US Presidential Election 5 November 2024

It was to be Joe Biden running to be re-elected for a second consecutive term as a Democrat and the former US President Donald Trump also running to be re-elected for a second non-consecutive term as a Republican.

Long story short, Joe Biden pulled out on 21st July and his Vice-President Kamala Harris officially announced her candidacy on 27th July. She may be the first Black female President in the history of the United States to be elected.

I might not remember to express everything I want to, but Ms Harris and her opponent are basically neck and neck and it really looks to be down to the ballot counters and no one else to know the outcome. The eligible American voters who vote literally are the only individuals who decide who will be their next President and every single vote counts. The American population and the rest of the human population can only wait to see who emerges the victor. And it might not be a huge margin, but it will still make a difference.

It seems nothing will widen the margin, it doesn't matter who endorses who, (Oprah, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Beyoncé, Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez for Kamala; Elon Musk, Buzz Aldrin, Mel Gibson, Hulk Hogan, Mike Tyson for Trump), if either candidate is deemed to have said something inappropriate or by mistake, if you are a man or a woman, if you support Israel or not, abortion or not, black or white, old or young, etc there is no clear winner.

However, it's pretty obvious Trump is unfit to be President: a white straight man, a liar, spreads disinformation, he causes people to lose common sense and he is responsible for taking away women's right to have an abortion with the reversal of Roe v Wade so millions of mothers had more rights and freedom when they were younger than their daughters now. His behaviour seems to demonstrate he is mentally unstable and it seems likely Trump will give Musk a role in some capacity which is inappropriate.

Kamala Harris, a black straight lady, will bring back women's right to have an abortion, better the economy through helping small businesses and making living costs less of a burden, for example ban price gouging at the supermarket and give tax cuts to the middle-class, impacting more than 100 million Americans. She comes from the middle-class and seems to firmly remember her roots.

This is not just an election to determine the next US President. The United States of America, whether you like it or not, has a lot of power and influence internationally, be it Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Gaza, the right to have an abortion, international trade, global warming, health, economy etc.

The USA's image is dominated by white men, educated, civilized, democratic, free, the American dream, etc, all concepts associated with positivity, yet not only was the worst American President ever elected, but the worst President ever in human history was and may be re-elected. He has been deemed immune by the US Supreme Court, he is a convicted felon and he still has legal processes against him.

Him being re-elected may not be directly an existential problem, but he could cause existential consequences and likely will.

If Kamala Harris is elected, not only will that be fantastic, but I will still be waiting. The former US President suggested he will not run again for re-election if he loses this time around, but only time will tell in my opinion, because he cannot be trusted. So definitely relief should Kamala be the next President in the White House, but with the knowledge Trump may stand for re-election at the back of my mind. Hypocritical in terms of age? I don't think that would bother him too much.

To me, it is extremely important, possibly necessary, for Kamala Harris to win. To those who are ignorant and believe the US Presidency does not affect them at all, wake up. The World is in enough shit already, global warming, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Gaza, the consequences of covid, possible increases in sexism and racism, homophobia, inequality between men and women etc. We do not need another contributing factor to add to this circular human-made pile of crap which really kicked off in 2020 and seemingly is gaining momentum. As a side note, covid-19 is alive and well.

Countries that are considered developed, rich, educated, democratic and in some cases dominated by white men have been somewhat unstable since 2020 excluding covid and during it: the UK has been through three/four PMs, Jacinda Ardern resigning followed by Auckland's January floods in 2023 then Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke's Bay, the shooting at a university in Prague, Marine Le Pen and France's snap election, Chris Hipkins and now Christopher Luxon is the New Zealand PM, the stabbing in Southport and the consequences.

Not that we should ensure they are always stable, but Western countries that are admired and envied by others and millions emigrate there for better lives, seem to be losing their footing, tripping themselves up. Since they also often have power and influence on an international level, domestic instability does not sit alongside international politics and relationships well. So yes, these Western governments with international clout dealing with internal problems and external ones is not a desired position to be in and they should know better.

This election may be one of the most emotional ones for the US and maybe even non-Americans ever. Not just the havoc the former US President could cause and possibly to an even worse extent with a second term, especially as he was shocked to be in the Oval Office, but the reversal of Roe v Wade took away women's right to abortion. Right. I don't necessarily believe the future means progress, but when it seems logical that any human being should do whatever they want with their body, that it does not matter if you are black or white or mixed, a man, a woman, transgender, gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, then when in history is irrelevant. We are all human, we all have loved ones, we have all always deserved the same salary, job opportunities, rights etc (I know this is not reality).

The US President is supposed to be a representation of the population he/(she) leads: the former US President demonstrates elitism, sexism, racism, lies, disinformation, lack of responsibility and he causes people to not have common sense among other nouns. Kamala Harris is from the middle-class, a fighter through being a prosecutor, she knows what sexism and racism are because she has undoubtedly experienced it, she has plans to implement her policies, she can communicate well etc.

It is up to eligible American voters. Please, use your voice, now more than ever, to bring back some sense, happiness, health, stability, less negativity on a daily basis in everything in your life; and by extension all the non-Americans. Give women back their right to have an abortion on their own terms.

Vote for Kamala Harris.

-A.M.

Death by water and on the road

Congratulations New Zealand: a high holiday death toll on the road, deaths and injuries related to water and now I bet a lot of you are talking about the heat.

I'm fairly certain most if not all of the deaths and injuries were preventable but New Zealand has a driving problem in the sense there are too many deaths. And a dangerous drinking culture.

As for the heat, really? That's nice. Too hot? Go stand under a tree for ten minutes or less; and be thankful you don't have 90% humidity. Heat is fine, humidity is not. I actually wrote a post about this, https://welcometohighonlifeandtravel.blogspot.com/2021/06/heat-and-humidity.html.

I remember feeling it once. It was high 20s at the least and I could feel "oh my God it's so hot I'm not going to work or move I'm just going to lie on my bed otherwise I'll die." Really? Then don't ever go to Cambodia or Australia or Africa where they're used to more than 30° Celsius. Also, be thankful NZ basically has no humidity. Hong Kong is 'nice' at 70%, but you have to get used to 80-90%.

Climate change you can control to an extent, but in general there's not much you can do when the mercury hits 30° and you just have to deal with it. However, I am sure you do not have to drive drunk and/or speed and/or have to get to your destination that urgently and/or do it with drugs in your system. That is entirely preventable. You get one life. If your heart stops, you die. You do not get a second chance. If you're brain dead, you cannot look after yourself, literally. Is it really worth the risk?

It's not just about you either. It's about the impact your death will have on others. I know you might not think of that when you get behind the wheel. But it doesn't mean your death won't impact other people.

Yes, the pandemic. Yes, Summer. I don't know if the pandemic is an excuse or reason. In any case, it doesn't matter. You are still taking a risk and you are still dead.

For as long as I lived in Aotearoa and as much as I know about it, drinking and people dying on the road has been a problem. That has more of a social effect than smoking for me: you don't die if you smoke a few cigarettes then drive home; you will likely not hit someone because you've been smoking whereas the risk is higher if you've been drinking. Smoking or not smoking will not cause you to get injured by water-related situations or die by drowning. Not being able to swim can cause drowning, not understanding the water and yourself can cause injuries and death.

Pain and love are some of the strongest emotions humans feel. If you can prevent pain, it's better.

- A.M.