As we go about our daily work and home life, who can forget that there is an election going on? Even if you are not watching or reading the news you can’t escape it. Nor should you. This is probably the most
consequential presidential election of our lifetime. We all must ask ourselves what kind of world we want for our children and grandchildren. Who speaks to our values? Who can we trust with our future and our democracy?
If you know me or are a regular reader of my blog, you know my answer. Yes, I have a button that says, “We are not going back”. And I have my “I voted early” sticker. With this consequential election a week away, I can’t be silent.
I proudly display my RBG art in my home workspace where she is visible over my shoulder on all my zoom calls and podcast interviews. It is often a conversation starter with both men and women when they see it for the first time.
While we may want to shy away from speaking out and openly supporting the candidate of our choice, I have great respect for people who are willing to publicly state their support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz as our next President and Vice President. This includes a growing list of business leaders. And not to be ignored, many long-standing Republican leaders and former Trump administration officials are warning us based on their first-hand knowledge and experience that he is unfit to lead and a danger to our democracy.
I am encouraged to see healthcare leaders willing to post their very insightful support for the Harris/Walz ticket on LinkedIn which is supposed to be a professional network and not political. Check out the posts from David Storto, former President of MGB Continuing Care & Spaulding Rehabilitation Network and Dr. Stephen Dorner, Chief Clinical and Innovation Officer at Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home. David talks about the importance of values, character and integrity and Stephen comments on morality and democracy. Glen Tullman, CEO at Transcarent, was very direct in his LinkedIn article, “Kamala Harris is Good for Business”.
In March, I wrote a blog, How healthcare providers can empower voters for a healthier democracy, and highlighted a very progressive organization, A Healthier Democracy. I learned about them when their CEO, Dr. Alister Martin, spoke at the annual NEHIMSS Chapter Conference in 2023. According to their website: “A Healthier Democracy builds platforms for collaboration and community organizing at the intersection of health and civic engagement to maximize collective impact on pressing challenges.” Dr. Martin recently posted on LinkedIn a research article highlighting the growing role and success of healthcare settings for voter registration.
In 2022 around election time, I wrote a blog, “Towards a more civil society”. In 2020 as we waited for election results for several days, I wrote a blog, “The healing power of humanity”. Both were highlighting articles written by one of our most respected healthcare leaders in the country, Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health.
Healthcare leaders and professionals recognize the power of voting and civic engagement!
Last, but certainly not least, I hope you have seen or read about Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech at the Harris rally in Michigan on Saturday – she gave a master class on the complexity of reproductive health and its importance in this election. The October 27th New York Times article if you can access it is, “Michelle Obama Makes a Searing Appeal to Men: ‘Take Our Lives Seriously’”. Yes, a loud “We’re not going back” is called for as you read this!
Let’s continue to have civil and respectful conversations and exercise our right to vote for our values. Don’t despair, vote. “Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power”, as Vice President Kamala Harris says in her closing speeches.
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