Post Election Power?

Reflecting on this election involves both Big Questions and smaller thoughts.

Some of my friends offer conspiracies of how the election was rigged. For weeks we knew that this election was too close to call. Statistician Nate Silver predicted the election had a 40% chance of being a blowout for either side. In short: I think Trump really won.

What does it mean? Here is one data point. The most Googled searches on the eve of the election? “Who is running for president?” and “Did Biden drop out?” In other words, for millions of voters it didn’t mean much. Truly low information voting.

One friend sent me an article explaining it as a victory for right wing media and social media. I would agree this is a major factor. As noted in my previous article, the issue was not so much truth as it was focus. A focus on a false narrative of economic decline and an “invasion” of immigrants while ignoring the issues that really matter most. People go bankrupt from health care, not the price of bacon. Republicans have always been on the wrong side of health care affordability.

Which brings me to a Big Question: What is the right side of history? Progressives have much to be proud of. We fought for worker rights, shorter work hours and a living wage. Against child labor. For voting rights, housing rights and civil rights for minorities and women. For human rights and against torture. For Medicare and Social Security. For environmental protection, the climate and preventing human-caused extinctions.

But not every progressive cause turned out to be a good idea. Some progressives did advocate for eugenics and for world Communism. Oops.

As I wrote in my article “Grievance Industry,” some progressives created and nurtured grievances – rather than bringing people together for common needs like universal health care and good jobs building the future we want.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DEI) programs really did turn into a way to cancel people without due process. Taken to an extreme, this grievance industry pits one group of disempowered people against another. JK Rowling and biologist Richard Dawkins got canceled for raising these issues with regard to biological gender. We have to be able to acknowledge gray areas of rights. And we can’t demonize all men and all white people. That sort of thing elects Trump and his ilk.

One interesting theory sent by a friend: “Transcendence.” ISIS promised “transcendence” through horrific cruelty and violence. Perhaps Trump has similar appeal? I explained this in my article “Some Want to Watch the World Burn.” 

What now? In recent decades, almost every major city in the country has voted for the Democratic candidate. As true for Montgomery, AL, as for Seattle, WA.

Much can be achieved through pooled efforts of cities and urban counties. Notably, investments in sustainable transportation and energy to combat the Climate Crisis. The National League of Cities is celebrating its 100^th anniversary. A great deal more could be achieved if these cities were willing to tax themselves a bit more and pool their resources. This can be a powerful parallel government to state and national governments.

Trump’s horrific plan to deport millions of undocumented Americans has shockingly high support in polls. Most of these people have lived here for decades, many since they were children. If it were any other law, the statute of limitations would have expired and they would be safe. But cities and states can fight back and refuse to cooperate. Trump has established that lawlessness can escape justice. It is time for our side to fight back the same way.

Trump’s Project 2025 allies want to enact a national abortion ban. But anything short of that can be fought state by state. In this latest election, almost all states voting for abortion rights won those rights.

The 2016 Trump election brought out a surge of activism in the streets. I don’t see that happening this time. But coordinated efforts among cities and states could achieve positive transcendent change with health care and the environment on an unprecedented scale. Perhaps the rest of the country will be inspired to follow.