2024-06-30
The 2024 election is an opportunity for democracy
Following the first debate many Democrats are in a panic about Biden. Some are calling for him to step aside while others are doubling down on their support of him. But there's another option.
Now, I'll say up front I'm not a Democrat or a Republican. I think the two party system and the political process in the US is fundamentally broken. It has been for a very long time and I think most of us agree it's broken. In the long term what's needed are deep, foundational changes to how we view and practice democracy, both elections and legislation. But I won't go there in this post. Let's stick to the 2024 election.
I'm speaking primarily to the half of the country that does not want Trump elected. Before the debate, going back months, it's been a given that this was going to be a VERY tight race. Given that Biden's age has been discussed for months, in any "normal" time, say 20 years ago, Biden's age would have been a concern months ago. In any other time his performance at the debate would have been, at the very least, further cause for concern about his cognitive abilities in the context of his age. In those times, yes, alarm bells would go off based on what we all witnessed Thursday night.
Of course, 20 years ago, Trump's criminality, lies and promotion of violence and fascism would never have allowed him to get this far. We all know this. Everything about 2024 is off the historical norm. If those historical standards mattered, Trump would not be a candidate. But in that context Biden's age WOULD be discussed especially in light of Thursday night's debate. I think what this shows is that one side is still holding to historic norms and that the media is still holding that side to those historic standards.
To be clear, Trump and his MAGA movement have taken over the Republican party. That side is now entirely outside of past norms. It's a given that he will not step aside and that by the new standards of that party he is accepted. In the new reality of 2024 roughly half of the country accepts supports Trump.
The hand wringing about Biden's age and cognitive abilities is an indicator that the other half the country is still functioning within the historical playbook and in that context it's natural to be concerned. And there is panic because there is a simultaneous awareness that the other side is no longer adhering to norms. For them anything seems to go. There seems to be no bottom.
Given the enormity of the cultural shift we are in the middle of I think we have to accept that we are truly in a new reality for the US. That said, in the short term, my advice would be that Democrats should keep Joe Biden and embrace Kamala Harris. DO BOTH. Elevate her immediately. I'm not exactly sure how they do that but put her along side of Biden both optically but also, practically. Elevate her role in every way. Reassure people that she is there, that she's competent and ready. But that is not nearly enough.
This is not about getting behind Biden. That's a fear-based, reactionary response. It will lose the election. To have any chance at winning the Democrats should start behaving as a coalition of the many. As an outsider I view it as a party that is heavily dominated by older white men and right centrist views. The many other parts of the coalition, namely the progressives, are persistently in an underdog position. That's what seems to have created this crisis. That is the true core of the crisis. It's a foundational division that cannot, should not be papered over.
The dominent right-centrists of the party need to open the doors wide and truly embrace the diversity of the many. In short, they need to embrace they reality of 2024 and let go. Let the multitudes come in and help. This is a fight of the many for the many. It's time for the Democrats to let themselves be redefined by the beautiful diversity that holds all of the energy. Let them come in.
The Republicans let themselves be redefined by hate and fear.
It's time for the Democrats to embrace a new future, not for themselves, but for democracy.
The full answer to winning the election is also the answer for winning the future. Let this be a moment of future building. Let this be a moment where the party becomes the champion of democracy. While the first step is truly opening the doors to the progressives, the equally important next step is advocating for more parties, for a more open process that embraces what other nations have been doing for years. A more modern, open and diverse democracy. In short, an end to the two party system. This would be a party that would flourish even as it sowed a better, more just and open democracy.
So, don't make this about electing Biden. Declare now that this is about opening the doors and expanding democracy not in some future election cycle but right now. Embrace the diversity of people that make democracy important and that diversity of people will fight for democracy.
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