“It’s about what we are leaving behind that’s important,” I told a friend as I talked to him about how to make a better America, and how we fall into the trap of “being more concerned on winning than being concerned about America.” That’s why Kamala Harris mentioned she didn’t choose Pete Buttiege as her running mate. That’s how we got here.[1] Another story in a list where the focus is on winning not what’s best.
That’s what happens when we avoid the responsibility of making the hard choice. Opportunities to blame becomes part of the vernacular. Leadership is not part of the vetting method or the calculus in determining mental acuity, moral veracity, or greed. Complaining that an escalator is not working, or teleprompter malfunctions telegraphs to the world we are not focused on “what we are leaving behind.”
Money has been the linchpin that has shackled America and much of the world to lies that deny people’s safety, disregards them being fed, and reflects a history where the good guys generally are heroes in history books once they’re dead. Money in no way focuses on those things that unite us.
The Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions and enabled corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited money on elections. While wealthy donors, corporations, and special interest groups have long spent money on campaigns, their role has ballooned as a result of the Citizens United ruling and subsequent court decisions, resulting in a fusion of private wealth and political power unseen since the late 19th century.[2]
Concerted efforts of the rich have contributed to corporate influence like never before with people like Elon Musk contributing a small fortune reportedly $277 million, in the last election.[3] The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg called the 2010 ruling the worst ruling of her time on the Court. Overwhelming majorities of Americans have consistently expressed disapproval of the ruling, with at least 22 states and hundreds of cities voting to support a constitutional amendment to overturn it.[4]
The blatant admission of pay before you play has been present in our democracy for years. One of the egregious examples was the Teapot Scandal [1921 - 1923], which was the high water mark for presidential scandal until Watergate.[5] Not so much for greed, or pay before your play, Watergate [1972 – 1974] was more about abuse of power, however as Mark Felt, the person known as “Deep Throat” eventually pointedly said, “follow the money.” This adage has inevitably led many to focus on the corruption generated from greed.
Constantly we see it today as people watch event being scheduled on golf courses owned or managed by the administration,[6] and events at Mar-a-Lago.[7] Since taking office Trump’s balance sheet is $3 billion greater since gaining office, with an estimated $1.1 billion of liabilities and $8.4 billion of assets, $1.1 billion of which are in liquid holdings.[8] As we see democracy taking on a trajectory many would not have imagined. Not only are the rich getting richer, but the poor are also victims of a woefully weakened society gripped by a snake crushing the life out of them as democracy spirals down. Do we care?
This most significant focus about this consequential question has to do with voting.
Compulsory voting, also called universal civic duty voting or mandatory voting, is the requirement that registered voters participate in an election. As of January 2025, 27 countries have compulsory voting laws.[9] In many countries like Australia and Brazil, are penalized for not voting. In America? Although Donald Trump only beat Kamala Harris by a 1.6% margin in the popular vote, the 2024 election was in many ways a blow-out for non-voters. Using data from the University of Florida Election Lab, a new analysis by the Environmental Voter Project shows that 85.9 million eligible voters skipped the 2024 general election, far surpassing the 76.8 million ballots cast for Donald Trump or the 74.3 million for Kamala Harris.[10]
I grew up in the 1960s. There were many demonstrations for democracy and gaining access to the ballot was important and resulted in laws that made voting easier. Particularly the Voting Rights Acts of 1965.[11]
The most consequential blow to the VRA came with the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder. At the heart of the case was Section 5 of the VRA, which required jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination in voting to obtain federal approval, or “preclearance,” before making any changes to their voting laws. Congress had reauthorized Section 5 in 2006 with overwhelming bipartisan support yet, in a 5–4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down the coverage formula that determined which jurisdictions were subject to preclearance, rendering Section 5 effectively useless.[12]
Winning in America is everything. The focus is on power. Gerrymandering ensures power. The focus is on money. Tax breaks for the rich gives them more money. The focus is on division and dismantling. The rhetoric of leaders is incendiary trying to tear America apart.
As I listened to former Vice-President Harris tell her reason for not choosing the person that would be best for the country a truth evolved. When winning becomes less important than doing the right thing, we might get a better America.
[1] Harris says Buttigieg was her ‘first choice’ for running mate, but deemed it risky | AP News
[2] Citizens United Explained | Brennan Center for Justice
[3] How Elon Musk Spent at Least $277 Million to Help Trump and the GOP - Business Insider
[4] Fifteen Years Later, Citizens United Defined the 2024 Election | Brennan Center for Justice
[5] “Unusual Political Career of Calvin Coolidge, Never Defeated for an Office”. The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
[6] Tracking Trump’s visits to his properties and other conflicts of interest - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
[7] People Are Paying Millions to Dine With Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago | WIRED
[8] Trump Jumps 118 Spots On The Forbes 400 List Thanks To Presidency
[9] Countries with Mandatory Voting 2025
[10]2024 was a Landslide...for ‘Did Not Vote’ | Environmental Voter Project
[11] Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Definition, Summary & Significance | HISTORY
[12] Supreme Court Ready to Gut Last Vestige of Voting Rights Act - Alliance for Justice