Thursday, August 1, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC
EDITORIAL by Mary P Brooke | Social trends on the island
For many people It’s like a burst of positive energy to see a relatively young (and non-white, mixed-race) female politician launching herself into the possibility of becoming the next President of the United States.
The world watched President Joe Biden falter and was stunned by how quickly Vice President Kamala Harris raised more than $11 million and secured a slew of high-profile endorsements days after Biden withdrew as the Democratic nominee for the November 2024 presidential race.
It’s been a while since the struggles between the right and left in politics (in Canada and the United States) have taken a breather. Yes, in Canada, we’ve seen the impact that a third party can have, with the federal NDP supporting the Liberals as a way to improve the delivery of people-focused programs and supports. But the shift in positions of the key players at the top rarely, and almost never, happens this quickly.
Women in politics might feel invigorated, as might anyone who has worked long in the trenches of political parties.
Politics has become so complex in the last 10-15 years (with bloated communications teams, bolstered by the power of instant communication via social media) that a breath of fresh air seemed unlikely.
Let’s call it the “Kamala effect” which opens the door to the realization that sudden positive change is possible.
Meanwhile, Republicans who follow candidate Donald Trump in a sectarian way have muddied the political waters with J.D. Vance as their vice presidential candidate. He resembles the Sarah Palin of the 2008 campaign: a risky bet to retain the MAGA base, but one that will ultimately shoot the party in the foot.
===== As first published in the July 26, 2024 bi-monthly print/PDF edition Social trends on the island. Are you a Premium Subscriber Again?
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News sections: POLICY | BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS 2024 | CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTIONS 2025 | EDITORIALS
