Anxiety-inducing election season is nearly over
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Breathe in, breathe out…
Driving the news: The long Ohio nightmare is nearly over: the climate of anxiety and acrimony; the fear and hate, induced by endless TV commercials; the fantasy that candidates are personally escorting illegal immigrants across state lines; that "trans girls in sports" is the most pressing issue of our time.
State of play: It's been a taxing few months.
- After today, our phones will quit buzzing nonstop with fundraising texts and get-out-the-vote calls.
Yes, but: The work of democracy continues tomorrow.
- And the next day, and the day after that.
💭 Our thought bubble: People in power in the U.S. generally prefer that we view elections like they do: as the only way citizens get to participate in a democracy.
- But pushing elected leaders toward a more just and open society should be a yearlong operation, regardless of who's in office.
- It's not easy, but it's up to us to continue actively participating, to keep fighting for better lives for our neighbors in Cleveland, across the country and around the world.
- In the past few years, it was direct citizen action that forced Cleveland to finally confront the lead crisis, to implement public comment at council meetings, and to pass wage-theft protections for workers.
What's likely next: More nightmares, more anxiety, more fear and hate.
- Chances are, some of the candidates or issues you support won't win at the ballot box today.
The bottom line: Celebrate where you can, mourn where you must.
- Then turn off your phone and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, the work begins anew.
Go deeper: What's on the 2024 ballot in Cleveland?