I can’t help but be disappointed that former president Donald Trump’s name is yet again on the ballot. American political discourse has always been contentious, but never in modern history has it been as deeply personal, divisive and fear-driven. He is the epitome of yellow journalism gone too far, contradicting and challenging much of what defines a democracy and presidential politics as we know it.
Political discourse has historically been best defined as a debate on policy, not personal warfare. There is a stark juxtaposition between the focus on taxes, healthcare, foreign policy and civil rights versus that of fear-mongering and attacks on paper. The true American experiment — a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people — is in no way represented through our recent politics and its instillment of fear. Trump acts more as a dictator than someone running to be elected by U.S. citizens.
Trump’s two-edged sword debate strategy reflects his disregard for having an intelligent conversation. The first strategy is personal attacks against his foes. The second is the use of fear to divide the populace. These attacks are most prominently expressed through his name-calling, including a few examples: Crooked Hillary, Sleepy Joe, Lyin’ Ted Cruz, Little Marco and Bird-Brain. His diction is unprecedented in its consistency, intensity and oftentimes brutality. Previous candidates and their campaigns worked to omit such direct and unrestrained character attacks from their vocabulary and political strategy. They did so because it reflected poorly on their character and transformed the election into an extremely calcified fight, turning people away and heavily dividing the nation.
American politics haven’t always been so cruel, hateful and unprofessional. You may remember in 2008 when then-Republican presidential nominee John McCain rebuffed a racist comment from a woman who said she could not trust Obama because he was “an Arab,” implying that Obama was a threat to America. “No ma’am, he’s a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what this campaign is all about,” McCain said to applause from the audience.
Elections were judged on the basis of what a candidate could contribute to their chosen policies. The political language in 2008 and the relationship between the candidates is almost incomparable to today. We have resorted to muting a candidate’s microphone so that their opponent can be granted the chance to speak. The practice of muting a microphone allows swing voters a better chance to make an informed decision. However, shouldn’t someone running to lead the United States be able to recognize when it’s the appropriate time to speak? Why do we have to treat the potential leaders of our country as though they are in third grade?
The other half of Trump’s strategy is his constant push for fear and division. I was reminded of it this past Sunday when I indulged in a regular Vanderbilt tradition: ending the weekend with a brisk jog through Centennial Park. I rounded the corner to see a bright red hat on a white woman in the distance. Inevitably, we passed each other, and that’s when I made out the words “Make America Great Again” on her hat. For the remainder of my run, I asked myself what I had been wondering for the past few years: What does “MAGA” even mean?
Infuriated after being reminded of the undertones of that message, I began to run faster than my body’s current shape could sustain. The notion of MAGA — what and whom it represents — is undeniably associated with racism. When was America so great? Is the Trump campaign referring to when Black people were not citizens of the United States or when they couldn’t fight for their country? Perhaps they are reminiscing about the time when women couldn’t vote. Maybe America was so “great” when it had the three-fifths compromise.
As a 20-year-old, first-time voter who is majoring in political science amidst this election, I’m defeated. As the Republican nominee continues to say “Make America Great Again,” I grow even more frustrated with the trajectory of our country if he is elected. This slogan is merely a call to return to when straight white men held the vast majority of power.
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, updated in August 2024, 13% of the U.S. population is Black, yet 37% of people in jail are Black, and 48% those in jail serving life without parole, or “virtual life” sentences, are Black. It’s not that they are committing more crimes, but rather that we operate under a rule of law that is unjust — the data proves that minorities are arrested, charged and convicted at higher rates than white people.
The fact is, whatever progress that has been gained by people of color has been given to them by white people, because it is and has been the white population, with the exception of Barack Obama, that has controlled the three branches of the U.S. government. They are, by an overwhelming majority, our teachers in the classroom and our leaders in the boardroom. White people control not just the policies but the narrative, as even our media, the so-called Fourth Estate, is run by white people. It feels as though Trump is claiming that he will not “give them any more” — referring to the Black population as he says this. His movement is popular only because he has created an overwhelming sense of anxiety about losing privilege: an “us versus them” dynamic.
Trump’s attacks have normalized anger, violence and the spread of misinformation throughout our country. There is plenty of evidence demonstrating that election misinformation during the 2020 election was directly correlated with violence. Additionally, there are arguments supporting the idea that Trump’s anger prohibits his ability to effectively deliver his message. The fear-driving politics we are witnessing instill division and increase violence. Normal citizens are becoming aggressive and angry at others for wearing the wrong article of clothing or for having an opposing opinion. Families are being split apart, and both sides are promising Americans that if their opponent wins, it will be a significant threat to democracy. The events of January 6, 2021, are but one illustration of this strong calcification and the sheer terror of losing freedom. When viewed objectively, Biden was never Sleepy Joe or attempting to cut the legs from beneath Trump to overthrow his dynasty; he was indulging in the American tradition of a peaceful transition of power.
Statistics show the substantial difference in debate performance between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. The ratio of the lie count 30:1 illustrates the stark contrast from Trump’s over 30 false claims compared to Harris’s one. President Joe Biden left Harris minimal time to mobilize voters, canvas and share her policy. However, I feel as though she has succeeded in re-instilling hope in the American people. She is coherent and potentially the first female president, which is exciting on its own. She made Trump appear as though he were a guilty defendant on a witness stand throughout the debate and managed to, for the most, part deliver the truth.
Rather than attacking Trump and accusing him of being a threat to democracy like Biden, she used her expression as a means of reaction. She didn’t attack his character, but as he spoke, she looked at him in confusion, which drew attention to her and made some of the audience feel as though they should have the same expression.
The answer is not encouragement of personal demagoguery or childish name-calling. My classes thus far at Vanderbilt foster discussions based upon actual policy and rationale, a debate where we, as participants, operate from agreed-upon facts. These discussions have been nothing short of civil, coherent and a return to the truth. It is our job to remember what it means to be American, the sacrifices that have been made and the people who believed in this young nation. Democracy is strongest when we unite and demand that our leaders engage in respectful debates based on facts and ideas on how to solve our challenges.
As students who care about the tone of our nation and its direction, it’s our responsibility to go out and vote. A vote for a leader like Trump is a poor reflection of what I and many of my peers believe. Trump isn’t a role model because of his short temper, inability to hear opposing ideas and his dictator-like language. He doesn’t represent our generation because he is narrow-minded and is moving us back instead of forward.
Getting Played • Oct 23, 2024 at 6:03 pm CDT
With just over two weeks before the election, I first want to commend Ms. Williams for her thoughtful reflection on this critical moment in our country’s history. As a parent, I encourage my own children to understand the issues of the day and speak up when they feel compelled. It is encouraging to see someone like Ms. Williams, a college student, do just that. We should all celebrate the fact that she has exercised her right to voice her opinion—an act that, in many parts of the world, could lead to imprisonment or even death.
It would be easy to write in support of Ms. Williams’ critique of Mr. Trump, or to attack either candidate and their supporters. But doing so only fuels the very division that George Washington warned us about.
In his Farewell Address, Washington warned us of the dangers of political parties, cautioning that they “serve to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration.” He foresaw that parties would eventually drive false narratives, promote unrest, and ultimately divide the nation. He urged Americans to place their identity as Americans above party loyalty, warning that factions would “kindle animosities” and create divisions that could be exploited by foreign powers. Unfortunately, Washington’s warnings have largely gone unheeded.
Ms. Williams echoes these concerns, as did Abraham Lincoln when he said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Today, we are deeply divided—perhaps as divided as we were on the eve of the Civil War. Ms. Williams rightly identifies the campaign rhetoric as a significant cause of this division.
What I found most revealing were the two comments that followed Ms. Williams’ piece. Though well-intentioned, they merely echoed the soundbites of political campaigns rather than thoughtful, fact-based discourse. “Word Salad”, “Was doing better four years ago” are just two. Topics like problems at the southern border and the price of groceries were reduced to slogans, reinforcing George Washington’s fear that parties would turn political debate into a theater of manipulation, rather than reasoned decision-making.
Our president is not a king. The office cannot single-handedly solve immigration, crime, or economic issues. We are a government of three branches, and no president can wave a wand to fulfill campaign promises. Ms. Williams challenges us to look deeper—beyond 30-second clips and catchy slogans—to how each candidate makes decisions. And I agree with her. We should care more about a candidate’s thought process than the outcomes of previous decisions, which are often out of their control.
It is concerning, for example, that Mr. Trump claimed to support IVF after learning about it “for five minutes.” Should a matter as significant as creating life be decided so quickly? Decisions of this magnitude deserve thoughtful consideration, something we should be demanding of any candidate. Yet, instead of engaging in meaningful debates about decision-making, we’re distracted by fear-mongering and oversimplified promises. I will try. Will you?
Confused • Oct 24, 2024 at 10:57 am CDT
I’m confused about your comment “Topics like problems at the southern border and the price of groceries were reduced to slogans”. It appears that you are directing this the comments named Black Alumni. He or she mentioned that they knew people who were personally assaulted and robbed by people in the country illegally. How is that a slogan?
Another Indie • Oct 21, 2024 at 2:38 pm CDT
The Democrats lost me in 2022 after a year of crossing red lines in 2021 provoking nuclear powers and lying about it through media shills. Our major media are de facto state media.
The DNC misuses the major media. The warmongering and bloody violence that I saw being funded the second Biden got into office turned me off of the Democratic Party & I may never return. I’m certainly not going to vote Republican either.
I had been a lifelong Democrat. I don’t have anybody else to vote for but Jill Stein. When I voted for Biden in 2020 I didn’t expect this to be the situation four years later
And I can’t say that Trump will be worse if he winds up winning even though I wouldn’t vote for him because at least he didn’t start us into new wars.
Biden has gotten us into 2 potential nuclear wars, one of which may commence before the election. That is a election of his duty to keep us safe and free of war and I will never vote for anybody who can’t keep us safe and use diplomacy.
He doesn’t know the meaning of the word diplomacy. And he has misused the media. He is misuse the justice department. He has been protected by the media from his corrupt actions documented in his son’s laptop. Harris is running on Biden’s record. There isn’t a good economic record for Biden.
The only thing he did decently had to do with some of his climate change efforts but in general he wasted a lot of our taxpayer money funding warfare abroad and pushing court actions to prevent a competitor from running, which shows the Democrats do not believe in democracy.
Certainly the Republicans have been disenfranchising voters for years so neither party believes in democracy. The Democrats also believe in destroying the first & fourth amendments.
I no longer have any use for either of the two major parties. You’re not talking about policy when you talk about either party. They are both running on bashing their opponent.
Harris has no POLICY for immediate cessation of war & will put us at risk of nuckear war just like Trump & Biden. She boasts about a lethal military. Wasting money on KILLING people abroad, making enemies ARROGANTLY instead of supporting our own infrastructure & people.
She has no plan for diplomacy. For me the most important policies are foreign policy and the cessation of killing abroad so that we stop driving other countries away from us.
It affects our own economy when we drive up inflation that way Force other countries to defend themselves from our weaponization of the dollar. Which also intern destroys the dollar. The economics of what has been going on is terrible.
People would want to work with us if we would’ve allowed it instead of punishing other nations with sanctions.
If Biden and Harris get us into a nuclear war, we all may die and none of the other policy considerations will matter. This is the policy that matters. The funding of proxy killing of others abroad needs to stop!!
Maya (she/ella) • Oct 22, 2024 at 2:51 pm CDT
I will vote for Jill Stein or do a write in vote for Joe Biden.
Independent Voter • Oct 18, 2024 at 2:27 pm CDT
VP Harris has had a disastrous couple of weeks. Her interviews on CBS, The View, and Fox News showed that she cannot answer or refuses to answer basic policy questions. She says she is the candidate of change but has been in power the past 4 years. It makes no sense.
VP Harris is the nominee as a result of a coup. How is that democracy? VP Harris dropped out of the 2020 race before the first vote was cast in the Democratic primary. The Republican candidate was at least elected fairly during their primaries (though I would have preferred a different outcome).
Ultimately, the Democrats have had control of the White House 12 out of the last 16 years. They own most of the problems in our country now.
Faced with the potential of 4 more years of Trump and then a new nominee or the potential of 8 years of Harris, I am choosing to go with Trump this time around. Trump and Harris are each running on their records, and Trump’s is a lot stronger (though by no means perfect).
VU Senior • Oct 22, 2024 at 1:28 pm CDT
For the past 3 election cycles the Democrat nominee has largely ignored media interviews. Clinton, Biden and Harris have all been shielded from answering tough questions.
Black Alumni • Oct 16, 2024 at 1:31 pm CDT
I am a Black Alumni and I will be voting for President Trump. My family is getting hammered by the inflation caused by the Biden-Harris administration. My grocery bills, utility bills, insurance, gasoline, and housing costs are all up 33% or more under the current administration. I felt prosperity during the Trump presidency but have felt stagnation or regression economically during the Biden-Harris administration.
Equally important is that the Biden-Harris administration has lost control of the southern border. This is flooding the country with people who haven’t been vetted and illegal drugs. I have several friends who were assaulted or have had their homes robbed by people in our country illegally.
Life for the Black community was better under Trump than under Biden-Harris.