We lost much. Did we gain resolve?

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The last four years have fractured our country. In this period, we all lost much. Far too many people were lost to an out-of-control pandemic. Americans lost trust on facts, under the relentless exposure to lies and misinformation. Our government lost its self-respect, and the respect of other countries.  We lost innocence, and any illusion that we might be on a steady path towards a ‘better Union.’

We did, however, gain clarity and resolve. Or so I hope. With our vote this November, Americans will choose between starkly different futures. Will we be a failing and falling nation, or will we return to a path of decency, fairness and unbounded opportunity? Mr. Trump embodies failure, Mr. Biden offers opportunity.

So, will you vote?

Perhaps because my life experience crosses multiple political regimes in different continents, I cherish democracy as empowering and humanizing. Demokratia, or “rule by the people,” was introduced in 507 B.C. by the Athenian leader Cleisthenes, and remains one of ancient Greece’s most important and enduring gifts to humanity.

 At the core of democracy is the ability of citizens to vote. The right to vote has been fought for by every group originally excluded from it. For good reason: Voting is how decisions are made and representatives are selected to govern on behalf of the People. Having a vote means having a voice in governance. Let’s use that voice.

You might feel unrepresented by our two party system. I sympathize and, in fact, advocate for a system where our nuanced differences are properly reflected in multiple viable parties, deeply accountable to the electorate. But to keep that hope alive, we need Joe Biden as President.

You might feel that politics does not matter. It might appear that it all happens far away, and does not affect your daily life, which has enough struggles to use up all your energy. Please reconsider. From health care to social security, from decent wages to whether your grandchildren have an inhabitable, politics matter. To keep fair safety nets in place, we need  Biden as President.  

You might think that politics has pulled your family and community apart, and destroyed many cherished friendships. It was not politics that did that. It was bad politics—including poor leadership intent on serving the interests of a few, at the expense of the rights of many. To bring us together again, we need Joe Biden as President.  

You might think of yourself as a single-issue voter. But most such issues are complex, and forcing them into simplistic binary choices do us all a disservice—as years of bitter judicial fights have shown. Real, sustainable solutions require an uncomfortable, productive, national dialogue. To get us listening to each other, we need Joe Biden as President.

Please consider reading my arguments for Joe Biden and against re-electing the current president. I write as a grandfather, an oceanographer, a Latino, a naturalized citizen, and a moderate independent. My arguments carry an unprecedented sense of urgency, but also a deep sense of resolve and hope for the future.

Will you join me, when you vote this November?

— Antonio Baptista