Four years of division enough, time for winners and losers to get over it

Winning is easy. Losing, as President Trump says, sucks.

But it’s part of democracy.

There have to be winners and losers in every election (unless you have ridiculous ranked choice voting, but that’s another story) so suck it up and grimace your way through this election.

It’s been one of the most unforgettable elections in our nation’s history. Now it’s time for the country to take a step back, exhale and unite. And that goes for the politicians in Washington as well as voters.

We’ve had four years of anger, division, rancor and partisanship and this country can’t take any more.

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of a deadly pandemic and it looks like it’s going to get worse this winter. Facing down the coronavirus and coming up with a vaccine as quickly as possible has to be the No. 1 priority in this country, no matter who the next president is. And right along with that, trying to figure out a way to keep the country’s economy from collapsing is just as important.

Arguing about the problems — even disagreeing about the need for a quick vaccine — is not helping the country’s long tormented psyche. People are hurting across America, whether it’s because of COVID or unemployment. We need to face our problems together in order to come up with solutions.

Threatening to move to Canada (and by the way, how many actually did because of Trump?) isn’t going to solve anything. Rioting and looting is destructive and dangerous, not a public protest. And just complaining or refusing to admit Trump is your president isn’t helping.

It was actually somewhat encouraging and reassuring on Tuesday to see people vote in person, despite all the coronavirus fears. Nothing like the horror stories we’ve heard in the last few days about threats of violence and boarded up businesses.

At the Holy Name School in West Roxbury, one of the busiest in the city, voters calmly filed in without getting harassed, and filled out their ballots. The poll workers looked calm and competent. About 70 percent of the voters in one precinct — including those that voted early — had turned out by 2 p.m. No one was burning signs or getting in fistfights. A handful of workers for one of the referendum questions were quietly munching on candy and other treats.

Maybe it’s a hopeful sign of the future.

So, if your candidate or ballot question didn’t win in this election, too bad. It’s hard but accept it and move on.

Until the next crazy election comes around.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3oY5w7c