Make It Make Sense
Dear Sisters,
As we look toward the election in 2024, one aspect of politics continues to make me scratch my head—why do so many people vote against their best interests? I am baffled by the blind devotion many people have given the most recent former president. I don’t understand how any woman could vote for folks who want to force a woman to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. I am most confused by people of color who support candidates who won’t speak out against racism and acknowledge the ongoing effects of slavery on the health and well-being of Black people.
As it turns out, there is a science behind this weird voter behavior, and there is something we can do about it. The science is VERY complicated, and I won’t even attempt to explain it in great detail. I will share that I learned there are a few core reasons why people continue to vote against their interests:
- We have too much going on in our lives and are too overwhelmed to investigate candidates and policies in great detail. Women of color have too much on our plates to focus on the fine details of public policy in the U.S. There are folks paid a lot of money to keep us confused.
The antidote? Allow WE CAN to be your trusted source. Review past blog posts, attend upcoming events where we’ll break down complex issues, and interact with us on Facebook and Twitter and allow us to answer your questions in plain talk.
- There are many possible solutions to our nation’s issues, and it’s hard to tell which one(s) will work best for most of us. Some things are pretty clear cut—like expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit will help low-income families keep more of their income. But others are a little more complex, like what is the best way to respond to the immigration crisis along the border.
The antidote? Don’t try to become an expert on every issue. Instead, form or join an Action Team and assign everyone an issue to track and report back to the group. Let WE CAN help you create your Action Team and learn how to use WE CAN’s Facebook Group to manage communications and action.
- We often focus on the wrong issues, driven mainly by what we see in the media. The media has a lot to do with how we interpret the world. Pew Research Center says almost half of Americans say media influence on public opinion is growing.
The antidote? Never stop being a critical thinker. Question what you hear and continue to rely on WE CAN as a trusted source to help you manage how the media influences you.
- We rush through the voting and don’t understand the implication of ‘down ballot’ choices. I remember voting in a recent election, and the ballot was 8 pages long! After I cast my vote for the President/Vice President and Governor/Lt. Governor, I then had to choose judges (pick five), sheriff, and county officials and decide ballot initiatives. It was A LOT, and I was exhausted after waiting in line after work. I could have easily given up and voted for the ‘top’ things on the ballot and left the rest blank or randomly picked people and issues. The down-ballot stuff is VERY important, and we can’t afford to blow it off when we vote.
The antidote? Study the candidates and issues before you vote and take a marked-up sample ballot to move through voting faster and effectively.
The bottom line? It is our responsibility to be an informed voter! We cannot assign anyone the responsibility for making decisions for us without our knowledge, understanding, and input. Let’s not be accused of being ‘sheeple’ easily led astray by folks who don’t have our best interests at heart. WE CAN change the world, but we must be prepared to do so, starting with being an informed voter.
Now is the time to form or join an Action Team and start learning about the issues important to you and your community. Register for the FREE upcoming WE CAN events, where we will talk about youth suicide, childcare, and sex trafficking and how they impact women of color. It is up to us!
In solidarity,
Stephanie
WE CAN Founder
WE CAN looks forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
Three upcoming Movies to Movements events focus on teen suicide, lack of quality affordable childcare, and sex trafficking, highlighting their impact on our communities. Please see the details and register below.
