The NYT had an opinion piece yesterday:
“The Election Has Already Been Hacked
Even if not a single voting machine has been compromised, we’re in trouble.”
The article argues successfully that even if in these midterm elections no machine was hacked, no vote count will be altered, no more Russian efforts to tamper with the elections have been happened this year, no registered voters removed from the voting rolls, and so on, that the election has already been hacked, because our minds have been hacked.
It is a powerful argument.
It reminds us that many of us, me included do not believe that our votes count. That the damage has been done.
A recent poll shows that 46 percent of the American electorate do not think their votes will be counted fairly, and about a third think it is likely that a foreign country will tamper with the results.
I believe that a Republican-governed state will tamper with the results, i.e. Texas, Florida, Georgia because Republicans cheat.
Now, what the article does not point out is a solution for these midterms elections, only a future solution that can and will only happen if Democrats win in these elections: an overhaul of the electoral infrastructure.
But after doing some philosophical reading and thinking in recent weeks, I believe that there is a solution and I see it happening already: The power of the masses in the form of engaged minds that focus singlehandedly on one goal, forcing the people who own those minds, to go out and vote. That mind power can in fact lead to a victory for Democrats, even to a surprise victory.
Let me explain: the article is absolutely true in focusing on the loss of trust that has become a form of voter discouragement for many. And we worry so much about the cheating by Republicans and Russian interference that we forget that the worst outcome for elections is when people do not go out and vote.
In Spanish there is a saying: “Siento, Pienso, Digo, y Hago. In English it would be: Our feelings turn into thoughts, our thoughts into talk, our talk into action. If many more people want to protect America and get Trump out of the White House, if many of these people spend their mind resources thinking about how to make America graceful again, if many of these people get convinced to go vote and not worry whether their vote counts but just believe that it will count and it will help oust the current dictator-wannabe, then it probably will happen. There is an unwritten law that makes these things come true. It starts with many more people on our side having this wish, and then acting on it, and then talking to others about it.
I believe this is true for our elections this time around, perhaps I believe it from reading the urgency of GOTV posts in my Facebook timeline, or perhaps from the news that in some states, like in Texas twice as many voters have cast their votes this year compared to 2014. Sure, Trump supporters are energized, but we all know they don’t make up more than 30% of the US population. (His 40% approval rating comes also from some 10% Republicans who don’t like him but like his tax reforms but these Republicans have a bad conscience and may stay home)
And so, If we can keep our side energized, if we can focus our minds on getting everyone else out to vote, even if Republicans try to cheat, lets consider that the science behind the power of attraction is true and we may get our November miracle.
Also remember, and I am sad to point this out, that last time around the Russians and Republicans and many Democrats had a boogeywoman to hate, which energized voters on the other side and kept many of our voters home saying “Both candidates are equally bad”, which was very stupid to say or believe. This time around, they are trying to make Nancy Pelosi the boogeywoman, but that is not working. They don’t have a boogeywoman. And that will help us.
Moreover, Democrats have some spectacular candidates this time around. Beto in Texas, Stacy Abrams in Georgia, Andrew Gillum in Florida are fabulous in that they have the brains but also the charm. Brains don’t matter much in the US, what matters here, where an Angela Merkel would never win, is charm and eloquence. And they have that. They are fabulous because they have what it takes to win in America. And our minds have to believe that. When we believe it, we talk about it with others, we become enthusiastic. It makes us act, and others will act too. Three days to go, but it does not matter. Go talk about it with anyone you can think of, but especially those who you think may not have voted yet, and those whose minds have been hacked. Think and wish or meditate or pray on the desired outcome of these elections. The proper action will follow. Don’t let your mind get hacked. GOTV in any way you can.