Election years are always a tumultuous time for America, and the last two were particularly notable:
2016: Hillary Clinton became the first female candidate to make it as far as she did.
2020: COVID-19 disrupted the entire year.
Now it’s 2024, and something tells me this election year will be equally eventful.
Most likely, the 2024 election will see a rematch between former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden. We all saw the aftermath of Biden’s election; hopefully, history won’t repeat itself.
While trying to remain unbiased, it’s clear that COVID-19 played a significant role in disrupting the 2020 election and the subsequent years. Even historical figures like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln would have struggled to handle such a crisis.
Politics is a contentious topic. It’s never about “Who’s the best?” but rather “Who’s the least bad?” That’s a question many Americans would rather not confront. We’re accustomed to commercials disparaging one candidate while praising another, always ending with “I’m (insert candidate’s name) and I approve this message.” These ads typically focus on current events in America. Given recent occurrences, including Biden’s memory issues and Trump’s legal troubles, both parties will have plenty of material.
What makes politics even more divisive is how steadfast people are in their beliefs. On the extreme ends of the spectrum, whether Democrat or Republican, people often vote for their party regardless of who they believe will be the better president. Additionally, bringing personality into politics, which is problematic since no politician is perfect, can also influence votes.
As the year progresses, be prepared for more election-related drama. With the prevalence of social media, it will be impossible to avoid it. All I can say is think carefully, don’t let anyone sway your vote, and stay safe—there are extremists on both sides. If you’re an independent, we have a lot of thinking to do, don’t we?
