Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are all but declared the President- and Vice President-Elect of the United States. This moment is a complex whirl of emotions and reflections for many of us, as we celebrate a victory, mourn many losses (economic, viral, and political), and reconcile with the reality that our country is much more deeply divided than we wanted to admit. Instead of throwing victory parties, for many this is a moment of silence, and not necessarily because COVID-19 inhibits us from embracing each other with joy. With the sigh of relief comes a pit in our stomachs as we look out at all the work ahead of us.

As always, many of us are taking to the internet to share our thoughts as Election Day (read: Week) winds down. A statement is going around reflecting a Trump supporter’s condemnation of Biden voters in light of the impending election results. As it truly made me think, and I took it to heart, I feel it warrants a response. Let’s go line-by-line. (original post in red)

I’m just going to leave this right here. All of you who voted for Biden better own it for the next four years if he wins (it’s looking like he may) I don’t want to hear you complain about your taxes going up or gas prices doubling.

There are two possible interpretations of this introduction. The first would be that the author is speaking to the very privileged and wealthy demographics in our nation, as those are the only groups (those who make over $400k/year) whose taxes even have the potential of changing under Biden. Though this does not include me, I can firmly say that those are prices I’m willing to pay. Had I voted to (fallaciously) keep my taxes low or to suppress gas prices, I would be telling you the price I’ve put on human rights. On decency. At second glance, I’m aware that the author may misunderstand or, more likely, be misrepresenting Biden’s economic policies and thus be attempting to address Biden voters in their entirety. In this case, it is essential to reiterate that these claims are simply baseless. The fear-mongering that Trump has employed to scare people into thinking they can’t afford to live in Biden’s America is a political tactic as old as time. The aim is to make us fear for ourselves, our families, and our livelihoods. To scare us into voting. To inhibit us from voting for the betterment of our nation by making us fear for our own survival.

I don’t want you to complain when your health insurance costs go up even further than they already are.

It is a fundamental tenet of the Democratic platform to make health care more accessible. Though we don’t all agree on the right way to do that, it is at minimum a conversation we refuse to stop having. Trump had no health care plan. Under a Trump administration, my family was at serious risk of losing healthcare, as were millions of others. If you voted on health care, you voted for Biden.

Don’t complain when you bring home less on your paycheck because you’re being penalized for climate justice.

On this argument, I reference my first response. There are some things in this world for which there is a price I am willing to pay. Climate justice and sustainability fall into that category. The short-sided and selfish nature of the argument that we should sacrifice the environment, our children’s planet, and the livelihoods of the marginalized communities beings severely impacted by climate change to save a few cents on the dollar is mind-boggling. Moreover, the overwhelming evidence falls on the side of sustainability and the green energy revolution being the basis for driving economic growth in the long-term.

Don’t complain when lose your job because 11 million illegal immigrants suddenly become legal and your employer decides to hire someone at a lower wage.

This response is painfully ignorant of the realities of our immigration system and the way it interacts with our economy. Our immigrant workforce drives prosperity in this nation. Not only does their legal participation in the economy increase tax revenue and the flow of money, but they most frequently take the jobs that Americans aren’t willing to. Most often, immigrants put more into our economy than they take, as they often aren’t able to take advantage of many of our social services. Even more, immigrants are a critical component of the diversity of thought and perspective that perpetuates the innovation and advancements that keep this country on the forefront of progress and prosperity. All of that aside, at a fundamental, human level, it goes against the basic principles of America’s creation to turn away those seeking betterment and opportunity.

Don’t complain when your job is just out right eliminated because the minimum wage is too high and your employer can no longer afford to stay open or even pay you.

Despite this point’s implicit contradiction with the prior statement that employers will be hiring newly legalized immigrants for cheap, short-term job loss is an incomplete assessment of minimum wage increase. First and foremost, the industries in which low-wage jobs are concentrated are traditionally some of the fastest growing sectors in our economy. A common misunderstanding on the topic of minimum wage surrounds who is employing these workers and will thus be most impacted. The vast majority of minimum wage workers are actually employed by large corporations, not small businesses. These are corporations who can afford the pay increase, have traditionally taken advantage of workers at the bottom, and consistently compensate executives and shareholders disproportionately. Yes, there is potential for a minimum wage increase to initially eliminate some jobs; however, it puts more money in the hands of more Americans who, in turn, perpetuate the economy and drive growth at a higher rate than if we were to continue concentrating the wealth with the top executives.

Don’t complain when your automotive job is eliminated because it’s shipped back to China.

Explicitly outlined in Biden’s platform is his plan to penalize American companies for moving jobs overseas. Of the two candidates in question, Trump poses a much larger threat to Americans in the form of frighteningly friendly relationships with some countries, like China, and his apparent desire to benefit their leaders and economies.

Don’t complain when interest rates double maybe triple and homes/automobiles aren’t as affordable as they used to be.

Let’s get one thing straight: homes aren’t affordable and haven’t been for some time. Many millennials and Gen Z’s are reconciling the fact that home ownership, a traditional pillar of the American Dream, may be out of the question for us. However, an increase in wages and a commitment to providing the necessities of health care and education would put a lot of us much closer to that dream. Further, Biden’s commitment to tackling COVID head-on and getting the economy back on track provides a better outlook for those of us trying to make those big investments. As for the claim that interest rates will double or triple under Biden, there is quite simply zero evidence to believe that will be the case, especially in this unprecedented time of recession and pandemic. In fact, as part of Biden’s plans to pay specific attention to race in his quest for economic recovery, he has outlined how there may actually be good reason to hold interest rates lower for longer due to the disproportionate impact on Black communities.

Don’t complain when your stocks and 401k take a hit. Don’t complain when we are locked into more endless wars in the Middle East.

Looking specifically at the most likely outcome of this election, we know that, historically, the stock market actually performs best under a Democratic president and a Republican senate. Moreover, there is negligible correlation between the party in the White House and the performance of the economy. As for foreign policy, Biden ran on plans to end wars in the Middle East and continue investment in our military.

Don’t complain when your otherwise safe communities are overrun by crime and start resembling Chicago.

The claim that Trump’s America is safer than Biden’s America could only possibly hold true in a world in which Trump continues to incite violence and encourage chaos upon his defeat. In reality, I feel much safer about my life as a woman in a diverse city with a history of crime (Washington, D.C) under a Democratic president. Police reform is beyond necessary, and many Democrats would argue defunding would actually be more effective. However, the argument is not for national free-for-all. In place of our law enforcement institutions, rooted in minority suppression, racial discrimination, and state-sponsored violence, many of the proposed alternatives involve community-oriented programs with specific emphasis on effectively addressing the problems we face. For example, investing in education and intervention resources for domestic violence, funneling money into rehabilitation, and eliminating the guns on our streets are only a few of the proposals. It is not just about eradicating the system, it is about replacing the system – changing the way we think about crime, safety, and community; creating new infrastructure for keeping our citizens safe; and developing institutions that protect all Americans. Most importantly, the law enforcement reform policies go hand-in-hand with the liberal platform as a whole. By decriminalizing drugs, making health care accessible, expanding education, funding community services, and empowering racial minorities, we eliminate so much of the threat at the source. All of that said, it is worth remembering that Biden is actually quite moderate when it comes to police funding. Much to the chagrin of more bullish liberals, he has refused to commit to any defunding, so Trump supporters can sleep soundly.

Don’t complain when the educational system goes down. You obviously didn’t vote your paycheck or your future. You voted your feelings.

It is unclear why or how the author thinks the educational system is going down, especially given that Democrats are more likely to invest in public education, make college affordable, and provide alternative schooling opportunities. However, yes, I did vote my feelings. I voted policies and principles and platforms. But I also voted my feelings. I voted hope and unity and decency. I voted equality and empathy and empowerment. I voted that gut feeling that made me cringe and fear for myself and my neighbors each time Trump took to Twitter and his supporters took to the streets. I voted the overwhelming optimism of our young progressives standing up for what is right. I voted Biden.

Unfortunately facts don’t care about your feelings and you will soon (sadly) learn this under a Biden/Harris administration. Just own it.

After 4 years of Republicans turning a blind eye to Trump’s antics, it’s a bit comical to ask us to own anything. However –

I own it. I own every morsel of what my vote stands for. I own it proudly.