This Election Feels Like A Dead End For American Progress
Undoubtedly, the upcoming 2024 presidential election will be one of the most influential races in world history.
I write this from the perspective of a 24 year old journalist — a true Gen Z’er — fortunate enough to be in a position where my voice holds some sort of value and validity. I can’t think of a managing editor around my age with my responsibility, so with that being said, I feel as if it is my due diligence to share what I, as well as most of my younger like-minded peers, hold true. My beliefs come from a place of concern, dread and overall irritation.
The Two Party System: A Brick Wall
I’m concerned for the wellbeing of our nation, no matter the outcome. The two party system ensures that nothing gets accomplished at any level of power, especially in Congress, where we’ve nearly seen a government shutdown due to disagreement of spending procedures, aid to war and much more.
Working in a bipartisan manner? Mostly unheard of, especially as we’ve seen “some conservative House Republicans are pushing for deep spending cuts, saying they’ll refuse to support the Senate’s bill or any short-term legislation that would buy Congress more time to act,” NBC explained late last year.
House Republicans acting out due to majority differences with the Senate. Unfortunate, typical behavior.
Basically, I dread that whoever wins this presidential race, whether Trump or Biden, will continue to push their party to the front of our screens with the message of, “our party is better.” Parties will continue to fight for what they think is “right,” and what they have thought was the only way of life for decades.
We have radical conservatives in power by the likes of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) still yelling for a stolen election.
“I proudly objected on Jan. 6,” she said boldly. “I would object again today because I know for a fact there was so much wrong in that election and I believe it was stolen. Do I know how? No, I don’t know how.”
A baseless claim.
Greene, also part of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, we’ve seen screaming and insulting witnesses such as U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who she suggested was responsible for failing to “maintain operational control of the border,” also leading to a number of Fentanyl deaths. Whether one agrees or not, her temper tantrums are despicable and beyond unprofessional — so much so that she was silenced by the GOP-led committee.
“You are a liar,” she screamed.
And we can’t forget far left progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who’s “Tax the Rich” dress at the Met Gala in 2021 contradicts everything she stands for, hanging out with uber-wealthy millionaires in clearly expensive attire. This came a year before she voted “no” on the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill, which provided assistance to organizations like ICE as well as to our struggling border. Our nation clearly then, like now, had a concerning immigration influx in need of regulating.
My point here: whether Trump or Biden get elected, this just adds fuel to the fire of power hungry, two party system, nepotists.
How don’t we have better candidates at the forefront of the United States — the world’s role model for democracy? Millions are manipulated by a two party system that has proven divisive.
Bad Candidates All Around
To me, I call corruption and poor policy as I see it, and personally, I can’t help but point out that both can prove true in Biden and Trump.
Trump is guilty on all 34 counts of his hush money trial. A witch hunt? Well to many millions, yes, but even if one thinks this way, DCReport’s very own co-founder David Cay Johnston explained the ongoing corruption of Trump — which he’s been doing for the last 36 years.
“The late great Wayne Barrett, the first journalist to seriously cover Trump, and a close friend, once wrote, ‘Trump won’t do a deal unless there’s something extra — a kind of moral larceny — in it. He’s not satisfied with the profit. He has to take something more. Otherwise, there’s no thrill.’
Donald tried to bribe Barrett, offering Wayne a Trump Tower apartment if he would stop critically examining his conduct. That is when Donald learned that not everyone has a price.
Constant threats of lawsuits are central components of Trump’s effort to suppress critical news. He even killed a brilliant documentary, keeping it from being seen for 25 years: Trump: What’s The Deal. Now you can watch it on YouTube for $3.99 — and it’s worth every penny.
Trump schemed to compromise Wall Street Journal reporter Neil Barsky, who broke damning Trump stories. A minor misstep ruined Barsky’s reporting career.
Donald tried to compromise me when he saw my middle son, who was then 17. Donald had his photographer shoot a photo of them, then sent by messenger a framed copy with praising words written with his Sharpie. I realized that Donald would soon claim I had blackmailed him into this to force me, like Barsky, off the story. However, I outsmarted Trump thanks to unwavering support from strong-spined Philadelphia Inquirer editors.
Over the decades, I wrote about how he did extraordinary favors for one of the biggest cocaine traffickers in America, favors that made no sense unless they were in business together. His casinos plied children ages 12, 13 and 14 with liquor, limousines and hotel suites because they had money to gamble in his casinos, where anyone under 21 is barred.”
Certainly for me, this first person perspective helps to visualize Trump’s true nature, although even without such, the ongoing claims of a stolen election and crude tone, well into Biden’s presidency, remains distasteful.
Biden on the other hand, is what I, and most of my generation see as a legitimately struggling older man. I don’t say this as a political talking point, but rather a concern, because he is clearly struggling to function.
Aside from that, his withdrawal from Afghanistan was vulgar and unforgivable, leaving behind machinery for Taliban to take rule, ensuring Islamic Shari’a law until further notice. We can’t forget the border crisis, while the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) recorded 128,000 encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border just this past April — although this does indicate improvement according to data.
And, especially now, Hunter being found guilty on all three felony accounts relating to his illegal purchase of a firearm while on drugs. I don’t believe this is something that was not on President Biden’s radar. Perhaps while he was making a speech about gun control and regulation, he forgot to mention Hunter’s illegal activity?
Are We Stuck?
What is the solution to a divided America? Preferably not one where discourse of your political beliefs will get you banned from family affairs, fired from your job, or even in some cases, lead to legitimate physical altercation.
What’s the solution right now? I suppose voting into power the lesser of two evils, whoever that may be to you.
Indeed, across the web, we hear political experts voice what they think our country needs — what my generation apparently seeks in a leader. Political voices who sit in a studio, or who are out of touch, seemingly living in the top 1%, with no true grasp of what we really desire.
Change of power in the crooked two party system is needed, especially with a dysfunctional Congress in charge of passing crucial bills.
At the forefront of Gen Z’s asks: Affordable tuition and healthcare, strict, but fair gun laws for safer children, women to make decisions for themselves, limited international conflict, primarily not funneling hundreds of millions to fund wars, employment, and for many millions, the hope for a better economy and higher minimum wage. Of course a safer border too.
Are these Conservative beliefs? Liberal? Somewhere in the middle? I don’t know if it falls under anything other than human necessities. If I vote for either Trump or Biden, what will I truly get?
I can’t help but think of nothing other than division, and the same exact thing we’ve been suffering through, for another four whole years. No matter who wins, it’s election year: Divided we stand.
