As we approach that time of the year—election season—we find ourselves in the midst of a crucial decision-making process. This is the moment when we choose who will represent us in this wonderful country we call home. However, if you ask me elections are just politics, and politics are just politicians that specialize in telling lies.
I used to consider myself as a democrat, but that was largely due to being misled and misinformed. I believed that Democrats genuinely supported the poor, minorities, working-class, and those who were struggling regardless of race. Each election season, the Democrat Party makes a concerted effort to win the votes of these individuals, telling us exactly what we want to hear to secure our support and win our votes. However, once in the oval office, we often see no real benefits. So, tell me, is it because they forgot their promises or simply ignored them, leaving us feeling disregarded and betrayed. So many times, we are hand-fed empty promises and unnecessary lies just to receive our votes.
One thing I have noticed over the years is that it doesn’t matter who’s in office; nothing in the hood changes, at least not for the better. I have not directly benefited from any election, which leads me to question the value of my vote. Yet I vote because my ancestors fought tooth and nail for our right to cast our ballots and have our voices heard. I vote because there was a time when women, especially black women, had no rights at all. It took 132 years for women to gain the right to vote, and an additional 45 years for Black Women to do so without facing harassment or discrimination. I vote because for 15 years I was denied the right to vote because I committed a crime.
There are a lot of people that are unaware that laws are made by congress, not the president. To me the president is just a puppet that represents America.
The face of America really doesn’t matter to me. Black or White, Woman or Man. What truly concerns me is how people like me will benefit from them being in office. When I say people like me, I’m referring to those who are barely making ends meet.
Inflation
Trump claimed that people are eating cats and dogs. I don’t know how true this is, but if inflation isn’t addressed and food prices continue to rise, we might find ourselves in some desperate situations.
I can barely manage to feed myself, which makes me worry about how my sister is getting by, being a single parent and trying to feed herself and two teenage boys. We all know growing boys will eat you out a house and home, so the old folks say.
But real talk where is the relief for these households? Two parent homes are struggling tremendously. Rent has skyrocketed since covid-19 and is continuing to rise. Inflation is at an all-time high forcing us to make impossible choices and decisions: do we eat or pay the rent? Do we make a car payment or keep the lights on?
If you are fortunate enough to afford to live comfortably in the present, count your blessings, because some of us can’t even entertain the thoughts of saving for the future, a retirement plan, a college fund, or even a family vacation. And they say this is the American dream, right? More like a continuous nightmare to me.
Resources are slim-picking, and it’s nearly impossible to find community centers, churches, food pantries, or family support systems that can aid and assist those who are in need.
Economy
The economy has put immense stress on people. Last week I spoke to four different women who were on the verge of a nervous breakdown, mentally and emotionally exhausted from juggling two and three jobs just to stay afloat. There’s no work-life and home-life balance, and families are falling apart due to the lack of unity and quality time shared together. Everyday life is filled with hustle and bustle, leaving no time to sit down for a family meal or pray and fellowship as a family with the creator.
The cost of living is rising, yet employee wages remain stagnant, if not flatlined. The quality and quantity of goods are diminishing as their market prices continues to increase.
It’s discouraging to see working-class people sacrifice their hard-earned taxes to support individuals that are too lazy to get off their butt and get a job and instead choose to exploit the system. But it’s not the system that’s being exploited, it’s the working citizens of America. These individuals are the ones that end up bearing the burden of financing rent assistance, food stamps, health benefits, energy assistance and more. Although we have jobs many of us are still struggling to get by.
When we turn to the government for assistance, we always hear the same response: “you make too much money to qualify for any government assistance.” If the government wants to supplement someone’s income why not support the working people who are in need. Don’t get me wrong, I agree that not all these individuals are taking advantage of the system and some truly need help, but so does working-class households.
Dreams of homeownership are being shattered, as many people find themselves drowning in debt. Taxes continue to rise, and the age of retirement keeps creeping higher and higher. By the time individuals can finally retire, they often find themselves with one foot already in the grave. Furthermore, after years of paying into Social Security, I wonder that by the time we are eligible to benefit from it, if the program will still exist. Yet the government uses these funds to fight wars that have absolutely nothing to do with us.
Equality
In addition to the fight for basic survival, many of us are confronted with system racism, a lack of economic equality and human rights violations, that manifest in various forms, such as social disadvantages, racial profiling, and police brutality.
These challenges compound the difficulties faced by marginalized communities, further entrenching cycles of poverty inequality. And as we strive to improve our lives, we must navigate an environment that not only limits our opportunities but actively works against our very own existence.
Like law enforcement for example. They have been wrongfully killing black people since I can remember. Over the last few years law enforcement has killed hundreds of unarmed black people.
I can recall a past encounter when being pulled over by the police and my six-year-old niece was in the car with me. I can hear her words like it was yesterday. She was crying and saying “Tee-tee please don’t pull over the police is going to shoot you, and I don’t want you to die.” Her words were shocking and heartbreaking but the reality of it being a possibility was frightening. A six-year-old child should not be terrified at the sight of law enforcement; their presence should make them feel secure and safe. No one should feel the need to protect themselves from their very own entity that is supposed to protect them and serve them. To serve is to be of assistance to help. To serve does not mean to shoot to kill. If it was up to me law enforcement in black communities would reflect the people of that community.
By no means am I saying that all white police officers are bad or racist. When I was growing up, police officers engaged with the communities they served. They built relationships, interacted with neighborhood kids, passing out bubble gum and baseball cards. When we were caught doing something we had no business doing, they would take us home for our parents to discipline us, not arrest us. They held us and our parents accountable. I understand that times have changed, and today’s society can be more violent.
However, it’s crucial that we hold both our communities and law enforcement accountable. We need to be more proactive and come up with better solutions and alternatives than juvenile corrections. Because juvenile corrections are just Prep school leading to adult mass incarceration. Which makes me question is that the plan? I ask that because lady justice has always been blind when it comes to justice for nonwhite people.
Gun Control
Let me move on. In 2023 alone, 1,663 children and 38,826 adults have been killed by guns, with about 2% of these deaths resulting from mass shooting. Instead of focusing on how to control human rights and dictate what a woman should or shouldn.t do with her body, why not focus more on gun control and reducing the number of firearms on our streets and preventing guns from getting in the hands of our children and individuals that pose a threat to our communities. I strongly believe in the right to bear arms, but we must be mindful that not everyone is mentally mature or stable enough to possess a weapon. The focus should be on responsible gun ownership and effective gun control. I believe that this could save lives and create safer communities for all of us.
Health Care
I’m not sure about you but I’m concerned about the state of healthcare in many places. The rising costs of insurance and medical care create significant challenges for individuals and families, particularly for those on low or fixed incomes. When health insurance becomes prohibitively expensive, it undermines the very purpose of having coverage, which is to provide access to necessary medical care. Many people find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to prioritize healthcare costs or other everyday living expenses.
The struggles faced by cancer patients, those with chronic illnesses like diabetes, and others who require ongoing treatments highlight a critical issue in the system. It can be heartbreaking to learn about individuals who are unable to obtain the medication or care they need, resulting in deteriorating health or, in some cases, even loss of life. The healthcare system ought to be designed to prioritize patient well-being, ensuring that everyone can access the care they need.
Conclusion
With that being said I’m going to leave you with the definition of Dictatorship and Democracy. We have a little less than 30 days to reflect on what is important to us. Consider what values you prioritize—such as healthcare, education, civil rights, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. Think about how you want to see the country evolve over the next four years.
A dictatorship is a form of government in which power is concentrated in a single leader or a small group of individuals, often characterized by the absence of democratic processes, limited civil liberties, and the suppression of political opposition. In dictatorships, citizens typically have little or no input in decision-making, and dissent is often met with force or censorship. This results in a lack of accountability for leaders, who may use propaganda and control over media to maintain their power.
Democracy in America is centered around the principles of representation, individual freedoms, and the rule of law. At its core, democracy means that the government is accountable to the people and that citizens have the right to participate in decision-making processes, typically through voting.
In a democratic society, citizens ideally have the freedom to express their opinions, access diverse information sources, and make choices about their lives without undue interference. This includes decisions about personal matters such as health, education, and lifestyle.
In practice, a functioning democracy looks like open elections, a variety of viewpoints represented in media, and a system of checks and balances that prevents any one entity from gaining too much power. Moreover, engagement in civic activities, such as voting and community organizing, is vital for a healthy democracy.
IT’S YOUR VOICE USE IT!!!!!!!!!!