Hello!
Congratulations on getting through a tense week. Now that the dust has settled, we’ll see more analyses on why Harris didn’t win and what the Democrats did wrong. Keep in mind that the same reasoning would apply if she had won. Nevertheless, if I may share two (of my biggest) takeaways from the election results:
Some argue that the campaign’s outcome wasn’t a messaging problem but rather a reflection of sexism, racism, xenophobia, and other issues. While that’s true, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Democrats’ woes mirror a global trend: for the first time in 120 years, every incumbent party in a developed country facing national elections this year lost vote share.
In this election, Democrats campaigned on the theme that democracy and women’s bodily autonomy were under threat. However, many voters didn’t share that fear. In states like Arizona, Missouri, and Montana, people elected Donald Trump while still supporting abortion rights. Trump also garnered significant support from Hispanic voters—seven in ten rated the economy as “not so good” or “poor,” and a slim majority of those backed Trump.
Takeaway 1: The economy remains the biggest concern for most Americans. Housing is expensive, higher education is out of reach for many, and countless individuals live paycheck to paycheck while caring for ageing parents. Many Americans believe that life under Trump will be easier.
Historically, Democrats have represented a strong economy, advocating for working people against the establishment and big corporations. They have championed change and resonated with disaffected young voters. However, Donald Trump—rather than the Republican Party—has become a symbol of that change.
Yet economists suggest that the U.S. economy is recovering well after the pandemic and that Trump’s economic plans could cause inflation, making daily necessities even more expensive. So why do most voters still believe their lives would be better under Trump?
Takeaway 2: Clear and simple communication often beats discussing plans and policies, especially when immediate relief is promised. Shifting perceptions is challenging.
When speaking to the economy, Democrats focused on sharing policies that would improve things with time and how Trump will make things worse with his plans. We now know that such rhetoric went over most Americans’ heads. How do tariffs actually work? Isn’t reducing taxes going to benefit me, too? On the other hand, Trump made bold promises and his message was – I see you, I will take action as soon as I enter office to improve your economic situation. I’m so good for the economy; I have the support of a billionaire. You do not have to wait.
We can expect to see this approach and storytelling in the Trump campaign, especially as they attempt to roll back life-saving vaccines.
So what now?
From Harris’ concession speech, “When we fight, we win. But here’s the thing: sometimes, the fight takes a while…The important thing is to never give up. Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power…You have the capacity to do extraordinary good in the world.”
Rest well! The fight continues.
Here’s my reading highlight:
The Reservoir Tapes by Jon McGregor
3 stars
I thought I would be reading a thriller about a missing girl, Becky—how she disappeared when she was found, and what happened afterwards. Instead, it was a tale about the town, its secrets, and town members’ interactions with Becky. It was engaging and well-written.
poetryandproze 