I was born during an election year. It was 1988 – Bush v. Dukakis. My birth and the election are tied together as one story in my family’s lore because we were, at the time, living next door to Michael and Kitty Dukakis. When my parents took me home from the hospital, they had to verify their identity with a security team before pulling into our driveway. Sitting in our driveway at that moment was Barbara Walters, interviewing Michael Dukakis, the Democratic Presidential Nominee.
Michael Dukakis did not win the 1988 Presidential election. On that first Tuesday in November, 1988, Michael Dukakis lost the race. He came home to the street where we lived. He returned to regular civilian life. I knew him as a neighbor, not a President. For me, Michael Dukakis represents the day-after-Election-Day. He represents the next four years. He is a reminder why we vote at all.
When Michael Dukakis lost the election, he never held official political office again. But he never stopped serving his country. I remember seeing him walking our street on Saturday mornings with paint cans, repainting mailboxes or street signs that needed fixing. He showed that one person can contribute to making a better, safer, healthier America. Every city block matters. Every neighborhood accumulates. We are a nation made up of many, many, many parts. Every single one of us and every single piece counts.
It seems to me that this year’s election is operating at human-scale more than ever. Barack Obama’s election, by contrast, was seen as an election that would upend the system – to give hope, to make change, to break boundaries, set new standards. The rhetoric was abstract and it was lofty. But today’s election comes at a moment of such crisis in our country – the crisis of Coronavirus and all the other dormant crises that the virus awoke – that this election’s rhetoric can’t afford the luxury of abstract ideals. We are voting for real, pragmatic, visible fixes that need to happen and need to happen fast.
And tomorrow, the results will be in. Our most important wish is that we hear an answer announced and an announcement accepted. And then, after that, we can remind ourselves of every other important day of the year. The-Day-After-Election-Day and the many days that follow are about more than just the President’s duties. It will be on us to make sure that no one gets forgotten in the aftermath of this election cycle. We each must do our part to protect and sustain our families, our schools, our communities, and our health centers.
If Michael Dukakis, the almost-President, can walk the neighborhood painting mailboxes, then we must each do our part, too. We are lucky to live in a country where every vote matters – because we live in a country where every person can make a difference. Today is about the President; tomorrow is about us.
I am so grateful for your blog article. Much thanks again. Much obliged. Elyse Nickey Buehrer
I think the admin of this web page is in fact working hard in favor of his web site, since here every stuff is quality based material. Marie Sinclair Tess
Thankyou for this practical advice on what is normally a forgotten topic. Is it okay to link this with my people? Thomasine Bancroft Pulcheria
Very informative content, a valuable resource article! Thanks for sharing. Latrina Nikolas Ramsden
After looking over a handful of the blog articles on your web page, I seriously like your way of blogging. I added it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website as well and tell me how you feel. Aubrette Gustavo Nobell
Hey there. I found your blog by the use of Google even as looking for a related matter, your website got here up. It seems to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then. Camel Brew Bazil
You made some decent points there. I looked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site. Leoline Dudley Seleta
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. That is a very neatly written article. Georgetta Rick Colville
I was very pleased to discover this website. I need to to thank you for your time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you book marked to check out new things in your blog. Lyndsay Burgess Lazaruk
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It is the little changes that make the greatest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing! Lucia Meredeth Brandi
Excellent post. I definitely appreciate this website. Continue the good work! Barrie Galven Mathis
Awesome post. I am a regular visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a frequent visitor for a really long time. Leeanne Malvin Bounds