By Gabriel Green, State Policy Network
Like many in the country, I have felt more fear than normal as I have experienced the turbulence of 2020 and election-related uncertainties. However, as the election has approached, I have grown more optimistic. Reflecting on the wisdom of our Founders, I am confident the United States will weather the coming days, months, and decades.
Here are three reasons you should take the 2020 presidential election in stride, regardless of who wins, and channel your energy towards the many opportunities for change.
1. Not having election results right away is normal, not an indication that something is wrong.
The telegraph was
invented in 1843,
but it wasn’t until the 1850s that it reached coast-to-coast. The American
Founders could not predict the invention of the telegraph, much less modern
tools, and so we have a custom of inaugurating presidents on January 20, not
November 4.
All
of this to say, it used to take weeks for election results to arrive.
It
would be foolish, though, to think technological differences are the only
reason for this designed delay. Our era of instant communication lulls us into
thinking we should be able to declare winners on election night, but even if we
could know the results on Election Day, our Founders knew a transition
period was essential to maintain the Republic.
A
transition period serves as a crucial role in offering time for the nation to
heal and reunite after election cycles, so that by the time policies are passed,
they are on behalf of all Americans and not just the “winning team.”
Furthermore, when our system is working properly, the transition period allows
incumbents to welcome new officials and catch them up, so nothing falls through
the cracks in the early days of new administrations and legislatures.
So, before you panic, remember delayed election results are the norm—even in 2020.
2. Washington, DC doesn’t drive meaningful change. States do.
Social
media, the news, and definitely the 2020 presidential candidates are talking
about the election outcome as if all our hopes for a bright future are based on
one man. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. While the outcome of the
presidential election will have an impact on federal government policies and
regulations, our hope for meaningful change has always been at the local level.
When
Washington attempts to fix problems, progress is slow because it is trying to
find a single solution that accommodates all 357 million+ residents. And when
solutions are decided thousands of miles away from where the impact of those
decisions is felt, it’s a lot harder to tell what is and isn’t working.
The best single solution is several solutions, enacted at the state and local level.
Our
Founders knew this, which is why they designed a system that pushes
problem-solving to the most local level of government possible, empowering the
people closest to the problem to determine a solution that will best fit their
needs. Unfortunately, as a nation we increasingly seek these localized
solutions from those who are farthest from the problems we’re facing.
On
top of that, by making every problem a federal issue, the stakes get raised
immensely. A bad policy in one state, while never a good thing, doesn’t mean
that all Americans suffer. If the federal government passes a bad law, we all
suffer. And so, we find ourselves getting more heated about and divided by
politics because people fear for their lives and livelihoods if the “other
side” wins. The best way to overcome political divides is to leave change up to
states and cities.
Our
lives are lived in our communities, not in DC, and our solutions should start
in those communities.
3. Elected officials aren’t in office forever.
If
the ultimate outcome of the election has you outraged or despondent, take
comfort that you’ll be able to take action and try again within two to four
years. While that may feel like an eternity, in actuality, it’s not that long—just
long enough to find and champion new candidates that support your vision for
promoting human flourishing across America.
Put
your fears around the election in their proper place and focus on what every
one of us can do immediately to begin fixing our country’s problems: pursue
well-reasoned solutions at the state level that will empower all Americans to
live better lives.