I have been smitten lately with the idea of voting strategically, which I first read in an essay by Andrew Marantz in The New Yorker. He quoted Mark Rudd, who was a member of the Weathermen, a group of peace activists back in the 1970s. “When I was 20, I voted morally. Now I vote strategically.”
Thinking about voting strategically helps me release the anger at voting for the better of two imperfect candidates when what we deserve is perfection. According to the promises, a third-party candidate comes closer to my ideal but I know that she’d never get initiatives approved by a partisan congress. Taking the long view, I see that the better of the two major candidates can make a huge strategic difference. Eyes on the prize, dear ones.
First of all, the better candidate is a woman. Maybe hers will be the administration that finally takes gender bias out of our constitution by passing the Equal Rights Amendment. “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Twenty-three words that could change everything for women, girls and the LGBTQ community. At the very least, a female administration can encourage us to advocate for rights to determine what should happen to our own bodies. I won’t review the negative remarks about females that have come from the other candidate. Suffice it to say that he doesn’t have any respect for us.
And the better candidate isn’t a convicted felon. This is a plus when thinking about the Supreme Cour where three justices have aged into their 70s. Critics suggest that Clarence Thomas (76), Samuel Alito (74) and Sonia Sotomayor (70) should hang up their robes and John Roberts (69) is edging into that territory. None have indicated they will retire but putting the future of the Supreme Court appointments in the hands of a liar with no discernable conscience is a bad idea.
Besides that, our favorite has an instinct for sustainability, negotiation, collaboration, peacemaking. That’s the example we need for the future. In Peace Studies 101 we learned that the worst collateral damage after war is hatred of the enemy that inflames the next generation. Think of the suffering of thousands of children on both sides of one of the many wars altered by U.S. weapons: Israel and Palestine. How can they come to reconciliation?
The best outcome IMHO is to see that bully Benjamin Netanyahu, breaker of international law, brought to justice. The better candidate’s support of Israel is troubling, but she has called for ceasefire for months. As we watch the Middle East draw closer to an all-out regional crusade, we wonder if she has the courage to withdraw U.S. support on the basis of international criminality from Netanyahu. Our candidate’s in a box, as long as she’s second in the administration. Will she find a work-around if elected?
The most “forever” issue is of course climate change. The late September and early October of hurricane activity should have convinced all Americans that this issue is real. We’ve heard TV weathermen explain that higher temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are the reason hurricanes are more violent. The weather guys haven’t quite gotten to the point they’re explaining what humans can do about it but they are beginning to say the words “climate change.” This is a huge step for media that was reluctant a year ago to broach the subject. Next, they need to connect climate change with human behavior and help folks understand how to fix what we’ve broken.
Our better candidate has not been afraid to address climate change, and has made it personal by talking about the ordinary folks who have lost insurance because of the violence of major fires and weather events. Her support of the Infrastructure Bill was an important step in improving our nation’s united carbon footprint. Going forward, we’ll need a leader who listens to scientists, explains what they say, and demonstrates what we need to do to reverse global warming. She needs to lead by setting an example: Reduce the nation’s carbon footprint. Plant trees. Limit travel. Put solar panels on government buildings. Buy electric vehicles. Like Jimmy Carter in 1977, our next leader can teach us all to save energy by turning down the thermostat and putting on a sweater.
Most of all, our next leader needs to have the fortitude to put up with the harassment and bullying from the other side. And we, in turn, need to stand firm beside her.
Blips in history are devastating to those that live through them, yes, but in the end they are only blips. Taking the long view as we vote—the strategic vote—can help us envision that future when these days are forgotten.
Eyes on the Prize, dear ones. Vote for Kamala.
Margot Ford McMillen farms near Fulton, Mo., and co-hosts “Farm and Fiddle” on sustainable ag issues on KOPN 89.5 FM in Columbia, Mo. Her latest book is “The Golden Lane: How Missouri Women Gained the Vote and Changed History.” Email: margotmcmillen@gmail.com.
From The Progressive Populist, November 15, 2024
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