By Alliance President Terry Gips
A record number of Americans from across the country spoke through their ballots November 3, expressing their anger about their plight and the all-too-obvious disaster for democracy and decency that has been taking place.
They said they were fed up with the way things are and aren’t going to take it anymore – young and old, rich and poor, north or south, urban to rural, and whether Black, White, Hispanic or Indigenous. They threw incumbents out and confronted big billionaire bros who think they can buy elections and force AI and data centers down their throats.
It was a proud day for America, democracy and our future as it brought so many firsts, including:
- Peggy Flanagan as the first Native American woman elected to the US Senate
- Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the US Senate
- Chris Pappas is the first openly gay man in the US Senate
- Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman to be elected governor of a US state
- Keisha Lance Bottoms from Georgia will be the first Black woman governor in the country
Another breakthrough from a sustainability perspective is that the elections brought a stunning rebuke to AI hyperscale data centers across the country. “Concern over AI and misgivings about data center construction helped drive votes for change in the midterm election, according to CBS News. Voters “passed at least 44 of 47 measures proposed across the country to restrict data centers — from outright bans to temporary moratoriums — with a few still pending.”
Anti-data center voting seems to have played a key role in replacing a massive number of mayors, state and federal legislators and governors. Data Center Watch tracked winning candidates for Congress and governorships and found the vast majority had expressed support for stronger regulation or even a moratorium, according to PBS News Hour. Among governors, 32 of the 34 victorious candidates in races where AP called a winner support stronger regulation or restrictions.
Political pundits completely missed the depth of the despair and the resultant tsunami of discontent that would surprisingly transform nearly the entire, even in the heart of the Bible Belt.
This is indeed a new day that offers hope and the possibility of bringing forth new voices of respect, common sense and caring that seek to overcome the deep divides and uncivil wars among us. Chief among them was mega church Methodist Minister, now US Senator-elect Adam Hamilton from Kansas. His campaign focused on decency and finding common ground. As he said, Americans are “sick and tired of the hyperpolarization in Washington.”
Can we overcome the reds and the blues to once again become the United States of America?
Time will not tell. We will. Our voices have been expressed, and we have voted for change, not kings and dynasties built on dismantling the rule of law, deception, discrimination, recrimination, and record self-dealing and aggrandizement.
Now the real work begins. We have learned about the fragility of our democracy and how easily it can be destroyed and move towards authoritarianism. Democracy may give us a vote but it requires far more than that. We must remain vigilant and continue to use our voice and collective power to call for a world of sustainability, health, equity and kindness.
Yes, we’re not all on the same page. The 2028 Presidential race has already begun and candidates on both sides will engage in spirited debate. And one of the most antagonistic voices in America is now the President’s Chief of Staff. As soon as he was announced, the top investigating Democrat told him to “lawyer up.” It will be bumpy. There will be those on the left and right with loud voices who may still stoke division, but our job is to remain steadfast in calling for decency and democracy while solving our most daunting challenges.
We must acknowledge we’ve all been wounded and traumatized by everything from Covid to climate change. We need to heal ourselves and our country. A great place to start is with kindness, compassion, empathy and understanding.
Regardless of our party, it’s time we unlearn what is too-often quick judgements and even hate, as well as the resultant winner-take-all attitude. Where has it taken us? Perpetual massive swings in the political pendulum that dismay and disgust the other side and those in the middle, while creating a nearly impossible, unpredictable business climate, totally confounding our “allies” and leaving us with a planet facing climate catastrophe.
We need to treat each other with respect and find common ground while both truly listening and, when necessary, agreeing to disagree, but with actual facts and honest, heart-felt yearnings based on a shared vision.
Can we co-create this future? It’s up to all of us to realize this vision.