Commentary

Opinion: The Politics We Are Stuck With

A Black, South Asian Indian woman from Oakland — the first ever to be elected to the United States presidency. That was the headline of hope. Kamala Harris represented joy and positivity. Her election would have been a historic win for America and our country’s great diversity. But on Election Day, the electorate did not turn the page on Donald Trump.

Published

1 year ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

Courtesy of Donald J. Trump Facebook Page.

By Emil Guillermo

A Black, South Asian Indian woman from Oakland — the first ever to be elected to the United States presidency.

That was the headline of hope.

Kamala Harris represented joy and positivity. Her election would have been a historic win for America and our country’s great diversity.

But on Election Day, the electorate did not turn the page on Donald Trump.

Was it a gut punch or a reality check?

When major networks called Pennsylvania for Donald Trump, it was essentially game over. There was no way that Harris could get to 270 Electoral College votes without Pennsylvania.

Trump, with substantial leads in Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona, seemed likely to get the votes needed to become the 47^th president of the United States.

Now we don’t have to worry about the peaceful transfer of power as CFDT34, (Convicted Felon Donald Trump, 34 counts), the twice-impeached former president gets to call the White House home again. It enables him to avoid practically all his legal problems and possible prison time, a prime motivator for his seeking re-election.

That makes invoking his favorite parts of Project 2025 — deportations of undocumented immigrants and the vengeful roundup of his political dissidents, the “enemy from within” — the sour cherries on top of his electoral victory.

And who will stop him? The checks and balances are all gone. The Senate and possibly the House will be in Republican control. The Supreme Court and the Judiciary already are.

Where does that leave good, non-elite regular people who tried to do the right thing this election?

Among them: The women angered over reproduction rights.

Activists who fought against further erosion of civil and voting rights.

The undocumented concerned about impending ICE roundups.

The parents of trans-children, used to polarize voters and will now face real discrimination.

The voters repulsed by the hateful, misogynistic, sexist, racist, bigoted sentiments that came out of the Trump campaign.

They will all either find a way to stay enthused enough to keep fighting for our rights in our democracy or they will drop out and join the ranks of the so-called “low propensity/low information” voter, go back to their lives, and tune out until some politician or issue comes around to turn them back on.

Maybe they go with the flow and learn to hang with Trump. And keep quiet.

You may be one of those who voted, but did it secretly, not publicly. You stayed private maybe because you felt the fear of being trolled. Or you feared the threat of violence.

Trump talked about rifles training on Liz Cheney’s face. That could be yours.

Across the U.S, 36% of voters said they would feel scared if Trump is elected president, according to an early CNN exit poll on Tuesday.

Another 71% said they were concerned about violence as a result of the election.

On Election Day, American voters were afraid.

Now, the presumed president-elect Trump’s brand of bullying politics leads the way.

There is good reason to be afraid in the New America we did not expect.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. See his micro-talk show on www.patreon.com/emilamok. He performs an excerpt from his Emil Amok Monologues, “Transdad,” Nov.18 at the Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., San Francisco. Tickets here: https://themarsh.org/monday-night-marsh-stream/

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC