The past is never over. The people, events, and circumstances of your life are still at work in the present. Whether you’re aware of it or not, the past continues to shape who you are today and impact who you will become tomorrow. Things that have happened in the past don’t just disappear; they continue to affect us and play a major role in how we handle challenges moving forward. This is also true for the society, and the world, we live in. To understand the path we're on and how to influence it, we need to look to the past, evaluate the present and vote for our vision for the future.
The past tells us that as a result of the Great Depression and the New Deal reforms of Franklin Roosevelt of the 1930s, the US experienced a significant change in the paradigms of how this country included the working class (though mostly the white population) in the prosperity and productivity of the society as a whole.
Flaws in the United States Constitution have, at various times, allowed economic plutocrats to manipulate the political structure to their advantage. This created the crisis that led to the Depression. Ultimately, political reforms were put in place to correct those abuses. Those reforms began to be eroded during the Reagan administration and continue to this day. Powerful financial interests once again control the economy of the United States. Through their ability to pass legislation that benefits them and avoids proper taxation, the top 2% own the majority of wealth in this country at the expense of everybody else. The passage of Citizen’s United, which states that corporations are people, was the most egregious cornerstone of legislation. It established no limits on the contributions of money by wealthy individuals through dark channels. Simultaneously, Congress significantly reduced the enforcement of the IRS to make it easier for the wealthy to cheat on their taxes. And because the cost of elections forces candidates to give over their position and livelihood to those who pay their bills, even most members of Congress are millionaires.
This is why it's critically important to vote...and the midterm elections might well be the most important elections of our era. The MAGA rhetoric and Trumpism have triggered the rise of authoritarianism much the same as what happened in pre-WWII Germany. The playbook was written then and is being enacted not only in the United States, but worldwide, as the countries separate into democratic governance or dictatorships.
The Importance of Voting in Midterm Elections
Voting in midterm elections is critical for many reasons. Those elected in the midterm elections will be responsible for shaping and implementing government policies, from the healthcare system we have to the quality of our public schools. Voting in midterm elections also plays a crucial role in shaping presidential elections. Those who win the midterms play a crucial role in deciding who will be the next presidential candidates since they have a say in which candidates get to debate on national television. What happens in midterm elections, therefore, has a direct impact on the lives of millions of people across the country. The reasons you should care may surprise you.