Ridley Pearson
Because positive trumps negative
Every battery or electrical circuit carries a positive (or “hot”) and negative (or “ground”) charge. One must have both present to create a current—the movement of electrons. One generates electrons (positive charge); one absorbs electrons (negative charge). And what about the movement of electors—or voters? In the 2024 US presidential campaign, we are now faced with a positive and negative nominee.
“Republicans have already started pummeling Harris with attack ads. The bulk of television spending by the campaigns and their allied super PACs between August 23 and August 29—57 percent—were attacks on Harris, according to data from the media-tracking company AdImpact. Twenty-one percent were pro-Harris ads that drew a contrast with Trump, and another 14 percent were purely positive about Harris, the data showed. Only 8 percent were anti-Trump attack ads.”
—The Washington Post, September 2024
The effect of a positive-leaning candidate, and possible US president, is formidable. Added to Harris’s positivity is her being a woman of color and Indian heritage. These qualities engage voters who often feel marginalized and likely remain on the sidelines for lack of representation. A Harris victory will also have a positive effect on women, young and adult alike.
“Our work also is the first to consider whether the impact of female role models is, as the term implies, greater among the young. Using three cross-national datasets, we find that where there are more female members of parliament (MPs), adolescent girls are more likely to discuss politics with friends and to intend to participate in politics as adults, and adult women are more likely to discuss and participate in politics. The presence of female MPs registers the same effect on political discussion regardless of age, but the impact on women’s political activity is far greater among the young than the old.”
—American Journal of Political Science, October 2007
“Women not only gave longer speeches after seeing a photo of a woman, but they also gave higher quality speeches and gave their own speeches higher ratings when shown a photo of a woman. The researchers concluded, ‘Subtle exposures to highly successful female leaders inspired women’s behavior and self-evaluations in stressful leadership tasks.’”
—Forbes, November 2020
These studies suggest that Harris’s positivity will not only bring future women leaders into mainstream US politics (and business), but it will deliver more Americans to the polling booths and encourage active participation in government.
To have an effective electrical ground, one must drive a copper stake longer than two feet into the earth. The American people experienced what being “driven down” was like during the Donald Trump presidency. Being lifted, a positive attitude, can have far more beneficial outcomes.
“Positive psychology helps to foster happiness and emotional wellness. It does this by helping people capitalize on their strengths, heighten their gratitude and awareness, connect to others, and develop the wisdom needed to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.”
—Harvard Health Publishing
An election is a binary choice. Electricity is a binary function. We can choose a positive currency, proven to embolden women, effect leadership, and foster happiness, or we can be pounded two feet into the ground for another four years. Kamala Harris is the positive choice.
Ridley Pearson is the Edgar-nominated, #1 New York Times best-selling author of over sixty novels.