Thoughts on the US Election

I thought long and hard (a couple hours) about writing about the US election.

Should I do it? What if people don’t have the same political views? How many bridges would I burn? I definitely don’t know everything, so is my opinion even valid?

Ultimately, I am the captain of this ship that comes crashing into your inbox every couple of weeks, and it wouldn’t be my intimate thoughts if I didn’t express how I felt about this outcome. (and, I had a bit to process instead of just being a rage-fuelled keyboard warrior)

Now - I might have mentioned this before, but one of my guilty pleasures is consuming content which completely opposes my views. I want to know why.

Why do you feel so strongly on this completely scientifically proven, ethical issue which doesn’t concern you? Why are you so convinced that the economy changes in signing one bill rather than years? Why do you feel so strongly that your group of people should do nothing but ‘take care of the house’?

How did we get here? What aspects of how you were raised caused this? What media convinced you to follow this direction? Just - why?

I find it so interesting, the human condition.

How can some people have completely opposite views to another, on things which seem so obvious? How can some people consider someone a messiah, and others a devil?

Now - I’m not saying that it’s wrong to have people on opposite sides of the political spectrum. That’s natural. Politics rarely benefits the masses, as society is a set of systems. Systems are different everywhere, by country, by culture, by past and present.

It’s natural for people to have opposing views on whether money should go to building hospitals or medical schools, or on whether we should spend money beefing up our national security or focusing on diplomacy. I get those.

But I woke up Tuesday, Nov 6, saw the results and was immediately pissed off.

“Why Max? It’s just politics?”

If you think this election is ‘just politics’ - you are privileged.

This election was not just politics.

It was morals. It was ethics. It was safety.

To some people, it was everything.

For women, it was the right to choose what happens with their body.

For immigrants, it was the right to remain in a place where they are able to provide for their family.

For LGBTQ+, it was the right to love who they want.

For children, it was the right to proper education.

For the future, it was the right to have a world that isn’t burning.

It was so much more than just politics.

And what really pissed me off - my demographic was the main cause: white young men. (I’m white passing)

Are we so insecure? Are we so lost that we can’t find our own way? Are we so influenced by ‘male figures’ that we can’t think for ourselves? Are we so self interested, that we can’t think for one bloody fucking second how our actions affect others?

Sigh 

I hate that I care so much about US politics. I hate that it influences us so much in other countries. I hate that people who have generationally been taken advantage of, will still be for the foreseeable future.

It’s ungodly frustrating how dumb people can be.

Ultimately - the US made its bed, now they have to lie in it.

I’m just pissed off for all the people who have no choice but to lie in it with them.

See you in 2 weeks,
Max

Fun fact: 54% (~135 Million) of adults in the US have below a 6th grade reading level, 21% (~50 Million) are illiterate. And of that 21%, 34% were not born in the United States.

Which means: 66% (34.6 Million) of illiterate adults in the US, are born in the US.

This is almost the entirety of Canada (~40 Million)

sigh