Scientists claim, with growing data, that earth's habitat is headed for an ecological apocalypse faster than previously predicted if we humans don’t change our habits—and our thinking! The future of humankind, animals, nature, and all of our interconnected support system should hardly be a politically partisan issue; and for several decades it was not. Perhaps one could see the division coming when President Jimmy Carter’s entering the White House was quickly accompanied by placing solar panels on the roof. With almost the same speed, our next president, Ronald Reagan, removed them.
But many other factors have influenced this issue. Those who deny science are at the forefront, but are not large in numbers. A larger group, with large amounts of money at stake are those rightly concerned that ending fossil fuel consumption will end many jobs, including those of the executives. Some fossil fuel executives are slowly lessening the output of fossil fuel while investing more in solar and other ecologically oriented energy sources—hedging their bets wisely. Wisdom suggests that a healthful climate for the world supersedes economic gains for the few. Globally, the most economically developed nations are emitting the most carbon dioxide while the world’s “lungs” or rainforests (which absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen) are in the less developed countries. The survival of our planet is at stake, but how should this affect our 2020 elections in the USA? Perhaps the larger question is: “How will the USA’s 20/20 election affect the world?”
Tufts University’s research revealed that after the run-up to the 2016 elections, Bernie Sanders was favored by more than 2 million votes from 18-to-29-year-olds while Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton combined received 1.6 million of their votes! The data did not clarify the percent of young voters from minority groups. Many will be surprised by polls (since mid-October, 2019) that show Bernie Sanders is favored by the majority of the “youth vote,” and running a close second to Joe Biden nationally. With Sanders and Biden being among the oldest candidates, some would say that “ageism” is less a factor than usually imagined. Some would note that Bernie and his supporters have been around a longer time with much experience in politics, but so has Joe Biden. Others say that youth are voting on what is best for them-- Bernie promises to cancel student debt! But many of Elisabeth Warren’s ideas are similar to Bernie Sanders’ platform.
Citizens who have the concern, energy, and time to vote often ask themselves: “Which candidate would be best for me, my community, the USA and the world?” The younger a voter is in our 2020 elections, the more enthusiasm should be shown for a candidate who is best in all these categories. Certainly the candidate whose platform takes most seriously the ecological factors should get the “youth vote” whose lives will be most affected, as well as the health and welfare of their children and future generations.
Associate Professor Emeritus of Humanities (1985–2019)
Chaplain Emeritus (1985-2004)
Austin College