by, Renee Wood

Why I am still reeling from shock of the 2024 election, I don’t know? Everyone predicted it would be a close race, and I knew that, but somehow the way that the mainstream media constantly lam basted Trump (his actions deserved pointing out, however sometimes they went a step too far), and the left leaning media glorifying Harris, for these reasons I thought she would squeak out a win.

Upon reflection though, the mainstream media really underestimates the American public. 1) Americans, no matter what their party affiliation is, or lack of affiliation, are not stupid and do not appreciate being treated as such just because they disagree on fundamental issues. We must get over this, or we will never come together as a people.

2) Americans do not watch the news on T V anymore, or at least very few of them do. When they do, mainstream media has an obvious bias in either direction, most people don’t like to listen to news commentators telling them what to think. Discussing the issue is one thing, but saying things like; “I don’t know how anybody can like this guy”, is totally another thing. In the other direction, they also don’t like to hear excuses for the inexcusable, “Trump said he won the 2020 election, so he must have won because …”! All the media has to say is, “According to the polls, and the court cases, Trump lost the 2020 election” end stop. Truth is, very few people actually “like” Trump, they just like his policies (concepts of policies) better, than the other candidate, and the media should not bad mouth people for how they feel, or what condition their life is in that drove them to vote the way they did. I know many people who said, “I am just going to hold my nose and vote for him”.

Obviously, by that comment, they did not like the guy they were going to vote for, but somehow he spoke more to their condition than the other party/candidate. If you were starving to death and homeless, would you want somebody who was a real nice person to say, “It’s going to be okay. Let’s think positive”! Or someone who is more sinister maybe, but at least sees the situation for what it is, and says, “Your situation sucks! You are living in a garbage pile, let’s see what we can do to get you out of here and make it better”! In other words, America is great, except when it isn’t for some people. Personally, I am not advocating for the latter approach, I am just saying we no longer live in the world of “Ozzie and Harriet”, have you ever heard the way many young people talk? They talk a lot like Trump.

3) This is just my opinion, and I have no evidence to back it up, but I think one of the Lynch pins for Harris losing was the abortion issue. It is true that most women will say the right to abortion needs to be there. However, if you ask most women, including women who have had an abortion, if they would have an abortion, many would say “No”. Not all women, but enough. This means that they want this “right” for other women more than for themselves. Most women, see abortion as a “necessary evil”. Abortions are not pleasant to go through, most would avoid it if possible, so having a necessary evil constantly put in your face as a “thing to celebrate” after a while, could have the opposite effect. In other words, Biden mentioned it now and then, but it was not the driving force of his campaign. Harris really depended on women turning out for this issue. Since most women want this right in place for other women, rather than necessarily for themselves, when it comes to one’s pocket book, or what one sees as “a right that someone else may need to utilize”, 8 out of 10 times, your pocket book is going to be primary. She put way too many eggs in that basket and it did not pan out for her. Honestly, I thought this issue would drive her to the victory, but I got so tired of hearing her enthusiasm about it that I wonder if it had the same effect on other women, even those who overwhelmingly support choice.

The left needs to take a good look at the demographics of America, aside from race, LGBTQ+ and Women’s issues and realize Americans want equality, that means they don’t want special treatment for their difference, they want to be recognized as the same as everyone else. People don’t want special programs or policies to make things equal – they just want to be seen as equal and not different. Policies and programs tend to emphasize “difference” rather than our commonness. I believe that is why more black men and Latino men turned out for Trump than they did previously. They just want people to see them as people, wanting safe streets, equal opportunities and borders that allow people to come in legally. People don’t mind helping others in need, they just resent being mandated to do so, and the recipients of these mandates are starting to realize it has, in most cases, the opposite effect.

In conclusion, the 2024 election has revealed significant divides in America—not only in political preferences, but in how people perceive fairness, equality, and shared values. The media, with its overt biases, underestimated voters’ ability to think critically and failed to understand the real, diverse concerns driving voter choices. Americans of all backgrounds showed that they want leaders who speak to their lived realities, rather than politicians who prioritize ideology over addressing everyday struggles. This election serves as a wake-up call, not just for the political parties, but for everyone engaged in shaping public discourse. If we’re ever to move forward as a more unified nation, it’s time to listen genuinely, respect each other’s opinions without judgment, and focus on practical solutions over partisan divides. The lesson from 2024 is clear: Americans want leaders who value recognition of the person over divisive policies, and solutions over rhetoric.