As an undecided voter, you hold immense power in shaping the future of our country. Like many of us, you’re probably grappling with a mixture of hope, fear, and anxiety as the election looms closer. Voting is such a deeply personal act, and with so much information (and misinformation) swirling around — with our country being so divided and so much hanging in the balance — it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling on edge.
I had lunch recently with an old friend named David who admitted that he’s an undecided voter. David loves our country and is deeply concerned about immigration, the economy, and the coming election. He’s unsure whether to cross party lines and vote for Vice President Kamala Harris or to vote for Donald Trump again. Having had a refreshingly open, honest, respectful conversation about our mutual concerns, I’m hoping that sharing them might help you decide who to vote for.
First, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: Donald Trump. Like many folks, you may have reservations about Trump’s behavior, rhetoric, personal agenda, and whether he’s fit to lead. You wouldn’t be alone — his insatiable hunger for adoration, tendency to distort the truth, and willingness to demonize anyone who challenges him have divided our country and left the world uncertain about where Americans stand.
Over the years, we’ve seen Mr. Trump align himself with authoritarian figures like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, dismiss legitimate concerns about climate change, deny losing an election, contest the transfer of power, perpetuate harmful stereotypes about immigrants, and revoke the laws that have allowed women the right to choose. Perhaps the greatest danger is how he has radicalized segments of our population, leading us into a perilous state of contentious division, distrust, and divisiveness. His brand of nationalism, laced with white supremacy, has only served to tear our nation apart.
I agreed with David that Donald Trump is only part of the problem. The other looming threat we face is the orchestrated misinformation campaigns of China, Iran, and Russia that are designed to confuse and sway voters. Bot-infested social media messaging and news outlets have become breeding grounds for falsehoods that paint Democrats as corrupt and inept. Misinformation about Kamala Harris, for example, has been rampant, portraying her as extreme or unqualified.
But there’s ample evidence that Vice President Harris is a service-oriented leader who listens, learns, and adapts. Having been on the front lines as California’s Attorney General and Vice President who has contributed to our economic recovery, our support of Ukraine, and the bipartisan immigration reform bill killed by Mr. Trump, her commitment to American values and solid plans for moving our country forward are undeniable. Her policies on women’s rights, climate action, and economic growth reflect the kind of thoughtful, inclusive leadership that can guide us through these turbulent and unsettling times.
Kamala Harris is far from perfect — no candidate is — and she has much to learn. But David and I were able to see beyond the noise and focus on the real issues at hand. We differed on how to address some of these issues and agreed on others, like what kind of country we wanted to leave our children and grandchildren. We also agreed on the kind of leadership our country needs in a world where global instability, widespread immigration, economic inequality, and climate change loom large.
David told me his biggest concern was the economy: Like many, he’s felt the pinch of rising costs and thought Trump had the edge over Harris when it came to business. Realizing our economy has been tied to factors that go beyond any one administration’s control and how much healthier our economy has become (i.e. more jobs, stronger stock market, a “soft landing” for inflation, etc.) — and hearing about Trump’s bankruptcies, lawsuits, and felony indictments — made David uncertain about who would be a better steward for America’s economy. Since taking over from President Biden, Kamala Harris and her team have been working tirelessly to address these issues through responsible fiscal policies and long-term solutions that benefit working families.
And when discussing immigration, I admitted that I thought the Biden administration had to do a better job securing our border. David admitted that he’d bought into some of the conspiratorial, fear-mongering rhetoric about Harris.
My conversation with David didn’t necessarily change his mind — it gave him the clarity he was looking for to make a good decision, concluding that electing Trump would be less likely to benefit his family, community, or the country he loves. While Harris did not align with every single one of his views, she represented the better path forward for a united, safe, and prosperous America.
To all the undecided voters out there: I urge you to reflect on what truly matters. The stakes in this election are higher than ever. Our democracy, our values, and the future of our children hang in the balance. Please don’t let misinformation, fear, doubt, or slander being passed around by a Russian bot cloud your judgment. Take the time to explore the facts from trusted sources, own up to the possibility that you have been influenced by misinformation, and most importantly, vote with the well-being of your/our children and country in mind.
Let’s elect a leader who will lift us up, not one who divides, threatens, or calls us an “enemy” if we disagree with him. Let’s choose hope, integrity, honesty, humility, and a brighter future — by voting for a leader who truly cares.
Dr. Ken Druck, a leading expert on resilience, has dedicated his life to helping others navigate adversity since the tragic loss of his daughter. Dr. Druck is a renowned speaker and bestselling author whose latest book is How We Go On: Self-Compassion, Courage, and Gratitude on the Path Forward; he’s also a recipient of the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology award — learn more at www.kendruck.com.
