Many of us are still reeling from the 2016 U.S. presidential election results, but that doesn’t mean we need to resort to knee-jerk reactions. Now, more than ever, is the time to let go of our frustrations and consider improvements for the next round. So, how do we shape a fair and proper 2020 election—one that won’t repeat past mistakes?
Encourage Transparency
This past election showed us that people are sick of politics. Lots of people voted for Donald Trump because he was a political recluse. Now, we’re not advocating that you boycott politicians. Candidates just need to work on their transparency. Most people feel completely detached from the world of politics, and that apathy has led to low voter turnout, throwaway votes and a president with no political experience.
It’s essential that people understand the responsibilities that come with being president of the United States. Only then will they appreciate the significance of political experience. Meanwhile, candidates should focus on being humble and transparent while demonstrating their integrity. That’s how we can start building a culture of understanding for the next cycle.
We can all agree that shadyleadership.sucks, so don’t let it overshadow the 2020 election.
Push for Ethical Media
Leverage social media to reach more voters? Sure, but let’s do it tastefully. Donald Trump tweeted his way through the election all the way to the Oval Office, but as a result, social media became a bloody battlefield. Character defamation, racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, war cruelty—the list goes on. It was impossible to look away as new slurs came in on a daily basis. Let’s avoid a sequel in 2020.
Politicians should lead by example, and that example needs to be a decent one. Make your thoughts heard on how slander.sucks.
Unite, Don’t Divide
We’ve said 2016 was one of the most divisive elections ever, right? With two fundamentally different candidates, it was doomed to be somewhat controversial. But the combination of social media smears, populist rhetoric and fiery issues like racism, gender and immigration truly tore the country apart.
Violent crowd outbursts, alienated families, online bullying, physical attacks and anonymous threats have left us hurt and angry.
Let’s archive these incidents and think about how to unite over the next election because division.sucks.
Understand People’s Pain Points
Candidates always narrow in on specific audiences. For each election cycle, the focus has been on demographics like Latinos, African-Americans and the middle class. There’s a good reason to do so, as these groups can help decide the outcome.
In 2016, Donald Trump’s acknowledgement of the plight of a forgotten crowd paid out big time. Paying attention to people’s pain points is a major lesson 2016 taught us, no matter the size of the demographic. Understanding what fueled the “bubba vote” might prove crucial for the next election’s potential contenders.
Think candidates will do a better job addressing rural voters during the next presidential campaigns? Then it’s time to start talking about how overlookingvoters.sucks.
Get People to Vote
On the other end of the spectrum were those too disillusioned to vote at all. Only about 59% of eligible voters headed to the polls on November 8. Those who didn’t either disliked all the candidates, felt their vote didn’t matter or couldn’t vote.
A government is by the people, for the people. Everyone should actively help shape it. While some may be disappointed about the choice of presidential candidates, it should be made clear that the future of politics lies within the hands of its people.
The debate about voter suppression is gaining momentum. We all know that votersuppression.sucks so why not join the discussion?
The 2016 presidential election left a bitter legacy. We should actively consider its ramifications to help create a better climate for 2020. Let’s unite to create a culture of understanding for the next election cycle.
How did you feel about the 2016 election? You can make your thoughts loud and clear by registering a .SUCKS domain.
Photos: Augusto Navarro, Kaleb Nimz, Alec Attie
