A Futurist's Perspective on the Presidential Contest

This November 5th I will not be casting my ballot for myself. Instead, I intend to vote on behalf of future generations and my choice is Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

This is not because I agree with all of their positions. Nor am I under any illusion they will solve all that ails America. Yet, when I consider the alternative and then contemplate the long-term fate of our planet, democracy, women’s rights, the economy, farm policy, foreign policy and, finally, my faith, Donald Trump fails.

Future Generations: As the recent hurricanes have highlighted, the most significant issue of our time is the planet’s rapidly changing climate. While neither major political party addresses the matter with the moral imperative I feel it warrants, the Democratic Party at least acknowledges climate change and has made significant investments to combat the crisis. This stands in stark contrast to Trump’s shameful denial of the issue. Moreover, his willingness to dismantle environmental protections in return for campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry is not only reckless, it borders on insanity.

Free and Fair Elections: The great “American Experiment” in democracy is 248 years old and there is no guarantee it will continue indefinitely. Nevertheless, one hallmark of our system is that the loser accepts the outcome–after all legitimate legal challenges have been adjudicated. Donald Trump lost in 2020 and every court in the country validated this truth. The fact that neither he nor his running mate can admit Trump lost the last election does not bode well for a fully functional democracy for our children.

Female Rights: On the issue of reproductive rights, I can accept that people can have legitimate differences of opinion but, as the father of a daughter, what I cannot accept is that she and all other females can have basic freedoms subjugated by the state. On this issue, Harris more clearly aligns with the values I believe should govern America moving forward.?

Fiscal Responsibility: In 1996, I ran for Congress as a Republican. My primary concern at the time was the nation’s then $4 trillion national debt. Today that debt has ballooned to $36 trillion. Both Democrats and Republicans have been negligent on this issue and, at some point, our children and grandchildren will suffer. That said, Harris is marginally better than Trump for the sole reason that she is willing to raise taxes on those making more than $400,000 per annum. This act will make the future debt fractionally less frightening for future generations.?

Focus: One of the primary responsibilities of the president is to steer the country into the future. Accelerating advances in artificial intelligence and gene-editing technology are poised to disrupt society in profound ways in the near future. Concerns over massive job displacements and human longevity are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. In this area, neither candidate meets my standard for farsighted leadership but only Trump seems incapable of grasping the seriousness of these issues. I say this because instead of using his powerful platform to prepare the public, he focuses his time on petty grievances, childish concerns over the crowd sizes, and bizarre conspiracy theories about immigrants eating cats.

Foreign Policy: In an earlier career, I worked as a policy analyst at NATO headquarters. The organization is not without its flaws but for the past 75 years, it has done steadfast work in keeping Europe free from major conflict. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine now threatens this long-term stability and Trump’s willingness to knowingly embrace Putin–a well-known authoritarian, thug and a murderer–boggles my mind and chills my heart. Harris’ strong support of our allies sets her apart on this vital issue and better positions America for a more stable future.?

Farmers: I am not a farmer and I realize the vast majority of farmers are voting for Donald Trump. However, it is my professional opinion that his tariff policies will severely harm farmers and I do not wish to see either these individuals or rural America suffer unnecessarily.

Finally, Faith: I am a Christian. Jesus’ core message is simple but not easy to follow: Love your neighbors (and even your enemies) as yourself. I am far from perfect on this issue as are Harris and Walz. I don’t believe either is a saint or a savior but I am deeply troubled by how the former president speaks of and treats other human beings. Trump's behavior and character runs counter to almost every ideal and standard I would like to see upheld by the President of the United States.

Many people have said this is the most consequential election of our lifetimes and I agree. This election will not, however, just affect us; it will impact all those who come after us. If you are still undecided at this point in the campaign and are looking for something to tip the scales, I invite you to look beyond yourself. If you do, I am confident that you will find Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are best positioned to lead America into a more sustainable, secure, and sane future.

P.S. If you disagree with me, I understand and I want you to know that I am always willing to engage in a civil conversation with those who hold different ideas and opinions than me.

Jack Uldrich is a professional futurist and best-selling author. He was also a former endorsed Republican candidate for Congress and served as the chair of the Independence Party of Minnesota for two-terms. He is a political independent who now embraces the idea of "interdependence."

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