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Voting in the Loop
Kamala Harris’ 2024 concession speech is a bitter sweet end to a journey of voting in the loop.
In America Voting in the Loop Starts Young
When we get our chance to elect leaders, how do we make the best choice? In America we learn how to vote in elementary school. We elect a team captain, classroom leader and we select the best player for pick up games at recess. In middle school, and high school we move to bigger choices and we elect a school President, Vice President, Beauty Queen and more. The ones who pass out treats and rewards or have the best posters or popularity are most likely to win. We learn to just go with the sweets, and because our lives don’t get dramatically worse voting in the loop starts young.
America Always Wants Change
On a beautiful warm fall day in November 2024 Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to a supportive crowd as she conceded her race for presidential office. It was a somber event, with tears flowing from many eyes, disappointment spewing from many faces (including mine), and a reckoning of attempting to understand how America became so broken, frustrated and done with morals and values that over 70 million people made a conscious choice to place a known sex offender and convicted felon into the highest role in the country.
Can America Want Change For All
The vote is a decision that forces the country to take a look at its treatment of known felons. Felons must disclose their convictions on job applications, they are unable to vote unless certain requirements are met. Black and Brown and White people white felonies, from all over the country, face discrimination on paths to reentry. The person elected by over 70 million Americans can’t understand the plight of these people, because his crimes are confirmed and unpunished.
Can We Have Authentic Conversations on Our Choices
It is an election result with roars of racism, and shouts of sexism and an election with many other theories at play. Kamala Harris’ 2024 concession speech promised a new way forward but unfortunately we’re heading in an old way towards the future. We’re voting in the loop instead of doing our best to change our lives.
My high school history teacher often reminded us that “those who don’t remember the past are condemned to relive it”. As people spew racial hate and sew division towards others I’m hopeful that the near 70+ million people who placed their vote with Kamala Harris will continue working towards a new way forward.
As Kamala said “I concede this race but I don’t concede this fight.” and it’s going to be interesting watching how she develops her platform moving forward.
Some people argue the issue is America is not ready for a woman to be the president. I think it has nothing to do with gender because “am Erica” at its core is woman. See what I did there? I believe it has everything to do with the inability of some Americans to participate in thinking for themselves in ways that can’t be influenced.
The 2024 election was about influence it was us “voting in the loop”. The election was influenced from social media powerhouses like Twitter under the leadership of (Elon Musk), TikTok, and traditional media.
As Kamala concedes can we do the same? Can we find it in ourselves to upgrade our way of life and switch off the loop? Can we vote to create a healthier society? We’ll see but until then check out some of my other thoughts.
