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| Kamala Harris |
Harris first point was a value. She pointed out that Americans have died in the struggle for voting rights, and that, when we vote, we honor their memory. If people were willing to risk, and, indeed, to sacrifice their lives to give us the right to vote, the least we can do is show up on Election Day:
“But voting — and here’s the thing: You know, we will talk often about the importance of voting in the — the historical context of the fact that people marched, fought, shed blood, and died for the right to vote for so many of the people who are here.”Harris then explained her second point, a point of policy. Her second point was that elections make a difference. Yes, we can demonstrate, or write letters to the editor, or post ridiculous comments on social media, but our leaders ultimately only care about votes.
If we want to influence our country's direction, the ultimate way to do that is to vote. If you wave a sign in your yard and don't vote, your opinion doesn't matter. If you sail in a boat rally, and don't vote, your opinion doesn't matter. If you wave a flag from your porch and don’t vote, well, what is the point of waving the flag? Your opinion only matters if you vote. Our government depends on what the voters say on Election Day. If we want to achieve our policy goals, we need to vote. There is no substitute:
“The other thing that we should know is that elections matter. When you vote, you have the ability to determine the outcome of who will be making decisions on issues like we have discussed. And there’s so many leaders surrounding issues like immigration, on issues like the climate crisis, on issues like what the President and I have been fighting for to reduce student loan debt — (applause) — on issues —Think about it. We read about opinion polls, whether the public prefers this candidate or that candidate, whether the public likes this issue or that issue. Those polls ultimately make no difference. All that matters is this: how do people vote?
“On a variety of issues that we will discuss today, almost every one of them will ultimately be decided by the people who vote in their numbers on the issues they care about. Right?”
Contrary to what people often think, political campaigns have little effect on voters’ opinions. Few Trump supporters will watch a television commercial, change their minds, and vote for Biden. Few Biden supporters will watch a television commercial, change their minds, and vote for Trump. The main reason for political campaigns is to encourage one’s supporters to vote. It’s the votes that matter.
The United States of America’s survival and success depends on whether people show up and vote. In the 1860s, voter turnout was often more than 80%. We've really sunk since then, haven't we? Yes, your vote is only one among many, but it is the many votes that count.
So, no matter what political views you do or do not believe, your most basic obligation as an adult American citizen is to vote--to vote every time, in every election, and to treasure that right on which all of our other rights rely.
Harris’ speech reached out to young adults—the group with the lowest voter turnout—and encouraged them to participate in our great republic. She gave a value, to honor those who gave us that right. She gave a policy, that we need to vote to achieve our national goals. What better purpose can a speech serve?
by William D. Harpine
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Kamala Harris' Speech at West Point: Tradition and Innovation
Kamala Harris Acceptance Speech at the Virtual DNC Convention: Breaking Ground with Caution
Stephen Breyer's Retirement Speech Reminded Us That the United States Is an Experiment
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© Copyright 2023, William D. Harpine
Image: Official White House photo
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