Why I Vote: I Vote for the 99%
By Brittany Campbell
In full transparency, when I turned 18 I did not vote. I was arrogant and empowered by the colonial rhetoric of our white male founding fathers - “no taxation without representation”. My privilege allowed me to see the Electoral College as a mechanism for not truly being represented. Since I have been eligible to vote, technology has existed to accurately account for the popular vote: the total number of votes that reflects the total number of voters. But that’s not how elections are won.
I was at a gas station grabbing a Red Bull in Toluca Lake when a TV monitor announced the 45th President of the United States. 2016 was the 5th and most recent presidential election in which the winning candidate lost the popular vote. I was 25. I had voted, Green Party... I’m in California right and fuck thanks to the Electoral College we’d go Blue. I wasn’t worried. I didn’t know that I needed to be worried.
I’d love to admit that I spent every moment since 2016 preparing for the 2020 election but that would be a lie. I went where I felt called to serve. I attended the 2017 Women’s March Los Angeles (LA) because I was shook by the words about my body that the 45th President was tweeting. I became more engaged with authentic storytelling through my professional job as a Manager of Public Engagement at a LA history museum. I started letter writing with a Latinx womxn lead grassroots organization, Puro Politica Parti, to increase voter turnout in the 2020 Presidential Election.
Now it’s September 30, 2020. The topic of: Why I Vote - Economy is up for grabs with an Arts + Culture Magazine that I am proud to contribute my voice to. Imposter syndrome kicks in:
Is your knowledge of the stock market & the economy valid?
Your professional practice is located in Liberal Arts
Your own net worth is not something to be desired
Simultaneously you look up the definition of economy: the wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services while texting economy experts aka your Step-Father, a 55 year old Republican, and your best friend from High School, a 30 year former Teach for America educator with an MA in Economics from USC. If you like me are trying your best to do your best, I’ve listened to an hour and seventeen minute presentation (alternatively a 21 page paper) by Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Bernard Yaros, Key Economist for Federal Fiscal Policy from Moody Analytics model 5 of the U.S. and global economy. The model is similar to those used by the Federal Reserve Board and Congressional Budget Office for forecasting, budgeting and policy analysis .My notes can be found here. I’ve also debated all the California Propositions with my Step-Father and realized that I may be socially liberal and financially conversative.
In really investigating the definition of economy, I’ve asked myself - What does the United States of America have the wealth and resources to support? It boils down to 3 major economic factors:
The Stock Market & Jobs: Both matters for this election because Trump has been shining a light on the stock market as a litmus test to his economic policy for the last four years and Baby Boomers now entering the over 55 age bracket are hyper focused on their portfolios which include investments in the stock market as they get ready for retirement.
Analysis: Should the stock market be a litmus test for the economy? No! And in terms of “MAG” Make America Great (‘Again’ has been intentionally removed) there is a projected $7.5 Milion difference by 2024 between Biden’s Economic Policy and continuing Trump’s Economic Policy. We are currently down 11.5 Million Jobs from the pre-pandemic unemployment figures. Under Biden’s proposed Economic Policy full employment compared to unemployment reaches ~4% by mid-2020. Under Trump’s continuation of the current Economic Policy the rate of full employment to unemployment is ~5% leading to full employment by mid-2023/early-2024.
Tax Increases: Both Biden + Trump propose an increase in taxes. Who bears the brunt of this tax increase depends on policy.
Analysis: Under a Biden administration Corporations Taxes would increase from 21% to 28% increasing corporate tax revenue by $2.1 Trillion by end of term. Under Biden the Top 1% of America declines in wealth by ~17%. Biden is also proposing the most dramatic reform to Social Security since Reganomic’s ‘93. The bulk of Trump's tax plan would affect Individuals. This plan is based on assumptions of legislation set to expire in 2017 and “vague” tax cuts to the middle class that Trump has not made entirely clear.
Foriegn Trade/ Clean Energy: Trump will likely double down on his tariff wars with China. Biden seems to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership with tougher labor and environmental provisions.
Analysis: Has anyone in your life made a big deal about soybeans? If your answer is no, I challenge you to check your privilege. While a tariff war or TPP deal may seem irrelevant to your life, I dare to ask: what is the diversity index measure for your inner circle? While acknowledging my privilege, soybeans hit home. My chosen family includes a third-generation soybean farm in East Tennessee. Soybeans are a benchmark for the promises the Trump administration has made but due to the instability of the administration has not delivered on. Trump claims to MAG but with a focus on weakening institutions, unstructured decision making, and rotating advisors American farmers have not seen the outcomes the current administration has promised.
You have one week and one day until the most important election of my life. I want to say our lives because if you like me at 18 thought the next four years doesn't affect you… well you may need to open up and start a realization process. Trump and a loyal fan base rally around his rhetoric Make America Great Again.
I challenge you to know your socioeconomic status in America in 2020. Address that fact and when casting your 2020 vote for President, vote for the economy. There is only one policy plan that addresses the 99%. If I have the privilege of addressing the 1% I see you, I hope you vote so that you and our country see me.
More About Me:
I am a cis-hetrosexual white female
I am a nasty women raised by a single, independent, nasty women household
I attended private HS in the San Fernando Valley, CA and independently paid for public college at UCSB
I benefited from the federal program: “First In My Family To Attend College”I sought the maximum amount allocated for PELL grants to attend college and on a current income based plan am on track to pay off student loans 10 years after graduating from a UC
I currently make >60,000 a year at my non-profit salaried position
In 2018 after 10 years on my own I moved back to my family home to get out of debt acquired from: attending a UC, car payments w/ consistent employment from ‘06, California rent at current market value (2009 - 2019)
I imagine a world where my ethics/morals aren’t in conflict with a 403B personal contribution to my stock market portfolio
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1. Accessed October 2, 2020 https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
2. Accessed October 2, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_election
3. Accessed October 2, 2020 https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
4. Accessed Oct 5, 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/soybean-farmers-face-stress-chaos-trump-continues-
attack-china-trade-n1231518