Alright, so here we are, days after the 2024 election, where nearly 15 million fewer Democrats voted than in 2020. That’s right—15 million, as in a whole Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston combined, just decided to sit this one out. And what did that brilliant move buy us? Donald Trump, President, Round Two. Non-consecutive terms—because America loves a good sequel that’s worse than the original.
You know, 2020 had this whole “Let’s show up, let’s make our voices heard, let’s not let the pandemic keep us down” energy. It was inspiring. But fast-forward four years, and suddenly people just couldn’t be bothered. Like, “Yeah, yeah, democracy’s great, but Netflix just dropped a new series, so…” And because of that colossal wave of apathy, Donald Trump is back in the White House. But hey, don’t worry, you can just take some deep breaths of smog, pour yourself a glass of fracking-infused water, and tell yourself it’s fine.
Let’s start with the environment, shall we? Remember all those hopeful climate initiatives, clean energy projects, and just, I don’t know, the goal of not cooking future generations alive? Yeah, all that’s toast. Under Trump’s “leadership,” the environment’s like that roommate you don’t want around: he just messes everything up, doesn’t clean up after himself, and is actively trying to kill you. Expect a “drill, baby, drill” era, because if there’s anything Donald loves, it’s giving big polluters a free pass. Sure, it means the planet will keep heating up, the air quality will get worse, and your grandkids will be growing gills just to survive, but hey—at least you didn’t have to leave the couch to vote, right?
Then there’s healthcare. The Affordable Care Act? Might as well call it “The Going-Out-of-Business Act.” If you’re a senior, low-income, or have a pre-existing condition, go ahead and start a GoFundMe for that hip surgery because Trump and his friends are all about turning healthcare into a “privilege.” Who’s hurt by this? Just, you know, the single mom trying to keep her family healthy, the cancer survivor praying their insurance won’t disappear, and every poor soul who thought the safety net might actually, for once, be there for them. Yeah, your life is about to get a lot harder—thanks to the 15 million folks who decided voting just wasn’t their thing this year.
And then there’s social justice. Oh, all the hard-won progress on police reform, racial justice, and equality? Trump’s about to roll that back faster than you can say, “No justice, no peace.” If you’re Black, brown, or anyone else who’s been fighting for fair treatment, I hope you enjoy mountains, because that uphill battle just turned into Everest. Expect “law and order” to be the mantra, but only in the way that spells out more policing, more crackdowns, and a justice system that still can’t spell “justice.”
Now, let’s move on to the LGBTQ+ community. Remember those hard-fought rights? Yeah, Trump’s got a few things in mind, and none of them are rainbows. Bathroom bills? Back. Restrictions on gender-affirming care? Oh, you bet. And if you thought trans people could finally serve in the military without the government breathing down their necks, well, think again. We’re going backward, and the LGBTQ+ community is left holding the bill. So, to everyone who thought it’d be fine to sit this one out, congratulations—now people’s lives are about to be a lot more difficult because you needed an extra nap.
And women? You know, half the population? This one’s for you. Trump’s already got a Supreme Court packed with judges who look at a woman’s body and see a roadmap for restrictions. The right to choose? Barely hanging on, and with Trump in power, it’s only a matter of time before even that goes the way of the Dodo. And it’s not just abortion rights. Women’s health programs? Workplace protections? Those are all up for grabs. Because what could be better for the American family than restricting women’s access to healthcare, right?
And let’s not forget immigrants. Remember kids in cages, families torn apart, and an immigration system that would rather deport than empathize? Buckle up, because Trump’s got his foot on the gas, and it’s all downhill. DREAMers, asylum seekers, immigrant families just trying to build a life? Yeah, they’re going to be treated as pawns in the game, not people with hopes, dreams, and lives. But hey, to those of you who stayed home instead of voting, at least you didn’t have to wait in line, right?
Finally, there’s our place in the world. I know America’s been trying its best to make up for the last Trump era, but now? Now, it’s like we’re waving goodbye to every international ally who still tolerated us. Trump’s “America First” will turn into “America Alone,” and our allies are already wondering if they can block our number. So congrats, stay-at-home voters: you’ve made America the friend who never brings snacks to the party and keeps demanding the aux cord. And our rivals? They’re out there, toasting our failures like we just handed them the playbook.
So, here we are, folks. This isn’t just about one man getting elected. This is what happens when millions of people don’t show up, leaving the most vulnerable among us in the crosshairs. Seniors relying on Medicare, young people wanting a livable planet, LGBTQ+ individuals fighting for equality, Black and brown communities striving for justice, women fighting for autonomy, immigrant families seeking a chance—all of them are going to face harder times. And for what? Because 15 million people decided their vote didn’t matter.
To everyone who thought staying home wouldn’t have consequences, congratulations. Skidmark of the Week. You didn’t just drop the ball; you threw it off a cliff. You had four years to circle a date on the calendar, and because you didn’t, now we’re all in this mess. Thanks a lot. You’re the real MVPs of this disaster. You suck!
