Let’s get something out of the way. I’ve spent the last couple of months feeling increasingly optimistic about our ability to reject the creeping fascism of right-wing politics.
I know, I know — what a hot take. But Biden stepping down felt like an antidote. The sitting president chose to step aside when his opponent bragged about becoming a “dictator on day one.” Come on, that’s worth something.
Then came the party’s unified support of Kamala Harris as the nominee, her spot-on VP pick in Tim Walz—aka everyone’s goofy dad before he got radicalized by Fox News—and a Democratic convention that revolved around hope and joy.
It all felt like a perfect contrast to Trump’s increasingly nonsensical lies and JD Vance’s reputation with couches. Their campaign sprung up overnight, monopolized the media for weeks after Trump was literally shot at, and built unprecedented momentum with less than 4 months until votes are counted.
But even with those good vibes, I’m still not immune to the fear of a Trump win. Let’s not kid ourselves. A convicted felon has a genuine shot at winning back the White House, even after inciting an insurrection to steal an election nearly 4 years ago. It just shouldn’t feel that close, y’all.
As much as my optimistic side says there will be an outright rejection of Trump in a few weeks, here is some more justification for anyone still hanging out on the fence.
Hurricane Helene and How We Respond to Disasters
I live in central North Carolina and have only seen the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene via social media. I have also seen an immense outpouring of love and grassroots support, growing more by the day. It’s an inspiring display of mutual aid amid unbelievable hardship.
And yet, simultaneously, you can’t deny the impacts of a GOP-led state legislature on western NC’s disaster preparation and effects. For over 15 years, lawmakers have rejected limits on construction on steep slopes, potentially increasing the number of homes lost to landslides. Weakening wetland protections heightened the risk of dangerous stormwater runoff. Slow adoption of updated building codes has barred the state from federal climate-resilience grants.
And then there’s Trump, who claimed that Biden wasn’t responding to aid requests from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Kemp himself spoke out against the claim because it was justly false.
While that is such a small moment, it’s also a stark reminder of just how dire a second Trump presidency would be. This man already has a legacy of sowing distrust in the government during natural disasters. But to do so while the people of places like Asheville, Boone, and Chimney Rock endure the worst disaster in their history is nothing short of infuriating.
Do we need to be reminded of his past behavior? Speaking of North Carolina, how about when he withheld federal aid after Hurricane Matthew? We could also laugh-cry at the video of him throwing paper towels at Puerto Ricans desperate for aid after Hurricane Maria. Or the horror that was “Sharpiegate.”
We’re talking about a person who has repeatedly shown that disaster relief is nothing more than a dangerous, narcissistic performance. Something to affirm his false reality and punish dissenters instead of offering support as one human being to millions of others.
If past behavior is the best indicator of future choices, then I expect more of the same from Trump — if not worse.
The Outright Dystopian Future of Project 2025
I expect most people have heard of Project 2025 by now. But if you haven’t yet, buckle up. This right-wing manifesto is being positioned as a playbook for a future GOP government, whether that’s under Trump or another figurehead down the line.
Don’t be fooled by the Trump campaign’s attempt to distance themselves from it — over 140 former Trump officials authored, in full or in part, 25 out of the 30 chapters in the Project 2025 agenda.
Here are some particularly relevant highlights:
- Gutting NOAA and the National Weather Service, both of which are essential to disaster response. Because, you know, climate change is just a “liberal hoax”.
- A mass deportation plan that would rip apart families — including legal U.S. citizens — and decimate entire sectors of our nation’s economy. 8 million undocumented immigrants work, according to Maribel Hastings of America’s Voice, a pro-immigration reform organization. They make up 22% of all farm workers, 15% of construction workers, and 8% of manufacturing workers.
- Defunding public broadcasting, effectively silencing locally controlled public media that millions of Americans rely on. Never mind that all it takes is a $500 million annual appropriation from the government to support over 1,500 locally controlled and operated public television and radio stations. The point is to disrupt the free, non-commercial, public media that every American should be able to access.
- We don’t need to go into things like banning adult entertainment; simply look at how many people search for VPNs after Pornhub blocked access in their state.
Sadly, that’s far from all.
You may see it as a liberal’s boogieman, but ask yourself: why would anyone draft up a 900+ page playbook if they have no intent on using it?
Still on the Fence About Kamala?
“Her policies seem vague!” But they exist and are supported by people whose sole job is economics. And please, answer this: do you genuinely think Trump has a better plan? His economic ideas — from outrageous tariffs (which affect costs for US companies and consumers, not other countries) to slashing regulations — will push us closer to a recession.
Let’s not forget Trump’s “concepts of a plan” for the Affordable Care Act, despite getting elected in 2016 to repeal and replace it. What exactly are we expecting to change this time around?
“But she supports Israel!” I hear you. The Israeli influence over the Democratic Party and our entire government is very concerning, especially as we continue to equip a far-right government with weapons of genocide.
However, please consider what will happen to Palestine with Trump in the White House. The same goes for Ukraine and potentially Taiwan. When the world feels like a powder keg, it’s vital to take calculated caution over egotistical tirades.
“BUT I HATE LIBERALS!” Listen, I won’t discredit any criticism of genuine elitism on the left, especially in our media and entertainment. Folks living and working in rural counties have been the butt of the joke for a long time. No one should be surprised to find many radicalized by years of effective right-wing propaganda (and poorly funded education).
And yet, Trump and the GOP have done enough harm across the board for anyone to fear the worst. Culture war politics distract and divide us all from a select few currently concentrating their wealth at our expense. Letting fear and hate fuel our choices gets us further away from the positive future we all want.
Look, I’m not asking you to be a die-hard Harris fan. I’m not saying we can’t criticize and demand more from our left-presenting politicians.
But in the face of fascism, any election should be about harm reduction first, plain and simple. That means choosing a candidate who isn’t drafting policy straight out of a dictator’s playbook.
Ultimately, I can only hope that you do whatever research you need and think critically about what is truly important for where you live.
I will still be as optimistic as possible because I believe the average person wants to live a joyful life rather than one filled with fear and hate. The easiest way to do that is to show up and vote now and every year.
Let’s do this.
Still trying to figure out where to even start? Here are some quick and easy tips to remember:
- Make sure you are registered to vote before you go to the polls!
- Learn about Early Voting in your state and skip the long lines on Election Day!
- Remember that local elections make the most impact — especially at the state level.
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