Come on, voters, Daddy needs a new pair of shoes!
Don’t know about you, but I’ve never experienced a presidential election that involved quite so much vociferous anger and division amongst the electorate. And that’s saying something. As many of you know, I turned draft age during the Vietnam War and was voting by the time Nixon resigned, so I do have some context.
Our country has rarely (if ever) experienced a time quite like 2020, defined not only by this contentious election, but also by a scary pandemic, raging fires, re-energized civil unrest, and the arrival of murder hornets. So, on this election day eve, I’d like you to humor me by briefly considering a meta-view of politics in general and of the upcoming election day in particular.
Is It Real?
First question: is any of this real? I don’t mean to suggest that people aren’t actually contracting COVID-19. I believe that people are indeed falling ill, and many are dying. Neither am I suggesting that politics is not real. Our political system will persist in some form or another, regardless of our individual opinions and preferences. Humans are power seekers by nature. Notwithstanding a smattering of anthropological hints that humans are developing a greater capacity for kindness and compassion (most of which are probably products of wishful thinking), most of us will seek power over others if given the chance. Consider the last time you offered up your place in line to an impatient stranger.
But, is it real?
A thought is not real. Neither is an opinion. When I think, “Donald Trump is a neurotic, malicious, dangerous fool,” my thought has little to do with the actual living, breathing subject of my opinion. Donald Trump may indeed be a neurotic, malicious, dangerous fool. Then again, he might be a savvy salesman stoking fear to garner support. Or perhaps he’s a well-meaning, charismatic dullard with daddy issues who is being manipulated by malicious power seekers.
To be fair, I’ve also entertained the thought, “I wish Biden didn’t fumble over his words quite so much – it makes him look feeble.” Does that mean that Biden is feeble? Probably feebler than his mid-40s version, but certainly not to the point of disqualification. Still, there’s no way for me to really know. And, had I experienced a different upbringing and exposure to different propaganda, my Biden thoughts just as easily could have echoed those of the more enthusiastic Trump supporters. I could be thinking, “I can’t vote for Biden – he’s a Communist baby eater who wants to kill Christmas!”
Why Worry?
Second question: is it worth worrying about? In the “grand scheme of things,” as they say, are my negative election-related thoughts and actions serving my wellness?
No, they’re not.
The harsh fact is, whether or not you vote will make no difference in the outcome of the current election. I know, I know – that’s a blasphemous statement from a resident of our glorious democracy on the hill. Nevertheless, it’s mathematically true.
Yes, I voted. Yes, I encourage everyone to vote. In addition to being power seekers, we are also innately social creatures. Participation in communal activities is a crucial component of wellness. In fact, if my social platforms reached millions instead of a smattering of thoughtful Late Bloomers, I probably wouldn’t risk suggesting that your vote doesn’t matter. Millions of votes matter. But yours, by itself, does not.
My point is not to advocate for apathy or disaffection. My point is that you damage your wellness by attaching too much significance to the outcome of your vote – especially if you’re catastrophizing that outcome, as the media consistently encourages you to do.
A Healthier Perspective
Here’s my proposed meta-view of politics as it relates to wellness:
- Our political system was designed by rich white men in order to (1) protect the interests of rich white men and (2) protect the interests of rich white men. The difference between our two major political parties is negligible compared to the tenacious persistence of the decedents of those rich white men. (Remember, most of us are innate power seekers.)
- Power-seekers rarely prioritize the welfare of those over whom they seek power above their own interests. Yes, that applies to all power seekers, regardless of race, party, or pronounced purpose.
- Political systems that favor one group over another are not fair. Yes, that describes our current political system, regardless of either party’s lofty claims or ambitious pronouncements.
- Humans have the capacity (although not necessarily the propensity) for kindness, compassion, and empathy. That capacity can develop into kind choices and compassionate, even selfless, behavior, especially if such behavior is encouraged in childhood.
- Some of our founding rich white men must also have had a semblance of kindness, compassion, and empathy in their rearing, evidenced by the existence of mechanisms by which our constitution and laws can be amended and our representatives (i.e., our elected power seekers) can be replaced.
- Our wellness, especially our mental health, is more dependent on how and what we think than on the result of a particular election.
If you still choose to participate in the electoral process (which, as I said, I wholly advocate), then I encourage you to ask yourself these two questions before venturing to your polling booth this Tuesday:
- Is there a candidate (among the purposefully limited options offered) who values the welfare of their constituents more than the other candidates? (If so, I encourage you to “X” accordingly.)
- What’s for dinner?
Despite your fear – a fear that has been intentionally and expertly stoked by our media pros – you will survive the outcome of this election. After you vote, I encourage you to turn off your TV, play a game with your kids, binge some Netflix with your partner, pet your dog, water your plants, or read a novel.
Live your life with curiosity, joyful engagement, and dispassionate compassion, for yourself and for all those you meet.
Be well.