My first column for Tumbleweird was encouraging everyone to vote. It was November 2016, and I had hope that people in my community would turn out and vote for local and state candidates that would make a positive difference in our community, believing that national elections would also repudiate the divisiveness of Donald Trump and continue the legacy of Barack Obama.
We all know how that went.
Eight years later, our country is even more divided. Following politics and the news is exhausting and stressful. Many of us have tuned out, and too many of us feel like our votes don’t matter. Lies and disinformation have become ubiquitous and unchallenged. Corporate media, in a misguided policy of ‘both sides-ism’, has failed to call out the very real threat to our democracy of an autocratic takeover by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans.
Too many voters have become so disillusioned about the presidential race that they want to opt out of the entire process.
Then, on July 21, Joe Biden, recognizing that his chances of defeating Donald Trump were becoming more unlikely, and seeking to keep the threat of Project 2025 from becoming a reality, put the future of the United States ahead of himself and withdrew his candidacy. He immediately endorsed Kamala Harris for president.
Within a day, democrats coalesced around Harris in a show of unity to defeat Donald Trump, raising over $250 million in new money, receiving endorsements from everyone who could reasonably challenge a Harris nomination, and earning enough delegates to win the Democratic Party nomination. Tens of thousands of new volunteers have signed up to volunteer for the campaign.
Suddenly, it seems, those who had lost hope in the system feel energized.
When we lose hope, we lose our ability to imagine a better future. And when we feel like we have no ability to make a difference, we give up and opt out.
But we can make a difference. We are still a country where the people have a vote. Where the power of the government is derived from the consent of the people.
Our vote is our way of demonstrating hope for a better tomorrow. Our vote says we believe we CAN make a difference. Our vote is our power to change the course of our community and our nation so that our children and their children will have a better future.
Don’t give up your vote. Don’t give up hope.
Washington’s primary election is this month. And local, state, and congressional races affect you even more directly than national elections.
Ballots are already out. Vote while you still can.
For more information, to register, or to check the status of your ballot, go to votewa.gov.
Ted Miller grew up around the world but now lives in Richland with his wife. He’s a runner, actor, singer, nuclear engineer, and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Ted believes that if more people worked toward love and understanding instead of giving in to fear and divisiveness, the world would be a better place.
