Somebody is going to win the upcoming US election. In a society deeply divided along partisan lines, individual identities and hopes/fears for the future may seem bound to a single choice: Republican or Democrat. Who wins is important, but if we take a step back and look beyond the short-term fervor of election politics, it becomes clear that what ultimately matters isn’t which person wins but how we - as individuals and as communities - respond.
In the long run, most things that will change the future are political. But our current government will continue to contribute to a future that is far from sustainable - regardless of who heads the next administration. The ‘bend not break’ moments of the future will require informed policies that go beyond what can be addressed in today’s political environment.
In today’s Frankly, I remind us that the realities of our accelerating predicament go way beyond election results. Rather than filtering people solely by their political preferences, we should lean into the more profound and deeper ways of understanding and connecting with one another. And when it comes to the long-term stability and viability of our civilization, money and politics are secondary to the health of the biosphere and the non-renewable materials and energy which underpin it. Building on these insights, I provide a list of practical steps listeners can take before and after the election, regardless of the outcome.
In what ways are both political parties subservient to the dynamics of the Superorganism? How does election rhetoric keep us from confronting the issues that really matter? And what can we be doing, individually and collectively, to create a future of social and ecological resilience, no matter who holds office?
In case you missed it…
This week, I was joined by former Congressman Richard Gephardt to discuss the importance of democracy as a system of self-governance, as well as the need for respecting differing views in order to keep that system intact. Richard highlights the unique historical context of U.S. democracy, emphasizing the ongoing commitment of citizen participation required for its survival.
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I had not seen this Frankly until this morning (it's the morning after election night). Coincidentally, I woke up thinking that a presidential election these days is really nothing more than a skirmish in the war we are fighting. Whether your candidate won or lost, the basic situation doesn't change. Most high-ranking officials, regardless of party affiliation, are puppets that dance to the tune of a criminal cabal of billionaire oligarchs. Every four years we get to choose the figurehead puppet.
Thanks Nate. I got so much out of this Frankly, as I do with most of your podcasts.
Australian here- have been watching the US election unfold with trepidation. I feel for you all - it seems like you’re all in a high state of panic and division. I have to remind myself that it’s probably not everyone, feeling this way.
In our small town we are building communities or maintaining them by preparing for bushfires. Summer is coming. As you say it doesn’t matter how people vote in an emergency. We’ve had town scenarios where we’ve practiced emergency response. It was unsettling, but I learnt so much about how I’m likely to respond and that of my fellow residents. It makes you feel kindly towards them and forgiving of their stuff-ups.