What went wrong for the Dems? post election anxiety, textapocalypse, climate progress and investment opportunities, COP29 in Baku online, Norwegian emergency supplies
November 11, 2024
Every other week, the award-winning Nett Report provides readers with thoughtful perspectives helpful to navigating life in a changing world. Past issues.
Political Divide
“It is no surprise that a party that has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.” – Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders
The 2024 Presidential Election – What went wrong for the Dems?
Why did Harris lose and Trump win? Ignoring the complexity of all the demographic analyses, in my opinion, it came down to three key factors that together alienated enough voters so that Donald Trump was perceived by them as the better choice.
A woman president. The Democrats hoped the time had arrived for a woman of color to become president, an important ideological dream and a desired equity milestone. It is both likely and unfortunate that a percentage of undecided or independent voters did not support that hope. In addition, there was an undercurrent of dissatisfaction because she was chosen by party leaders and not by an open convention because of lack of time and because she alone could access the Biden/Harris campaign war chest.
Perceptions of inflation and the IRA. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is an historic investment in addressing climate change and supporting clean energy technology. How many average Americans know that? Democrats were rightly proud of the IRA’s ambitions and the investments and jobs it created. They touted the act as evidence of economic success. Yet for average Americans, an act promising to reduce inflation was likely seen as a failure of the Biden/Harris Administration during the worst period of inflation in recent decades.
Ideologies over pocketbook issues. Democrats sold their ideologies rather than appealing to the daily needs of the independent or undecided voters they needed to win over. One example is the move toward electric vehicles. While this wasn’t key messaging by the Harris campaign, it is no secret that Democrats are pushing hard for the electric vehicle outcome. While this goal is important to address carbon emissions, there is no clear path for average and lower-income working Americans to become owners of expensive electric vehicles. Instead, they are pinched between increasing gasoline prices, lack of effective public transit in many areas, and being asked to approve taxes for public transit that won’t be completed during their working lives. As a result, their transportation choice is often to drive older gas-guzzling vehicles. The Trump promise to drill for more oil and lower gasoline prices had to be appealing to a percentage of these Americans.
The combination of these three major elements across a range of demographics, in my opinion, was enough to tilt a close election to Trump.
SURVEY: Why do you think the Democrats lost? I would like to know. Please take this anonymous, one question survey.
How to stop the “textapocalypse”
In addition to an incredible number of fundraising emails, this election cycle also featured a blizzard of fundraising texts. A November 1, 2024, article in the San Diego Union-Tribune provided background and how to stop the “textapocalypse.”
Targeting is based on party registration, but a nonpartisan organization may text voters from both parties. Independents might see fewer texts.
If the texts don’t identify themselves by organization, it might be a scam pretending to be a candidate or campaign. If you see promises of an “800% match” or a “12,000 times match,” that’s not real. They can’t possibly match everybody’s gift.
Texts are considered to be illegal spam if sent by a commercial entity using an autodialer without your consent. Political texts are different. They’re governed by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which does not require consumers to “opt in” if sent manually. But having a human press “send” as the trigger to release thousands of texts into the ether violates the spirit of the TCPA.
If a campaign texts you and you’re not interested, reply with STOP, report the sender by forwarding texts to 7726 (or “SPAM”), or, If you think they’ve violated federal rules, file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission at fcc.gov/complaints.
Don’t click on anything from the text.
Norwegians advised to stockpile to prepare for emergencies, including war
According to a November 10, 2024, article in The Times of London, all Norwegian households have been sent a leaflet with a checklist for keeping emergency supplies, including bottled water, food, candles, a digital radio, and cash. “The Norwegian government first published a leaflet like this in 2018. Back then, it recommended a three-day stockpile, but the newest advice extended that to a week’s worth of food and water,” according to The Times. The update reflects increased risks to Norway’s security. “The most common risk set out by the Cabinet Office was localized flooding, but the list of other potential threats people should be prepared for included another pandemic, a mass cyberattack or, in an extreme case, war or a nuclear attack on continental Europe.”
Climate Change
Automotive News challenges climate deniers
“No one should try to kill the auto industry in hopes of saving the planet. The industry's products — as well as its profits and jobs — are essential to sustaining human life and happiness. But we must also take seriously the need for the industry to be a functional partner in a broad, global solution. The cost of climate change denial is simply too high.” - Automotive News, October 10, 2024
Climate progress could rely on Europe and China
“Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election has darkened the outlook for a strong deal at the COP29 climate summit next week and will increase pressure on Europe and China to lead international progress in curbing planetary warming, according to climate negotiators.” - Reuters, November 7, 2024
“Reducing net carbon emissions to zero by 2070 — and thus keeping global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — will require investment of nearly $75 trillion, according to Goldman Sachs Research. The team recently updated its projections, as the path to keeping climate change to within 1.5 degrees Celsius above re-industrial levels appears increasingly out of reach ... The total projected investment, representing $1.5-$2 trillion of infrastructure spending per year, spans a huge range of investment opportunities” – Goldman Sachs Research October 31, 2024
UN Climate Conference- how to follow COP29 from afar
The United Nations Climate Conference (COP29) begins today, November 11, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, and will continue through November 22, 2024. In a November 8, 2024, LinkedIn post, Kathryn Clay, a policy strategist, provided links to free-access online resources to help those who can’t attend keep up-to-date on progress.
American opinions on climate policy options
Resources for the Future, an independent, nonprofit research institution, has released the results of its 2024 survey of American climate policy opinions. Here are some highlights:
59% prefer a “carrot” approach and 35% prefer a “stick” approach to climate policy.
84% - the government should tax foreign companies for imports that put out more greenhouse gases than a comparable US product.
78% - the government should pay for job training for those who lose jobs due to a transition away from fossil fuels.
76% - the government should spend money to fill abandoned oil wells.
76% - favor either mandates or tax breaks for utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
62% - favor increasing the fuel efficiency of automobiles.
68% - favor increasing the energy efficiency of appliances.
69% favor increasing the energy efficiency of new buildings.
Future of Work / The Economy
“The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds” – Dalai Lama
CEOs: Be curious about the whole world
“To be a business leader in 2024 requires that somebody has much more than an understanding of good business practices and strategy. You’re leading diverse, complicated workforces. You are dealing with consumers who are way more complex and unpredictable than they ever were in the past … You have to be someone who’s curious about the whole world.” - Malcolm Gladwell, CEO Daily, November 4, 2024
What CEOs should be doing following the election
“This week, the best CEOs will do two things: keep a sharp focus on employee well-being and continue to serve the clients and customers that depend on them. Critically, they will be patient, waiting for clear information before acting, and never losing sight of their core business mission. Amid sound and fury (on either side), play the long game.” - Nik Deogun, CEO of the Americas, Brunswick Group, on how CEOs should react to the election results, Fortune, November 6, 2024
New FAA refund rules benefit airline passengers
A sweeping new set of regulations requiring airlines to automatically refund tickets and fees under defined circumstances is now fully in effect according to an October 28, 2024 story in USA Today. “Domestic flights delayed by three hours or more and international flights delayed by six hours or more qualify for a full refund. Airlines must issue refunds within seven days for credit card purchases and 20 days for other forms of payment. The rule also requires refunds for checked bag fees if luggage is not delivered within a specified timeframe, as well as for non-functional or unavailable paid services like Wi-Fi.”
Health
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” – C.S. Lewis
“Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it, every mistake has a lesson to offer.” – Oprah Winfrey
How to cope with post-election anxiety
The presidential election has created anxiety in any number of voters. Here are the Mental Health Association’s (MHA) tips on how to deal with post-election anxiety.
Reach Out to Others: Avoid isolating yourself and share your thoughts with someone you trust.
Keep a Journal: If talking isn’t your thing, write down your thoughts and emotions. Acknowledge and accept these emotions, giving yourself the space to process everything. Putting your feelings on paper can help you make sense of them.
Practice Self-Care: This could mean curling up with your favorite book or show, exercising, or taking a bath.
Just Listen: Ask open-ended questions to gain insight into others’ experience. Acknowledge their emotions and reassure them that their feelings are valid. It’s fine if you don’t have solutions.
Avoid Overextending Yourself: Assisting others can be overwhelming. Make sure to prioritize your own well-being and attend to your needs before offering support to others
The Nett Light-Side
“The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” - T.S. Eliot
Evolutionary psychologist’s hypothesis on the origin of kissing
Why do people kiss? In an October 28, 2024, post on Science, Evolutionary psychologist Adriano Lameira of the University of Warwick hypothesizes that kissing was the last step of grooming each other by apes. “The groomer approaches the groomee with protruded lips and does a suction movement to latch on to whatever parasite or debris it may have found in the groomee’s coat … As our lineage evolved, we lost our fur, eventually becoming the only naked ape. That meant that grooming, as a hygienic behavior, gradually started to lose its relevance, and our bouts of grooming started getting shorter. The critical point here is that, regardless of how quickly the job got done, an ape would still have consummated the act of grooming by latching on with its lips to whatever parasite or debris it was searching for. The ‘groomer’s last kiss’ was the only step of grooming that remained unchanged for millions of years until it ultimately became the only remaining condensed version of what had been a central social ritual.”
College students used Meta’s smart glasses to ID people in real-time
According to an October 2, 2024, article in The Verge, two college students used Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and facial recognition technology to instantly identify strangers. “the tech works by using the Meta smart glasses’ ability to livestream video to Instagram. A computer program then monitors that stream and uses AI to identify faces. Those photos are then fed into public databases to find names, addresses, phone numbers, and even relatives. That information is then fed back through a phone app.” They tested the system with classmates and with strangers on public transit, “pretending as if they know them based on information gleaned from the tech.”
Carl Nettleton is an award-winning writer, speaker, thought partner, facilitator, and subject-matter expert regarding water, climate, sustainability, the ocean, and binational U.S.-Mexico border affairs. Nettleton Strategies, the consultancy he founded in 2007, is a trusted source of analysis and advice on issues at the forefront of public policy, business, and the environment. He helps people and organizations to think strategically about their options for change. He is also the founder of OpenOceans Global, a nonprofit addressing ocean plastic in a new way.