I sympathize with my fellow citizens clamoring that beating Trump in 2020 is our highest priority. I respectfully disagree. Trump has exhaustively demonstrated he’s unfit for the presidency. But the drumbeat of “must win against” muffles the voice of what we stand for.
We’re fortunate to have a bonanza of presidential candidates this time around, each bringing their own values, ideas, experiences, and capabilities to the process. We have time to weigh their messages carefully. What a waste it would be if we fall into the familiar trap of playing this like a card game or horse race rather than democracy in action. Let’s take deliberate time this election to hold space for them all to be their best selves, and to hear them out. Delay choosing. Ignore polls. Watch a candidate emerge who is better than any one of them now. If all we care about is winning, we will lose.
