Note: I wrote the first part of this blog post before the election and the second part after the election.
I am not looking forward to Tuesday’s 2024 presidential election. As the director of an international school, I am careful not to express political opinions or address controversial topics in public. I do want to leave for posterity, however, my views on the state of American democracy in general.
I think the 2010 US Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United versus the Federal Election Commission has greatly harmed democracy in the USA. By deciding 5-4 in favor of the conservative non-profit, Citizens United, the 2010 Supreme Court allowed unlimited money to be poured into election campaigns at all levels of the federal government. Literally, billions of dollars now are used by candidates to win elections. As the Brennon Center article states, many Americans have turned away from politics because power has been increased in a select group of wealthy donors, leaving people like me to feel that most politicians in Washington are controlled by monied interests.
I read the October 28 New Yorker Magazine article, “How Republican Billionaires Learned to Love Trump Again with disappointment to hear about the donations that go to both Republican and Democratic candidates. When a donor gives you millions of dollars, there must be expectations of the donor besides just agreeing with the politicians’ views. The author of the article, Susan Glasser, writes that donors used to think that donations gave them access to candidates, but in this election, Republican donors are treating it like investments, and expecting returns in the form of favorable legislation or executive actions. I don’t think this is the end of American democracy (ie Roman Republic), but it looks to be heading toward a plutocracy with wealthy individuals and corporations being able to control politicians at the expense of the vast majority of citizens. Income inequality has skyrocketed in my lifetime and I don’t see the trend slowing down. Allowing unlimited money to be “donated” to politicians does not support American democracy.
Nadia and I hosted a Presidential Election Watch Party. While watching the early election returns from Tashkent (11 hours ahead of Chicago) with Nadia before school on Wednesday morning, I found myself grappling with the results. Though I had anticipated a Trump victory, the margin exceeded my expectations. As a politically independent voter who leans center-left, I’m deeply concerned about the prospect of having someone like Trump represent our nation. His persistent denial of the 2020 election results, documented history of questionable business practices, and apparent lack of empathy run counter to the values I believe should define presidential leadership. What also troubles me is his continued strong support within the Republican Party, despite these characteristics. I know many people justify voting for him because they agree with what he will do in while in office. We’ll see what happens in his second term which is starting with Senate and House of Representatives and Supreme Court controlled by the Republicans. The American people have voted and it is nice we will have a peaceful transfer of power this time and our democracy works. I’ve lived in several countries where the outcome of the elections are known before they start.
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