All throughout the first semester, I made sure to keep up with the Republican debates, along with many other political situations. It is unfortunate but also refreshing to say that I have no hope in who we will elect as our upcoming president. I say this because I no longer want to accept less than what I know American democracy is worth. 

Not far from disappointed while closely following the Democratic and Republican Parties, I’ve come to realize Americans don’t have a proper understanding of who is fit to be a leader, simply because they’ve been misled for so long.

Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

This idea of building a “greater” America through motivations and slogans like “Make America Great Again,” as Trump has reiterated, has offered us nothing but unconsoled hopes and increased worries. Politicians’ priority should be to serve the people and in the last decade or so, it’s been extremely difficult to encounter one in the United States who’s willing to stand and act for a proper cause. 

According to the Campaign for Southern Equality, the 2020 presidential election was a crucial year for voters. The majority of American voters decided to settle for the “better” of the two candidates which inadvertently led to President Biden’s win, making him our 46th president, per Pew Research. Whether you agree President Biden has had a successful term or not, we must stop expecting the best out of politicians who have continuously demonstrated their lack in offering more than the bare minimum.  

Politics has moved millions of bodies in the hope of a “better tomorrow,” but what exactly are the implications of such a statement, and how do they harm individual Americans from holding potential leaders accountable? Fulfilling a collective goal can be challenging within itself, and I believe that politicians have taken the opportunity to exploit the American population’s expectations as a supposed advantage to “better” their country through the use of media presence and rhetoric. 

As we move forward, it seems Americans have only been presented with verbal reassurance from politicians who often end up acting in the opposite direction. 

For example, the Freedom Socialist Party expresses concern about how the term “Democrat” has become synonymous with false advertising. There is no truth behind their words and more often than not, we are so blinded by the shared narrative of inclusivity that we don’t realize that behind closed doors, the majority of those pulling strings are people of privilege. We as a democracy have grown too comfortable with the lack of genuine transparency from our assumed leaders. At what point did we begin to lower our expectations for politicians? 

It’s time to awaken ourselves and accept the fact that the world is telling us to live in disregard of genuine perspectives and truths of the people. We need to stop wishing for a “better tomorrow” and start believing that we deserve one. 

As I, along with my peers, are very fearful for the upcoming 2024 election, we have only been presented with continuous crises regarding America’s democracy — ranging from stark violations of human rights to growing complications in international affairs. Hopes and dreams have only gotten us so far. The perfect time to stop settling and start acting is now. It has become increasingly clear that merely wishing for a better future won’t lead to the change we need. 

As collective citizens, it is our civil responsibility to be informed, engage ourselves in formal critique of our systems, and actively promote the common good. In this new era of social media with platforms like TikTok and X, formerly known as Twitter, we have opportunities to uncover and share accurate information. However, we must always consider staying cautious, especially when it comes to politics. We deserve to know more and to know better.  

Be human and be hopeful but don’t let hope be indistinct from your fear. Our next president should not be someone we initially “settle” for — although I recognize that it’s not an unexpected outcome. We need to accept that the betterment of American society can be possible — though this reality can not be simply addressed through hope alone. 

We must thoughtfully confront different viewpoints and never let persuasive rhetoric distort our priorities as we make decisions about candidates. We’ve become too scared to offer differing opinions on important issues, but I think this coming election is one of the greatest opportunities to express our disbelief in such a corrupt democracy, especially due to the fact that human well-being is at stake.