For Lower-Income Americans, the 2024 Presidential Election Holds Little Hope

The 2024 Presidential Election: A Personal Perspective on Voting, Class, and Trust

As the 2024 presidential election unfolds, I can’t help but reflect on my thoughts and concerns as someone from a lower-income background. Unlike many of the candidates who come from wealthy or at least comfortable backgrounds, my life is far removed from theirs. This post is my attempt to connect with others who feel similarly, to share why I choose not to vote in this election, and to express my concerns about where we, the people, stand.

Growing Up Lower-Class: The Disconnect With Presidential Candidates

For many of us, daily life is about getting by, paying bills, and making sure there’s enough left over to cover our children’s needs. The challenges of growing up without financial security mean that we look at politicians with a different set of expectations and reservations. Donald Trump, who comes from a wealthy background, and Kamala Harris, who grew up middle class, may understand American struggles to a point, but their experiences are worlds away from our realities. How can they truly grasp the lives of working people who live paycheck to paycheck?

It’s this distance that has always left me feeling a bit wary. Many of us who live with financial instability know that a leader’s promises don’t always translate into real, meaningful change. Even when politicians talk about helping, their policies don’t always work for us, and sometimes they even make things harder.

To Vote or Not to Vote in the 2024 Presidential Election: My Personal Struggle

This year, I considered voting for the first time. But as I thought it over, I felt torn. I’m not someone who regularly engages with politics. And, if I’m honest, I fear that putting my vote behind someone I don’t truly believe in could be harmful. What if these leaders are part of systems that prioritize the powerful while neglecting us? I worry that by supporting them, even indirectly, I could somehow be responsible for policies that end up hurting those in need.

More than that, there’s a spiritual element to my hesitation. I don’t want to contribute to a world that feels increasingly controlled by the wealthy and elite. What if, by voting, I’m somehow helping to entrench people who might bring harm or ignore those who are struggling?

The Earth Belongs to All of Us—Not Just the Rich and Powerful

For me, the Earth and everything on it should belong equally to every person, regardless of wealth or power. Seeing politicians behave as though they own the world deeply troubles me. I believe we all have a responsibility to take care of each other and the planet, and that means we should have leaders who truly understand this as well.

This election season has made it even clearer to me that some in power see Earth as something they can control, rather than something we all share. The Earth and its resources belong to each of us, not just the wealthy, and it’s time for everyday people to stand up and remind the world of this truth.

A Closer Look at Trump’s Proposal: The Tax Elimination Plan and Its Real Costs

One of the most significant policies that Donald Trump has promoted this election season is his proposal to eliminate federal income taxes for households making under $500,000. On the surface, it might seem like a relief. No income taxes mean more money in people’s paychecks, right? But there’s more to consider.

For families like mine, this plan could have a hidden cost. Without federal income taxes, there’s a good chance that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) will also disappear. This credit is a lifeline for many low-income families, providing a significant refund that often helps cover essentials we can’t afford throughout the year. Without it, things like buying new school clothes, getting car repairs, or even taking the kids for a once-a-year outing might become out of reach.

For many of us, the EITC is more than just money—it’s a resource that makes a tough life a bit easier. Trump’s tax plan could take away that support, hurting families far more than it helps.

A Call for Leaders Who Truly Understand Us

This 2024 presidential election has reinforced a hard truth for me: we need leaders who truly get what it’s like to live with financial insecurity. It’s not enough to promise change or offer tax breaks without fully understanding what working-class families need to survive and thrive. We need people in office who don’t just sympathize but empathize—who feel, firsthand, the challenges we face.

For those of us who live in constant uncertainty, voting for someone who doesn’t live in our world feels like a betrayal of our own lives and experiences. We need leaders who see us, understand our struggles, and advocate for policies that will lift us up, not weigh us down.

Conclusion: Choosing to Stay Out of the 2024 Presidential Election

I understand that voting is a right, a privilege, and a way to be heard. But for me, the decision to stay out of this election isn’t out of apathy—it’s out of a deep concern that no one on the ballot truly represents us. Until we see leaders who are ready to bridge the gap between their lives and ours, I choose to stand aside.

My hope is that one day, we’ll have candidates who understand that this Earth belongs to all of us, not just the powerful few, and that leading a country means being of service to every citizen. Until then, my vote remains my own, uncast, in the hope that the future will bring leaders worthy of it.