there are going to be a lot of people who may need help in the coming 4 years.