I Didn’t Vote for Our President but I’m Rooting for Him and Us

By: Steven M. Kayman

We are thrilled to present this perspective from Steven M. Kayman , Convergence Leadership Council and Founder’s Circle Member. Read his piece for a strong dose of optimism and motivation.

Interested in sharing your perspective on how we can better solve problems together? Message us here on LinkedIn on contact us at: https://convergencepolicy.org/contact-us/?

Last week, Donald Trump became President of the United States again. Regardless of how we voted, now is the time for the people of America to come together – not to agree on everything, but to lessen the divisiveness and vitriol of recent years that has made us seem less than what we are. We all have a shared stake in a stronger, more united future. To address the challenges ahead, we need to work together to uplift the level of optimism in our country and accomplish constructive change.?

We all have a shared stake in a stronger, more united future.

One important step is to stop demonizing those we disagree with, including voters who elected Donald Trump. Yes, he has his faults, but dismissing an entire group of voters as fascist, or reducing them to caricatures of the candidate they supported, only deepens distrust, and makes meaningful engagement harder. The sky-high voter turnout in the 2024 election, approaching the historic levels of the 2020 contest, underscores that Americans across the political spectrum remain deeply invested in shaping the country's future. I make these points not so much by way of rising to the defense of Trump’s character as to advocate for channeling our energy into conversations and solutions that move us forward together. That, I strongly believe, is what our country needs. Notwithstanding the political and ideological differences among us, there is much common ground and room for most of us to support many of the goals Trump has articulated (if not always his means of achieving those goals). Convergence’s list of 10 Important Beliefs Most Americans Agree on captures countless opportunities for connection, agreement, and importantly, positive policy change. ?

The belief that “if you work hard, you’ll get ahead” has been shaken.

Most fundamentally, this election showed us that we can all agree that the American economy is in need of re-invigoration. Polls immediately preceding the election reported that more than half of those surveyed felt they were worse off than four years ago. The belief that “if you work hard, you’ll get ahead” has been shaken. Addressing this anxiety and, yes, the anger so many working-class Americans feel about their economic well-being, is essential.?

Admittedly, it is far easier to articulate goals than it is to come up with, and then effectuate, solutions that actually serve the needs of the public. But, the starting point is to develop a consensus on what needs to change and how we can work together to achieve positive forward progress. Whether or not one believes America needs to be made great again, let’s all work with the new administration, hold leaders accountable, and work across divides to make things better for everyone.?