Two different commentators I listened to this morning on podcasts (Ezra Klein interviewing Nate Silver and Nicolle Wallace interviewing Heather Cox Richardson) suggested that big change could be coming our way with the November 3 mid-term elections. America got a big shock in 2016 with Donald Trump’s victory and Hillary Clinton’s defeat. But I sensed from these analysts that this could be even bigger.
Nate Silver suggested that Tuesday night could usher in an era of “momentous change.” Heather Cox Richardson told Nicolle Wallace that we may see a sea change in American politics as Americans seem to be, finally, catching on to the staggering corruption of the Trump administration and that, not only does he not conceal it, but he also flaunts it.
Americans who struggle to buy groceries, gasoline, health care, and pay for education for themselves and their families do not accept the need for trade wars and more war in the Middle East. Voters have ceased to believe promises of a great economic boom after the first of the year, conveniently predicted to follow the mid-term elections.
Furthermore, they know the smell of a rat when they are each promised a check for $5,000 if a particular party’s candidate wins the senate election in their state. That is slime of a higher viscosity than most Americans will tolerate.
So we wait to see what the voters decide. The administration has done all it can to confuse voters and instill distrust in the election system. But the system keeps on working. Poll workers continue to volunteer even in the face of threats from the very people who should be assuring them support and protection to do one of the fundamental jobs in a democracy—the conduct of free and fair elections.
My gratitude goes out to the people who invest some of their agency over and above the right to vote by doing the real shitwork of democracy. They get all the voting equipment and materials to polling places in time for the polls to open at 7 a.m. They work all day past the closing of polls at 7 p.m. to make sure everyone follows rules. Then, assuming there are no lines that are allowed to vote after 7 p.m., they pack it all up to get it to their county courthouse or election center. And they listen to people complain all day long about long lines, the way stations have been set up, shortages of materials, etc., etc.
My wife and I used to do this for $5 an hour. Even at the current rate of $12, no one gets rich being a poll worker. In addition to working hard for long hours, these days they put up with public abuse from election deniers bent on undermining the election process.
So, be nice to the people who are making it possible for you to apply your agency and maybe, just maybe, we can make this a better world. Give them your thanks even if you know them and know that they always support that “other” party. After all, this is a community, not a boxing arena. Without that “other” party to keep discussions lively and elections competitive, democracy would die a slow death while we just stand by and watch one of history’s greatest achievements wither away and we return to a world governed by kings and other autocrats. Commit yourself to honoring the agency of every human being by yourself being an active part of this democracy.
The very least you can do is vote.
