The Last 12 Days of the Election: How Fascism and Food Prices Are Influencing Voter Sentiment

As the election cycle enters its final stretch, it has been the rising tide of authoritarianism, sometimes called fascism, and higher prices for groceries that have burdened households everywhere that have dominated attention. Both are becoming a bigger deal for the candidate. More than just political jabs, these subjects encapsulate the concerns and annoyances that voters have as they make their way to the polls. Understanding these problems in relation to each other can be helpful in understanding how the public is thinking and what probably would happen in the election.

The Ascent of Authoritarianism

In a number of democracies, a rise alarming to observers has appeared during the last years for authoritarianism to develop over the next several years. Almost always, in times of economic crisis, politicians who promise stability and order play on the fears of people. At certain points, when talking about this movement of extreme nationalism, suppression of opposition, and the consolidation of power, people throw around the term “fascism”.

In the United States, political debate is more polarized than at any time in history. Increasingly, people have lost confidence that democratic rights are being protected and preserved. There is growing concern that democracy itself is at risk as governments continue to pursue policy actions to curtail liberties. These include censorship, manipulation of elections, and law used coercively. It rings very much for the constituents at a very deep level in younger voters who are easily sensitive to concerns of social justice and human rights.

Men with autocratic tendencies at heart tend to bring seemingly easy solutions to insurmountable problems, but political leaders on the right and the left have exploited these fears. In this way, they do not address the causes of economic hardship or social disaffection: they blame “the other”; that is to say, migrants, religious minorities, or political opponents.

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How the Food Price Rise Strikes at the Economy

All the above is happening when foodstuff has become so expensive that a real economic crisis is hitting every home. Shutdown in supply chains, fuel price increases, and incessant climatic impacts on farming contribute to this phenomenon. Families are facing ever-increasing pressure on their purse as staples like bread, milk, and vegetables are becoming dearer.

There are lots of people who are choosing between paying for food and other necessities such as housing and healthcare.  Probably more than any other topic, the economy, specifically its food price component seems to be the largest worry for the electorate, if the polling data is to be relied on. Food insecurity is an issue that most preponderantly harms already otherwise disadvantaged populations thus worsening the inequalities already extant.

Politicians talking to these economic issues will appeal to voters because of the opportunities they offer. Campaign platforms have increasingly featured proposals to restrict prices, offer subsidies and support local agriculture. But with the rising cost of food, there are also politicians who use the phenomenon to fuel their authoritarian narratives. They are usually attacking those whom they believe are their enemies or suggesting extreme measures to restrict supply and demand.

Economic fear and authoritarianism often come hand in hand.

At this juncture of the electoral cycle, however, a particular dilemma is posed by an increasingly conjunctive juncture of food-price inflation and a possible threat of authoritarianism. In these circumstances, to the point of continued economic deterioration, voters may get progressively vulnerable to populist rhetoric promising quick fixes if only liberties had to be sacrificed.

For instance, in past elections, the political elite have used moments of economic crises to entrench themselves onto positions of power. In such moments, they have claimed, for instance, that there is an imperative to restore order and attend pressing needs; in effect, they have promoted emergency measures that go around the democratic process. That fear of the economy creates the need for authoritarian answers, which further undermines democratic institutions. It then feeds the vicious circle on itself.

It might put citizens between the necessities of voting to fulfill their immediate basic economic needs and their rights for the long term. For pro-democracy supporters to better undertake economic issues without sacrificing the very core of what democracies stand for, they are also responsible for proposing workable solutions.

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Activism and Mobilization of Support

Grassroots movements need to push forward in the last days of the election for it is even more crucial than ever. Organizing their efforts to drive home the point that authoritarian methods are not the remedy for food prices or economic misery, organisations campaigning for social justice, economic egalitarianism, and democratic governance attempt to raise the voters’ consciousness on the eve of the election.

Secondly, activism calls for increased government accountability and transparency; they also require election candidates to present clear strategies to eradicate hunger, not through stern application. They promote community-led initiatives like agricultural support to local farmers, good compensation of the employees engaged in the food sector, and favorable social protection schemes.

In addition to this, the above movements have resorted to social media extensively for the purpose of amplifying their messages. They want to fight the dissemination of misinformation and engage voters by revealing a utopia that is more equal and just. They aim to convince electorates to reject a tale of fear built on authoritarianism that draws politics and economic misery into the same stain.

An Insight into the Role of the Media

The media, at this point in time, still has a significant role to play in opinion formation of the public. These last twelve days before the elections should be the one where journalists and news channels focus on some Investigative reporting that gets to the bottom of soaring food prices and implications of authoritarian governance.

In-depth reporting on the many ways that fluctuations in food prices affect people’s day-to-day lives could convey an immediacy as well as a common cause to voters. Responsible journalism may also help provide the necessary debunking of mystique surrounding populist leaders’ tactics through laying bare efforts at manipulation of public anxiety toward an end.

The media can empower voters to make decisions based on facts and not on fear by holding discussions well-informed about these issues. Another part of this work is by giving forums to different perspectives that can articulate a vision of a democratic future without authoritarianism.

Yet another crucial part of this work is fact-checking political assertions.

Conclusion Remarks

The interlinked issues of fascism and the rising cost of food are going to be very influential over the electoral landscape as the election period draws near. There is a lot of economic distress among voters, and they are also worried about the protection of their democratic rights.

The electorate is likely to respond favourably to those who can appropriately respond to these concerns, genuinely identifying with the issues that threaten food security but also advocating democratic values. In jeopardizing the political future of these users, users of fear for authoritarian goals also jeopardize the democratic system altogether.

This decisive moment will come to this important shaping of the narrative through mobilization, activism, and responsible coverage by the media. The voting will come under the choice of deciding decisions that, apart from reflecting immediate needs, will in a way show hope for a democratic and just society as voters head to the polls to vote tomorrow. Thus, the course that the economy, and for that matter the political landscape as well, will take during the coming years will largely be determined by the way the next twelve days play out.