By Owen Wendell-Braly Mar. 25, 2024
How do you drive millions of citizens to vote when no one likes either of the candidates? You tell them that if the other guy wins, it will be the end of the world as they know it – or in this case – the end of American democracy. In the upcoming election – which a recent Harvard/Harris poll shows to be the least popular ever – that is exactly what is happening.
National polling shows President Biden and former President Trump’s favorability ratings to be hovering around 40% and 42%, respectively. The result of this is a prevailing sentiment of discontent rather than support – dissolution rather than excitement. Each man carries significant baggage and their flaws – as we know too well – have made it seemingly impossible to fall in love with either candidate. The result is an approaching election where we are forced to choose against – rather than for – and it is precisely this lack of appeal which has propelled the narrative beyond the normal bounds of political campaigning. Don’t vote for Joe Biden because you like him – vote for Joe Biden because you care about democracy. Don’t vote for Donald Trump because you like him – vote for Donald Trump because the left will destroy America.
On one side we have Trump – a historically polarizing figure whose political past is riddled with chaos, controversy, and too many criminal cases to count. However, to his supporters that is exactly what makes him appealing. He is their defiant champion – a protector of conservative values, a disruptor of the status quo, and a heroic combatant against the political encroachments of the left. Yet, to his critics he is the opposite – a man who embodies everything wrong with American politics: division, demagoguery, and a disdain for truth and decency. If he is elected, we are told, American democracy may perish.
On the other side stands the incumbent President Joe Biden – a far less polarizing figure whose presidency has been defined by a revived post-pandemic economy, a sustained involvement in foreign wars, and the growing issue of illegal immigration. To his supporters, however, Biden’s (perceived) commitment to unity and stability are what make him appealing – especially following the tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump. To his critics, though, President Biden’s far-left agenda and suppression of free speech is destroying all that is good in American society.
In the midst of this political dilemma, the message from both camps is clear: if the other guy wins, it will spell the end of American democracy as we know it. It is a narrative that thrives on fear – fear of the unknown, fear of regression, fear of irreparable damage to the institutions that underpin the nation's democratic fabric. And it's a narrative that – for better or worse – is driving millions of citizens to the polls for candidates they otherwise never vote for.
While coercion is seldom a justifiable tactic – amidst the noise and clamor of partisan warfare, it is essential to remember that democracy is not a spectator sport – it requires active participation, informed engagement, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. No, I do not believe American democracy is at stake – our system of governance is too strong to allow for that to happen in 4 years – and no, I do not like either candidate. But I do believe the upcoming election is not merely a choice between two imperfect candidates, but a referendum on the values that define us as a nation: values of equality, justice, and the rule of law.
In the end, the power lies with the us – the American people – to chart the course of our nation's destiny. Rather than succumbing to cynicism or despair we must embrace the power of our collective voice to shape a future that reflects the best of who we are. The stakes are high – as they always are – but so too is the opportunity to reaffirm the resilience of who we are as a nation.
Beware the clutches of fear. Confront the uncomfortable – engage with the information and actively participate – because without doing so, the ideals of democracy – the ones which we claim be saving – will exist to begin with.
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