By Jason Samatas
For those of you who know me and/or have read my previous blogs, I’m very engaged in national politics. I have been so since college, but actually remember being engaged, I guess as much as a kid can be, when I was younger while growing up in Ronald Reagan’s 80’s. The political experts say after Labor Day is when the presidential campaigns really begin, but I think this is an old rule of thumb. People seem to be more engaged in politics today, which is a good thing, and campaigns for office seem to start earlier and earlier in the cycle. In the last presidential election, in 2020 and in the middle of a pandemic, almost 160 million people voted, a record for our country in terms of sheer volume. Many experts believe the 2024 election will once again shatter records. Again, regardless of who you vote for, I view this as healthy that so many Americans are taking an interest in selecting the leaders of our country. Nine weeks from today (Tuesday), we will select a new President.
Politics has always been a rough and tumble world, but it seems more rough and tumble than in prior election cycles. Today, there are more threats of violence, more vitriol, and tremendous amounts of division like we’ve ever seen before. I’ve studied and wondered for years why this trend has become so dangerous. What’s changed? Who or what is responsible? And most importantly, can we ever go back? Can we go back to the days when Presidential candidates fought on policy, had civil debates, and shook hands and congratulated each other at the end of the campaign? Can we go back to accepting election results without questioning the veracity of the political process if our favored candidate does not win? Can civility come back within the electorate?
As an optimist, I’m pessimistic. We have a political process that rewards negativity and divisiveness, with a media structure that promotes the division for ratings. The advent of social media over the last ten years has made things even worse and seems to bring the worst out in people. Finally, we have weak leadership. We don’t have political leaders calling out people in their own party for inappropriate behavior and/or language. When accountability is non-existent, there’s no incentive to change course or behavior. In fact, the opposite gets rewarded with more press coverage, more campaign contributions, and potentially more votes. It really is a sad state of affairs that our political realm has evolved into. Until something changes, I don’t see significant change on the horizon in terms of the negative political dynamics.
But all is not lost. In the end, I do believe this country will find its political footing again. My only hope is that we get to a healthier, more unified place without violence and/or tragedy. Although pessimism is present, I do ultimately believe in America and Americans. So go make your voice heard. And don’t forget – we all play for the same team. Peace and love, my fellow Americans.
Jason Samatas
Jason is a part of MenLiving because of how much it has been a part of his personal development over the past number of years. Having gone through a difficult divorce and a number of family and career challenges, Jason reevaluated aspects of his life that were no longer serving him with the love and support of MenLiving members behind him. As he went through the process (and still is!), he realized how many men were there to support his journey. Now, in any way he can, he tries to give back that same support which was so critical to his own well-being.
What inspires Jason most is seeing men open up, be vulnerable, and take chances. Jason took the “safe path” in so many ways for much of his life, and now gets pumped to see men take the “edgier path” in any aspect of one’s circumstances. He’s eternally grateful to all that have supported him in his journey and seeks to reciprocate that same support to other men as they embark on their own journeys.
