With a net worth greater than the GDP of many small countries and a passionate fan base, Taylor Swift is one of the biggest artists of this century and has an immeasurable influence on our culture.
But in this heated election season, Swift has remained quiet on politics, despite making several high-profile endorsements in the past.
For all our sakes, I pray she remains silent.
Millions of Swift fans follow her religiously, copy her fashion and scrutinize her lyrics. Which She may be referring to a stanza hidden in the chorus.
Meanwhile, Swift's romance Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce It has created countless headlines by building an unexpected bridge between two very different American subcultures: football fans and pop music fans.
Even ISIS is aware of her influence: Two terrorists recently thwarted an attempt to use a Swift concert as a means to attack the West, sparking outrage around the world.
America today is divided: Republicans and Democrats don't just vote for different policies, they live in different places, shop at different stores, wear different clothes, eat different foods, and watch different media.
As Charles Murray argued in his book Coming Apart, the powerful upper classes increasingly lived in cultural enclaves surrounded by their own kind, widening the gap between class and culture and threatening to endanger the American project.
Traditional symbols of American patriotism that once united Americans and transcended politics and culture have become embroiled in culture war disputes, much like the flag itself.
But Taylor Swift is something that surprisingly brings us together.
Swift had the highest favorability ratings of any person surveyed in a single poll. Recent NBC News National Poll -of only Someone who elicits positive reactions from both Republicans and Democrats.
Her ability to permeate and shape culture should not be underestimated.
In 2018, Swift made her first foray into politics, urging her fans to vote for Tennessee Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen in a U.S. Senate election that was narrowly won by Republican Marsha Blackburn.
Swift endorsed Joe Biden in 2020. Donald Trump During his presidency, he “stoked the fires of white supremacy and racism.”
Her past support for Democrats has led to speculation that she may soon do the same for Kamala Harris, with wild rumors circulating that she may make a surprise guest appearance at the Democratic National Convention.
But that never happened, leaving experts and fans anxious.
meanwhile Some people express dissatisfaction Her silence should be celebrated. A group calling itself “Swifties4Kamala” has formed to campaign for the Democratic Party without the idol.
Endorsing Harris, a controversial politician, could alienate a sizable portion of her fan base and undermine the very connections that have made her so successful.
“Celebrity endorsements have only a small positive effect on politicians.” Researcher Michael Cobb said: “In fact, it's much more likely that a celebrity's endorsement will negatively affect perceptions of that person,” say researchers at North Carolina State University.
Taylor should use her strong base to unite rather than make divisive rhetoric.
Politics in recent years has divided workplaces, friend groups, and even families.
On the other hand, music brings healing beyond differences of ideology, race, and nation.
We love “Shake It Off” not for its profound policy proposals, but because Swift belts out the realities of superstardom over an infectious beat.
We don't sing “Love Story” to criticize the Iraq War or defend socialist medicine, but because it transports us to a time of pure, innocent love.
Our political system is in a dire state, and the evil has reached a level that is destroying it.
The last thing we need are celebrities spewing hyper-partisan vitriol, especially a star like Swift who transcends our differences.
Mr. Taylor, in the interest of our country, please support unity in this election, not candidates.
With all the fear, division and uncertainty surrounding this election, you can help us dispel it.
Andrew Stein, a Democrat, served as Speaker of the New York City Council from 1986 to 1994.
