Thank you so much for this. I too want to be part of the joy of the Harris/Walz ticket and at the same time I am heartbroken about Palestine and the fact that their voices were not allowed in the convention. It does indeed feel like a moral dilemma. You have laid it out quite clearly. We will each have to choose AND we need to acknowledge the wider context.
You have beautifully outlined your position and helped clarify where we are. I hope it helps people with their own tough decisions. I am positioned exactly where you are and will do my best to elect Harris and Walz in my corner of the world. Thank you for your work both political and spiritual to improve our lives on earth. You have been a guiding light for me for many years. I am grateful.
You speak my heart. I live in NY state, so I was not planning on voting for Biden. I could not bring myself to do it. And never trump. And yes, we need a reinvigorated progressive movement that is NOT judgmental as many seem to be now. Look at all the money Bernie raised - twice! From small donations. We can fund a movement and a viable third party. The 2 party system has played out. So much needs to be reformed. And whatever we do, Earth must have a voice. Obviously she does - she’s speaking very loud now. Friends and family in Vermont are at a new ‘ground zero’ with 2 major floods just this summer, one last summer . . . Plainfield - my old stomping grounds - losing roads, historical homes, bridges . . . so much. The future is here. For me personally, I don’t believe I could survive 4 years of trump. I felt I was in an abusive relationship with my country during his term. But more important, this country, and Earth, need us to follow the path of some joy, compassion, and Love.
Thank you, Starhawk, for your big, clear vision. Nuance is hard to come by these days but you provide it here. You paint the big picture and the many overlapping layers that make it up. You speak for many of us. For sustenance, I come back often to your brilliant invocation of LAJFA, Liberty and Justice for All.
Thank you for this wise and clear assessment of what is at stake in USA elections.
As someone living in a swing state of North Carolina, votes are crucial at all levels of government. Down ballot voting is more important than I realized when I lived in Northern California. In North Carolina, 2020 election, Cheri Beasley, a progressive Black female candidate down ballot who lost by only 441 votes led to Republicans gerrymandering in a way that turned the state congress red.
You plan to vote blue down the ballot and then continue to work alongside the government for justice is crucial for our times!
Thank you for a well-balanced assessment. I am in a poor inner city in Rochester NY. The neighborhood is overwhelmingly POC. I just bought a run down duplex, built in 1885, and am doing my best to renovate it.
The people in this neighborhood and so many others will be hurt badly by a second Trump term.
And some of us will be in real danger in a fascist state. Including small fish like me and bigger fish like you, Star….
Let’s have a blue tsunami and then we can use it to move the Overton Window to the left and towards justice for all.
Thank you dearest Starhawk for your encompassing compassion and influence here. One tweak needed —: you mean Cori Bush not Cory Booker. Cori Bush, like Jamal Bowman had her primary stolen by AIPAC. I too wish I had done more to support them both. With love and gratitude for you, Kathleen
Thank you. Very well said. I am under no illusion that the Dems are going to do everything that I would hope, but I believe in harm reduction first of all and on every front (even the Palestine/ Israel one) the Dems are either less bad or actually good in the policies they want to implement. The trumpista party, on the other hand, will be a disaster for everyone in this country who is not a wealthy white christian right-wing male. Not to mention, a disaster for the environment, world democracies, and refugees. The choice seems clear to me.
This is such a great piece. I think you’re right but I wish that people would see the urgency of climate change and the horror of what’s being done to Gaza.
I don’t have to resolve the moral dilemma of how to vote in the US elections, because I live in Canada — but we will have a similar dilemma at election time here. We’ve kept the conservatives out by tactical voting at the last two elections, and the Conservatives have moved steadily to the right (they’re not as off the rails as Trump, but that’s scary in a different way). But Justin Trudeau has not exactly been vocal about condemning the genocide. And the government has said they’re doing an arms embargo but in reality any existing contracts are still being fulfilled, and it’s permissible to sell weapons to the US that they’ll give to Israel. It would be great to have a NDP (left-wing) government but I don’t think they will get enough votes.
Thank you for delving deeply into what amounts to harm reduction in this coming election. While I am not fully pleased with the Harris ticket, at least having choices that promote democracy still exist, and being able to vote at all is still possible.
Here’s a quote from Dr. Richardson’s Substack today:
They join conservative jurist J. Michael Luttig, who endorsed Harris on Wednesday and wrote: “In voting for Vice President Harris, I assume that her public policy views are vastly different from my own, but I am indifferent in this election on any issues other than America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law, as I believe all Americans should be.”
Thank you, StarHawk, for your thoughtful article. I think many of us are struggling with this choice. But in the end, if we want to continue living in a democracy, it’s a choice we must make. Vote Blue up and down the ballot!
Thank you for your thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the complex political landscape we face. Your commitment to both immediate pragmatism and long-term vision is commendable. However, I'd like to respectfully offer a perspective that emphasizes the crucial role of both the uncommitted movement and third-party campaigns in our political ecosystem.
While I understand the urgency of preventing a Trump presidency and the potential consequences you've outlined, I believe we must also consider the transformative power of supporting alternatives that more closely align with our deepest values and aspirations for justice.
The uncommitted movement, particularly in Michigan, has sent a powerful message about the importance of Palestinian rights and the need for a ceasefire. This grassroots effort has already influenced the national conversation and put pressure on the Democratic establishment to reconsider its stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. By withholding automatic support, these voters are using their democratic power to demand accountability and policy changes.
Similarly, the third-party campaigns of Jill Stein/Butch Ware (Green Party), Cornel West/Melina Abdullah (independent), and Claudia/Karina (Party for Socialism and Liberation) offer vital alternatives that expand our political imagination. These campaigns bring critical issues to the forefront that might otherwise be ignored or minimized by the two major parties.
Cornel West, for instance, has consistently spoken out against what he calls the "spiritual blackout" in American politics, challenging both parties on issues of economic justice, foreign policy, and systemic racism. His campaign serves as a moral compass, pushing the entire political spectrum to confront uncomfortable truths about our society.
The Green Party, with its focus on environmental justice and grassroots democracy, provides a platform for those who believe that incremental change within the current system is insufficient to address the climate crisis and other pressing issues.
While I acknowledge your concern about potentially splitting the vote in swing states, I would argue that the presence of these alternative voices is essential for the health of our democracy. They challenge the duopoly of the two-party system and provide a home for those who feel unrepresented by mainstream politics.
Moreover, supporting these movements and campaigns can be part of the long-term strategy you mention for building a more powerful progressive movement. By nurturing these alternatives, we create pressure from the left that can influence the Democratic Party's platform and priorities over time.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Sometimes, taking a principled stand that aligns with our deepest values, even if it doesn't lead to immediate electoral success, can plant seeds for future transformation.
In conclusion, while I respect your decision to support Harris and the Democrats as a tactical choice, I believe we must also recognize and support the vital role that the uncommitted movement and third-party campaigns play in our political landscape. They keep important issues alive, provide a home for disillusioned voters, and push the boundaries of what's possible in American politics.
Let's continue to engage in these difficult conversations with open hearts and minds, always striving for a more just and equitable world.
Thank you as always Starhawk for your words and your vision. I appreciate you offering a moment too to grieve the moral dilemma instead of rushing ahead. I've been appreciating joining Working Families Party calls: they do them multiple times a week and their strategy is to BLOCK (the far right by voting for Democrats and Harris) and BUILD by supporting progress. ❤️✌🏻 Love and Peace ☮️🇵🇸
Thank you for this, Star. You said all that has been on my heart and mind to say, and said it so well. Remembering our times together in your hometown of Duluth. With thanks and deep respect, Beth
Thank you. I have been struggling with the duality of the moment and standing with a foot in hope and a foot in despair at the same time, and this helped me feel less alone in the dichotomy.
Thank you for sane and balanced thinking. Keeping trump and the fascists out of power is job #1. Moreover, as my Rabbi, a great Master taught us: One of the fruits of mature spiritual practice is the ability to hold paradox. Other than death and taxes, most of life is not black and white. Vote Blue!
Hello Evelyn Baran - Could you provide a reference for the quote you shared from your rabbi? The phrase "the ability to hold paradox" is so rich with meaning and implication - would like to credit the source if I repeat it. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this. I too want to be part of the joy of the Harris/Walz ticket and at the same time I am heartbroken about Palestine and the fact that their voices were not allowed in the convention. It does indeed feel like a moral dilemma. You have laid it out quite clearly. We will each have to choose AND we need to acknowledge the wider context.
You have beautifully outlined your position and helped clarify where we are. I hope it helps people with their own tough decisions. I am positioned exactly where you are and will do my best to elect Harris and Walz in my corner of the world. Thank you for your work both political and spiritual to improve our lives on earth. You have been a guiding light for me for many years. I am grateful.
You speak my heart. I live in NY state, so I was not planning on voting for Biden. I could not bring myself to do it. And never trump. And yes, we need a reinvigorated progressive movement that is NOT judgmental as many seem to be now. Look at all the money Bernie raised - twice! From small donations. We can fund a movement and a viable third party. The 2 party system has played out. So much needs to be reformed. And whatever we do, Earth must have a voice. Obviously she does - she’s speaking very loud now. Friends and family in Vermont are at a new ‘ground zero’ with 2 major floods just this summer, one last summer . . . Plainfield - my old stomping grounds - losing roads, historical homes, bridges . . . so much. The future is here. For me personally, I don’t believe I could survive 4 years of trump. I felt I was in an abusive relationship with my country during his term. But more important, this country, and Earth, need us to follow the path of some joy, compassion, and Love.
Thank you, Starhawk, for your big, clear vision. Nuance is hard to come by these days but you provide it here. You paint the big picture and the many overlapping layers that make it up. You speak for many of us. For sustenance, I come back often to your brilliant invocation of LAJFA, Liberty and Justice for All.
Thank you for this wise and clear assessment of what is at stake in USA elections.
As someone living in a swing state of North Carolina, votes are crucial at all levels of government. Down ballot voting is more important than I realized when I lived in Northern California. In North Carolina, 2020 election, Cheri Beasley, a progressive Black female candidate down ballot who lost by only 441 votes led to Republicans gerrymandering in a way that turned the state congress red.
You plan to vote blue down the ballot and then continue to work alongside the government for justice is crucial for our times!
Thank you for a well-balanced assessment. I am in a poor inner city in Rochester NY. The neighborhood is overwhelmingly POC. I just bought a run down duplex, built in 1885, and am doing my best to renovate it.
The people in this neighborhood and so many others will be hurt badly by a second Trump term.
And some of us will be in real danger in a fascist state. Including small fish like me and bigger fish like you, Star….
Let’s have a blue tsunami and then we can use it to move the Overton Window to the left and towards justice for all.
When we fight, we win.
Do you know of anyone planning to run against Mr. Morelle? I am not a fan. I’d love to see someone way more progressive representing me.
And congratulations on your new home!
Thank you dearest Starhawk for your encompassing compassion and influence here. One tweak needed —: you mean Cori Bush not Cory Booker. Cori Bush, like Jamal Bowman had her primary stolen by AIPAC. I too wish I had done more to support them both. With love and gratitude for you, Kathleen
I’m guessing that the piece was written with audio dictation tools.
Thank you. Very well said. I am under no illusion that the Dems are going to do everything that I would hope, but I believe in harm reduction first of all and on every front (even the Palestine/ Israel one) the Dems are either less bad or actually good in the policies they want to implement. The trumpista party, on the other hand, will be a disaster for everyone in this country who is not a wealthy white christian right-wing male. Not to mention, a disaster for the environment, world democracies, and refugees. The choice seems clear to me.
This is such a great piece. I think you’re right but I wish that people would see the urgency of climate change and the horror of what’s being done to Gaza.
I don’t have to resolve the moral dilemma of how to vote in the US elections, because I live in Canada — but we will have a similar dilemma at election time here. We’ve kept the conservatives out by tactical voting at the last two elections, and the Conservatives have moved steadily to the right (they’re not as off the rails as Trump, but that’s scary in a different way). But Justin Trudeau has not exactly been vocal about condemning the genocide. And the government has said they’re doing an arms embargo but in reality any existing contracts are still being fulfilled, and it’s permissible to sell weapons to the US that they’ll give to Israel. It would be great to have a NDP (left-wing) government but I don’t think they will get enough votes.
Thank you for delving deeply into what amounts to harm reduction in this coming election. While I am not fully pleased with the Harris ticket, at least having choices that promote democracy still exist, and being able to vote at all is still possible.
Here’s a quote from Dr. Richardson’s Substack today:
They join conservative jurist J. Michael Luttig, who endorsed Harris on Wednesday and wrote: “In voting for Vice President Harris, I assume that her public policy views are vastly different from my own, but I am indifferent in this election on any issues other than America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law, as I believe all Americans should be.”
Thank you, StarHawk, for your thoughtful article. I think many of us are struggling with this choice. But in the end, if we want to continue living in a democracy, it’s a choice we must make. Vote Blue up and down the ballot!
Dear Starhawk and fellow commenters,
Thank you for your thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the complex political landscape we face. Your commitment to both immediate pragmatism and long-term vision is commendable. However, I'd like to respectfully offer a perspective that emphasizes the crucial role of both the uncommitted movement and third-party campaigns in our political ecosystem.
While I understand the urgency of preventing a Trump presidency and the potential consequences you've outlined, I believe we must also consider the transformative power of supporting alternatives that more closely align with our deepest values and aspirations for justice.
The uncommitted movement, particularly in Michigan, has sent a powerful message about the importance of Palestinian rights and the need for a ceasefire. This grassroots effort has already influenced the national conversation and put pressure on the Democratic establishment to reconsider its stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. By withholding automatic support, these voters are using their democratic power to demand accountability and policy changes.
Similarly, the third-party campaigns of Jill Stein/Butch Ware (Green Party), Cornel West/Melina Abdullah (independent), and Claudia/Karina (Party for Socialism and Liberation) offer vital alternatives that expand our political imagination. These campaigns bring critical issues to the forefront that might otherwise be ignored or minimized by the two major parties.
Cornel West, for instance, has consistently spoken out against what he calls the "spiritual blackout" in American politics, challenging both parties on issues of economic justice, foreign policy, and systemic racism. His campaign serves as a moral compass, pushing the entire political spectrum to confront uncomfortable truths about our society.
The Green Party, with its focus on environmental justice and grassroots democracy, provides a platform for those who believe that incremental change within the current system is insufficient to address the climate crisis and other pressing issues.
While I acknowledge your concern about potentially splitting the vote in swing states, I would argue that the presence of these alternative voices is essential for the health of our democracy. They challenge the duopoly of the two-party system and provide a home for those who feel unrepresented by mainstream politics.
Moreover, supporting these movements and campaigns can be part of the long-term strategy you mention for building a more powerful progressive movement. By nurturing these alternatives, we create pressure from the left that can influence the Democratic Party's platform and priorities over time.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Sometimes, taking a principled stand that aligns with our deepest values, even if it doesn't lead to immediate electoral success, can plant seeds for future transformation.
In conclusion, while I respect your decision to support Harris and the Democrats as a tactical choice, I believe we must also recognize and support the vital role that the uncommitted movement and third-party campaigns play in our political landscape. They keep important issues alive, provide a home for disillusioned voters, and push the boundaries of what's possible in American politics.
Let's continue to engage in these difficult conversations with open hearts and minds, always striving for a more just and equitable world.
In solidarity
Thank you as always Starhawk for your words and your vision. I appreciate you offering a moment too to grieve the moral dilemma instead of rushing ahead. I've been appreciating joining Working Families Party calls: they do them multiple times a week and their strategy is to BLOCK (the far right by voting for Democrats and Harris) and BUILD by supporting progress. ❤️✌🏻 Love and Peace ☮️🇵🇸
Thank you for this, Star. You said all that has been on my heart and mind to say, and said it so well. Remembering our times together in your hometown of Duluth. With thanks and deep respect, Beth
Thank you. I have been struggling with the duality of the moment and standing with a foot in hope and a foot in despair at the same time, and this helped me feel less alone in the dichotomy.
Thank you for sane and balanced thinking. Keeping trump and the fascists out of power is job #1. Moreover, as my Rabbi, a great Master taught us: One of the fruits of mature spiritual practice is the ability to hold paradox. Other than death and taxes, most of life is not black and white. Vote Blue!
Hello Evelyn Baran - Could you provide a reference for the quote you shared from your rabbi? The phrase "the ability to hold paradox" is so rich with meaning and implication - would like to credit the source if I repeat it. Thank you!
The late Rabbi Jonathan Omer-Man, z”l.