The results are in. To most of us, they're pretty shocking. Who knew that someone who disrespected every minority group in our country would be able to win the presidency of the United States? But something else that bothers me is the blatant disregard of the effects of our actions. Every single citizen was complicit in electing a man who will murder the families of terrorists, destroy our relations with China and NATO, and will cement the belief around the world that the U.S is not fit to lead. Donald Trump is going to throw away 30 years of climate agreements by backing out of this year's Paris agreement which, for the first time, brought 190 countries together to commit to lowering emissions. For a country that was already falling behind, we decided to allow someone to send us back even further.
How We Got Here
I say "we" on purpose. I voted for Clinton and organized across the state of Pennsylvania to mobilize democratic voters. But even I should be held partly responsible. When it comes to democracies every citizen plays a role in the decisions our country makes. We are a country of apathy and we all should've realized that years before this election. When people stop caring about government (and blame their lack of caring on the government itself) ridiculous people get elected and then reelected. Those same people who already stopped caring and voting look at the results of their apathy and say something along the lines of "Why should I care when politicians clearly don't?". Politicians are reactive. If people give a shit about who leads their communities then parties will field candidates who give a shit about your community. We have been getting what wins; candidates who say whatever it takes to elected. The reason they are so effective is because most people view staying informed as a burden. So when a candidate tells a group of people what they want to hear they are likely to believe it no matter how impossible it is. Then, organizers like myself start to lose hope. We narrow the number of people we canvass or call to those who we think might actually care. This keeps us from informing the people who are most mislead and locks us in a toxic cycle of misinformation.
How We Change it
So, now that we're here what can we do about it? First, we need to organize. Organizing is how the American people keep our government in check. The problem is this has become viewed as a radical activity. That could not be further from the truth. If you are passionate about something talk to a friend who is involved. Keep an eye on social media for local rallies and events. Invite people you know so that they too can be more involved.
Second, pay attention to the candidates. All of them! While it's certainly a good idea to do your homework on presidential races, your local reps are just as important. Keep an eye out for down ballot races. Maybe attend events where you can meet the people in your district. Candidates for local elections are typically more than willing to meet with concerned voters as people tend to tell others about their experience with the candidate. It could be an offer as simple as:
" I was hoping you could stop by and tell myself along with some other folks from the community about your plans for our town."
See what happens I'll bet you'll be very pleasantly surprised.
Lastly, read a f*cking book. If you have no idea how the government works I'm not sure you can blame the state of politics on politicians. Politicians in a democracy will only be as smart as the population they represent. Someone may be an amazing physicist or engineer but it's also important to have at least a basic understanding of how our nation's leaders pass laws. If you completely neglect your duty as a citizen it will not only effect your life but the lives of much more vulnerable people than yourself.
