Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Heidi. There is so much out there, it’s hard to know what to read and easier to just tune out completely. Though I am among the many who are mainlining political news/podcasts/fivethirtyeight probability ratings. Wonder what November 9 will bring.

Thanks for chiming in, Cynthia!

This election really pushed me to research the pros and cons of who to vote for and vote I did. I listened to people who are feeling disengaged from the U.S. They probably are having a hard time seeing a bright future for the generations ahead. It is important to vote with a well researched backround. I have to say in past elections where I did little research and went for the popular vote I felt fine about my decision. This time I chose the not so popular or are both not so popular? Seems even though I researched a lot feeling good about my choice is not like I would like it to feel

Very sound policy, Wendy. When I think of all that people have gone through and are still going through to be able to vote, it pains me when people think it’s too much trouble, doesn’t pertain to them, or that it doesn’t matter.

I appreciate your thoughtful comment, Ann. Listening and drawing out are definitely the way to go rather than imposing one’s own opinion. I am doing this while phone banking. I personally don’t know anyone who is voting for Trump (or who will admit to it), but I do know of people, especially young people, who supported Bernie and are thinking of either not voting or voting third party. At this point Donald Trump seems like the best persuader, but one never knows. Besides which, if we don’t retake at least one chamber of Congress, we can pretty much expect to get more of the same gridlock and obstructionism, which is a finer point that a lot of people seem to miss.

In the end, if trust is established that their views will be respected, then they often will say something like, “Well, he is a bit unhinged”. Overall, the appeal of Trump seems to be wanting someone to shake things up, causing what many imagine will be a kind of “reset” of a system they see as entirely corrupt.

The next question would be to explore what that reset might actually look like in everyday terms. I haven’t gotten to this point yet, and I don’t know if it would change anyone’s mind, but this approach generally has resulted in my learning a lot about the other side, and it does at least not push them into a more rigid position than they already held. My fantasy is that it leaves them a bit inclined to “think” about the views they hold and the evidence upon which it is based.