With much respect and love Michele and Jaidy, I don’t think there can be unity until everybody is on the same page. I’m a millennial. Things haven’t been great for me, and I don’t see them changing. I am going to visit the food bank today. I am on SNAP but the refill dates are a bit awkward sometimes. I am in school to become a naturopath and will come out with an absolutely ungodly amount of debt. This is my life path; I cannot do anything else. I am absolutely terrified of climate change. I admit that I do have blame for the older generations; a ton of it. That division is much deeper now than it was in 2008 when Obama ran. And, if I may be blunt, his promise of ‘unity’ was false for many Americans. The fundamental changes that many hoped for did not happen. I believe is where the anger of my generation, and to some degree the anger of the Trump-ites, has come from. Some resolution of those underlying issues will be needed before we can have unity.
To me it feels more and more clear that real change in this country needs to come from the bottom up; it won't simply be voted in. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that voting doesn't matter--it does! We need engagement to preserve our democracy. But we need more than this to solve our problems and begin to cure our deep wounds. One of the visions expressed here that has resonated with me is that of less focus on federal government and more done at the local/state level. When I participated in one of the read the future nights (following the video, not live), I had a sense of a kind of "Rosie the Riveter" energy, and folks working hard together, digging in the soil to grow a better world. We need to work on healing divisions and building strong communities--and that's so much more than voting or who is president (at least, not Trump or the current GOP). There's been a lot of discussion (and some blame) over Biden's victory in the south. Here the pain and distrust from Jim Crow, which many older black Americans remember well, is still very real. My very liberal city remains segregated in many ways and racial inequity is pervasive, so it makes sense to me that many black voters are disinclined to trust that the majority will vote for policies centered on economic justice. There hasn't been enough work to earn that trust, as this article argues well:
Older black voters in South Carolina have a lifetime of education and experience dealing with the most persistent threat to their safety and rights in this country: white people.
My read of the South Carolina vote is that black people know exactly what they’re doing, and why. Joe Biden is the indictment older black folks have issued against white America. His support is buttressed by chunks of the black community who have determined that most white people are selfish and cannot be trusted to do the right thing.
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/biden-black-vote/
Please continue to vote, but also get involved in your communities to the extent that you're able to do so. This won't be easy for me either, but it is time to roll up my sleeves, flex my bicep and do what little I can manage to help in the work of building a better world for everyone.
I will say, though, that I don’t see Biden as President. I’m not seeing Bernie, but I’m not seeing Biden. Maybe it's just me, but energetically things seem slightly calmer to me now. And yet, it’s all a big jumble. This is one crazy ride we’re on.
By "seeing" I'm assuming you mean intuitively? If you are not seeing Bernie or Biden, then who are you seeing as President?
I do agree with the several posts by Jaidy, numerologist, TriciaCT and others who say that VP pick is extremely important in this race.
I really really wanna like the Rosie the Riveter thing, but... I need to have food in my bowl and a roof over my head if I’m gonna be able to work like that. That’s the kind of help my generation needs. I am drowning right now. I need a helping hand.
I was in the grocery store the other day. I just really wanted some apples. I hardly eat any fruit these days. I picked up a bag because it said 3.99. I got to the self-checkstand and put the bag down - turns out it was $11 for that bag of apples. 3.99 a pound. I pushed the button to call the clerk over because that’s what you have to do to void an item. I cannot afford $11 for a bag of apples. She was sympathetic and not surprised. I was definitely not the only person to make the same mistake. I’m really really trying to send out love and understanding right now, but something has to change.
I just told y’all that I can’t afford apples and you’re still talking about a woman president. While I agree that’s important, this is why my generation is angry. Y’all aren’t listening to us.
I just have to laugh at this. No really, think about it -- a woman president, particularly Elizabeth Warren of all people, might just be the person who will lower the price of apples for you! Or better yet, she would lower your cost of housing, solve income inequality to raise your wages, make college tuition-free, cancel your student debt, lower prescription drug costs, etc etc so that you don't actually have to worry about the price of apples anymore!
https://www.politico.com/2020-election/candidates-views-on-the-issues/elizabeth-warren/
You didn't say exactly how old you are, but I suspect you are around the age of my oldest.
Around Christmastime, I bought a pack of a new kind of apple, a mini-apple, very good. Expensive but they were on sale and I had a coupon. On a recent visit, same apple, but the price has skyrocketed. I commented to my spouse about it.
I can afford them but didn't buy them. I listen to my two oldest talk about the cost of food, housing, school, ect. They are worried. Many millenials I have talked to or listened to are stressed or worried. I am worried for mine, and for all of you. No one should have to worry about having the money to buy groceries or pay the rent. I don't know what the answer is.
I'm over 50. (not too much over!) We do listen and we do care.
Someone brought up Biden picking Stacy Abrams as his VP. Back in 2018 when they were doing the recount for Governor, I posted on here that I see Abrams as VP in either 20 or 24. When I got that feeling 2 years ago, it was very strong and came out of nowhere. If he picks her, I'm very confident that he will win the Presidency.
@yofisofi, I'm not seeing it intuitively. I have no idea what that means, because I'm not seeing anyone occupying that Oval Office space in 2021. Maybe that's because I'm picking up on some voter hanky panky/suppression. I know that others on the site have seen some voting upheaval in the upcoming Presidential race. Perhaps in the coming months, it will become clearer to us.
I do see the 2024 Presidential election being a major turning point -- most likely a Dem female. For as much as I want that Mad King out of there, I've decided to focus my energy on keeping the House blue and flipping the Senate. No matter who wins the Presidency, we won't be able to make those progressive changes if the Senate and House are in R hands.
@mas1581, I agree with you about Abrams. I'd also love to see Warren as VP this year, but I'm now concerned that the Mass. R Governor will choose a R to replace her in the Senate.