Things to Be Hopeful About in 2025
"You are brilliant and the earth is hiring," environmentalist Paul Hawken once wrote for a commencement address.
And it's not just the earth who's hiring. Kindness, justice, gentleness all have many, many openings, too.
But first, we need a bit of hope, don't we? A sense that our efforts aren't for nothing. And we need to come by our hope honestly. Hollow hope isn't much hope at all.
So a few rock solid things to fill our cups going into this new year.
The Majority's Pyrrhic Victories
It is a tale as old as time - or at least the modern Congress - that when one party controls Congress and the White House, they overreach, and voters don't take fondly to it. It happened in 2008 when the Dems controlled it all, passed Obamacare, and then - to quote President Obama - got shellacked in the 2010 midterms. It happened in 2016 when the GOP controlled it all, passed tax cuts, and the Dems cleaned up in the 2018 midterms.
It doesn't mean harm can't be done in the first two years, but one thing to keep in mind there...
...These Majorities Aren't That Major
The Senate has a three-seat majority. And the House? That will shrink down to 217 Republicans to 215 Democrats for a big chunk of the new President's first 100 days.* One House Republican flips and you've got a 216-216 tie, which means that bill bites the dust. "Do the math," House Speaker Mike Johnson said. "We have nothing to spare."
*This takes a little unpacking. The GOP won 220 seats in November. But Rep. Matt Gaetz resigned. Rep. Mike Walz will resign on January 20 to become the President's National Security Advisor. Rep. Elise Stefanik is expected to decamp to become the United Nations Ambassador. And special elections don't happen until April.
State it Plain
In America, power is decentralized between Congress and state legislatures. And with Congress only passing 2% of bills, most policy that impacts our daily lives happens in state legislatures. Only 20% of Americans can name their state legislators, so if we reach out with kindness and respect, we could be a rare and impactful voice.
"Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required," Paul Hawken continued in his commencement address. "Don’t be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done."
Rest up. There's good work waiting to be done. And I, for one, count myself among the lucky that I get to do it alongside you.