Political divides may not be as deep as you think this Thanksgiving. Here’s why | Opinion
One of the great tragedies of the modern era is how much politics has encroached into our everyday lives. Decisions as simple as choosing a beer, driving a car or visiting a theme park now come with the need to consider their political implications. During the Donald Trump era, friendships have been tested, dinner tables turned into battlefields and family gatherings transformed into “Fight Club.”
As a result, we feel more divided from one another now than perhaps at any time in history since the Civil War.
Many supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris are still coping with the fact that 76 million Americans voted for a candidate so many found to be so vile that the very thought of him becoming president again seemed anti-American. They simply don’t understand how or why someone would ever vote for Trump.
It’s easy to see their point of view. Trump supporters have been called deplorable and cult followers. The media painted Trump as a dictator poised to start World War III and destroy America as we know it. To make matters worse, the election was supposed to be close. So, when Trump dominated in the Electoral College, it was a shock to the system, leaving many Harris supporters disorientated and feeling that they live in a country that is worlds apart from their values and beliefs.
Despite how it might feel, the political divide is not as deep as you might think.
According to exit polls, 73% of Americans agreed on one thing — democracy was threatened. Where Harris supporters saw Trump as the clear and present danger, the reality is that many of their friends, family and neighbors just saw the race differently. Trump voters saw the real threat to democracy as a Harris presidency and the senseless wokeness that will take away our rights and destroy our economy.
Some will argue that character and fitness for office should be more important than economic security. Maybe. But if we are being honest, those traits have always been somewhat malleable to voters when it comes to picking leaders. Voters on both sides of the aisle have been all too willing to look past a lot of things if they think the outcome would be better for them.
The simple truth is that voters are self-interested, not ideological. For example, in Wisconsin, voters supported both Donald Trump and Tammy Baldwin — one of the most liberal U.S. senators. Similarly, in Michigan, voters chose Donald Trump while also electing to the U.S. Senate Elissa Slotkin, whose voting record in the House is rated by some as more liberal than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Candidates matter. Campaigns matter. Harris was a horrible candidate who ran a bad campaign. After three and half years of the Biden border crisis, rising prices and economic uncertainty, Harris offered no vision and no plan — just more of the same failed policies.
Trump talked about issues that resonated with voters. He talked about lowering prices and saving America. It’s not that Jan. 6, the felony convictions or the divisive rhetoric did not matter to voters who supported Trump, it’s just that their jobs and their bank accounts mattered more.
As we gather with friends and family, Democrats can be thankful knowing this was the last election with Trump on the ballot, while Republicans can celebrate the fact that they hold control of both chambers of Congress and the White House.
This Thanksgiving don’t shy away from political discussions. Debate the merits of Trump potentially signing an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all products coming into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada. Discuss congressional bathroom bans and Trump cabinet picks. Be thankful that we live in a country that demands we have rigorous and healthy debates. Challenge each other on issues. After all, we are trying to solve the same problem — preserving democracy — just from different viewpoints.