First, we accept the results of the election.
Start there – at a place too many never got to the last time we did this. Donald Trump won. You may not like it, but win or lose, you accept the results. That’s what we do as American citizens. You don’t try to undo the results, lie about them, and stand by while others use violence to invalidate them.
That’s life lesson #1: Lose the right way.
Then you live your life. You get up, go to school, go to work, go to theater and choir rehearsal. You keep working hard in the classroom. You hang out with your friends and family. You keep volunteering. You keep helping others. You keep being a 16-year-old girl who is so much more than one political outcome.
You also keep fighting for what you believe in. Work for positive change, resisting the urge to go low. Let others spew hate and divide. You love and unite.
Stand up for LGBTQ+ rights, a woman’s right to choose, common sense gun control, immigrants, and the countless other issues you are so passionate about. Do your part to lift up the most vulnerable among us. Resist those bent on doing otherwise … while always remembering, despite Tuesday’s results, how you act, what you say and how you say it, matters. I will always believe that.
Do good, embrace hope, and get to work. Start with your family, your school, and in your community. Then go bigger. I can help.
Also, keep your head up. I say it all the time to my family, the athletes I coach, and anyone who will listen: It is what is next that matters most. Focus on that.
And this, too, from Matthew 6:4: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Yes, Shelby, don’t worry about tomorrow. Work to make tomorrow better!
The United States turns 250 in 2026, and let’s use that as a milestone moment for the future of this country. Let’s learn from what happened last night, as Democrats and citizens. In doing so, let’s listen to those who don’t agree with us politically – assume that is 50% of the people you come across; that is the city, state and country we live in – and find a middle ground that this divided place so desperately needs.
We ride at dawn. I call shotgun.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Thank you for trying to find some light to focus on this very dark day. Truly hard to find any hope right now.
Just teach her about economics and she will be happy with the results. My four daughters are.
I will also remind her that the stock market continues to hit historic highs under Biden-Harris — and partly because of the impact that had on her college savings plan, she will be able to afford most any college she wants. I’ll also remind her that so many in country do not have that luxury. I’ll also remind her that historically strong job growth is a good thing, and that wages are up, too. That’s awesome news as she heads into the workforce. She already knows prices are too high … but also knows that inflation has been manageable for quite a while now. Economics!
As Ronald Reagan said when he left office regarding what he was most proud of – “The American People created 18 million new jobs”! Government doesn’t create jobs, private sector entrepreneurs and great Company’s do. With heavy regulation, high taxes and bureaucracy, governments can kill or slow down an economy, and the reverse is also true, but they don’t create jobs. And since the stock market represents the present value of all expected future cash flows of public company’s, politicians shouldn’t take credit for stock market gains either. If a politician has taken steps to make it easier for Company’s to operate and not burdened them with excessive regulation, they could argue they’ve created a better environment, but they are still not innovating or creating new products that create new jobs. Economics! Government is a “Cost Center” providing services to their citizens, but they are not job creators!
I tend to agree about giving the government too many credit for this stuff, but this is what we do during campaigns. What you state is a perfect example of “moving the goalposts,” something I’ve noted throughout this campaign. Don’t like the data point used by generations of political leaders to measure broad ecomomic health — stock market, jobs, unemployment, GDP growth, etc.? Move the goalpost! Find alternate facts. Gas prices low? Take credit. Gas prices too high? Blame someone or something else. I guaranteee you if any of those facts are friendly during a Trump presidency, you will see a press release about them that same day.
Agree that both sides will issue press releases taking credit for statistics that historically would be viewed positively. Just think that isn’t the best approach, but wasn’t trying to move the goal posts. Let’s just have realistic discussions about facts and statistics to determine what is going on in our country. Sound bite politics is really unhealthy. Yes, GDP growth has been solid since 2022 and the economy is actually in pretty good shape now. But prices for most products since 2020 are 25-30% higher than they were, albeit the annual year-over-year rate of inflation has moderated significantly this year. And why is that? Tight monetary policy and higher interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve. Gas prices were up significantly in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine. They are down now since supply chains have adjusted appropriately and global demand has softened due to a global slowdown, in part due to most global central banks also rising interest rates. My point with all of these data points is that the world is complex and we need to elevate our conversations and be objective and fair. Not sure we will ever get there though 😦
I agree, let’s elevate the conversation and go deeper on these issues, on all issues. Let’s indeed have “realistic discussions about facts and statistics to determine what is going on in our country.” I’m in. But here’s my problem — our next president was just elected in large part because he and his messengers spent years and bilions of dollars convincing millions of voters exacly the opposite of your other statement: “The economy is actually in pretty good shape now.” Campaigns don’t want to go deep on this stuff, and most people don’t want to either. They take the candidate at face value, lie, half-truth or not. Which brings me to the point I make all the time: What we say matters. Until it doesn’t, I guess.
here here!
Quite Right Mr. Brooks, Thanks For The Outlook
Thank you Erik, we all need that positive message
Well said, Eric. Those are words of wisdom that we should all keep in mind as we try to get through the next 4 years of darkness.