Post US election and since the Covid pandemic hit, we are all still searching for the why? Why has the world become such a tough and brutal place. If you’re empathetic in any way, you’re having trouble reconciling all of this with your belief that the Universe is mostly benevolent.
After November 5, 2024 particularly, the world has changed for many of us. There is significant grieving in the US, so much so that it feels palpable. We are still searching for a reason why a serial liar, self confessed predator of women and would be insurrectionist got picked by 49% of those Americans who turned up to vote. The other choice was an ethical, female politician offering $25,000 to Americans to help them build homes. Understandably, we are looking for a narrative to explain the travesty. Was the election stolen? Let the incoming president blow himself and those who voted for him up? The media is to blame? Russia interfered in the election and tech bro Elon Musk did too? Ignorant MAGA and its supporters know no better? The vote was suppressed? Our society is misogynistic, racist and bigoted?
What if I said there was a degree of truth in all of the above to explain the why. Russia did interfere with massive misinformation campaigns and bomb threats, Musk potentially violated Pennsylvania lottery laws when he offered $1m to eligible voters who registered GOP voters and the US Department of Justice warned him about ‘buying votes’. The voter suppression was a fact. Huge swathes of voters were purged off roles in North Carolina and Texas. The media hasn’t even begun to investigate the real extent of voter purging and something else too, missing ballots.
The real kicker…all the fraud theories under the sun do not disguise the obvious misogyny, racism and ignorance out there in certain sections of society and the clear drift towards fascism.
There is no doubt that Trump will fail this term for many reasons including that he is a ‘lame duck’ president – one who is elected for one term only with no possible chance of a second term, and expiring by a set date under law. His bent for retribution, using the military to round up illegal immigrants, his shocking and unqualified cabinet picks, the razor thin majorities, his undoubted weakening of the economy in the future with tariffs…all of that is true and so is the buyer’s remorse that goes with it. Already record numbers are flocking to google to search for ‘how can I change my vote’.
There is ample evidence from recent studies that X was used to distort and boost algorithms in favour of the incoming president. Facebook AI allowed an enduring number of militia pages to spring up as MAGA supporters readied for another round of Stop the Steal violence. Intimidation at polls, burning of ballet boxes, all added up.
The recount in Pennsylvania between incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey and MAGA would be Senator McCormick is a litmus test for the electoral system. If any fraud is present, it will be outed in that recount. We will know if the election interference by Musk and his satellites is mere conspiracy and election denial or if it holds credence.
And so confusion, grief, outrage and denial is all well founded in the US and around the world at this time and we should recognise that is the space we are coming from…as people search for their narratives to ease their pain, it is important to remember that all is not lost. We will see that in time when the fog clears.
In the meantime, we can resist any attempt to back away from our values. While we may be cynical for awhile, and reclusive too, in the end we know we must continue to stand up to fascism, to fight for voters’ rights and to create the kind of world we want to live in, and for generations to come.
Stop searching for a narrative. Be in the present moment and know that, ultimately, MAGA will implode and its leader will one day be a nightmare from which we awoke. Stay away from election analysis because it’s currently distorted. A week ago they were telling us MAGA had a mandate. Today they’ve gone silent because after votes were being finalised in places like California, it turned out MAGA’s lead was about 1%. Vice President Harris finished on 48% and the MAGA leader on 49%.
Over the next months and years, if the election recounts don’t uncover fraud, you can take heart that this is an era where Trump voters get that kick in the ass, and you get your vindication.
Take care and take heart.
18/19th November 2024