my political post

I've never liked talking about politics but it's 2020 and stranger things have happened. So as we are just a few weeks out from the election, I've decided to add another political post to the mix.

Please note: This post is not intended to convince you to vote for a specific candidate. In fact, I HATE when people tell others who to vote for. Isn't that whole point of the United States? We get to choose. We get to pick, so by no means is that what I'm trying to do. If you love one of our candidates, I'm not here to attack that. Rather, I'm trying to get you to see why someone might disagree with you and I want to do it in a respectful way because I'm tired of seeing all the negative posts judging people based on who they vote for. I'll say it again. If your mind is made up, I'm not here to change your vote. I'd just hope that by the end of this, you'd understand why someone might vote differently than you, even if you disagree with it.

Another thing - I make generalizations about the two major parties. I understand that these don't apply to everyone though.

So here it goes.

Picking a candidate isn't black and white. Now, if you disagree, I envy how easy of decision this is for you, but I also challenge you to consider some of the things I'm about to say. Remember, this is all about seeing a different side of things.

Let's imagine a few different scenarios...

You're loyal to your party. You believe so strongly about the policies that the person representing those policies isn't what's important. It's the beliefs of the party that you are voting on.

You're pro-life. Let's just start with the two hottest pro-life issues right now: abortion and the death penalty. Well, even at the most basic level, you've got yourself in a bit of a jam. Typically, republicans are anti-abortion - but if we're being honest, what has the current Republican administration done in the last four years to end abortion, even with three supreme court justice picks? Democrats are usually pro-choice but anti-death penalty. Now, imagine your definition of pro-life includes preventing bullying, suicide, improving education systems or something else? Could be a bit tricky to pick a side.

If you're interested in this specific topic, stay tuned for a post specifically about abortion.

You're religious - See pro-life if your church teaches that. Maybe you're a Christian and you're a WWJD ("what would Jesus do") person? So that could be looking for the most Jesus-like candidate. Or maybe that means you're going with the most Jesus-like policies.

From what I know about Jesus, he didn't support racism or bullying. He probably would advocate for improving the public schools system so that the quality of education you receive doesn't depend on how nice the houses are in your neighborhood. He encouraged the rich to give to the poor. It seems that Jesus had a lot of ... dare I say it... socialism in Him?? (please note: I'm not advocating for a dictatorship or communism or anything like that. That is DEFINITELY not Jesus-like). Speaking of socialism, things like unemployment, social security or even a COVID-19 stimulus check all are socialist concepts. And the last was implemented during an administration that identifies as capitalist.

The point I'm trying to make here is extreme socialism isn't realistic (can anyone say communism?) Someone has to pay things and human nature requires competition and motivation. So, what's left? Well capitalism, but there's no denying it has it's flaws. How about instead we have a mixed balance of the two, striving to implement the best ideas of both?

Oh - and since this started as a religion discussion, we'll close it like that. There's many belief systems I didn't even touch on that exist and can influence people's decisions.

You're a minority or you know someone who is- I can guarantee you that our current president has said or done something offensive to that group.

You know an immigrant or an international student. You've seen them struggle to make a life for themselves in the United States and how hard it has been just because they weren't born here. While some citizens are joking about going to Canada or leaving the country, we have good, hard-working people who WANT to be here. They aren't mooching of the government, because we don't allow it. They work, they pay taxes (more income taxes than the current president). They basically have to prove themselves - that they are worthy of being here. They work for years and years and years to be part of this country and it's not easy. So maybe when you vote, you're thinking of them.

Now, imagine you're a combination of any of these or something I didn't even mention is what drives your vote - you're advocating for social justice or want to improve the education system or are a veteran, etc. Could you see how it could be difficult? I hope you can at least appreciate the different view points out there now.

But here's the bigger issue. Why can't we get decent candidates and why is there no middle ground? Growing up, if I argued with my sister, we compromised. We found common ground. So why in the highest form of leadership in this country can we not do that? Why do we have to choose between either or on EVERY SINGLE TOPIC? And not just either or, but stances are on the extremes. Heck, 2020 turned wearing a mask into a political issue or even voting by mail. And based on what you decided, you were identifying with a party, whether you wanted to or not.

NEWS FLASH. People have been wearing masks since wayyyyy before 2020 and this is not the first year we've used mail-in ballots.

And you can't pick and choose or have views from both parties. You're either all in or all out. Would you ever see an anti-abortion democrat? Or what about a Republican who supports the second amendment but wants to monitor gun purchases/licenses. Both parties are hypocritical at times and values or beliefs only apply when it's convenient or fits with an agenda.

And based on your vote, some people will judge you instantly. Some people take the millions of citizens in the U.S. and categorize them into two groups, saying all people that voted for this person are "insert slur." And that's just not true - once things are said using hyperboles, they immediately become false. I've had it happen to me on from people on both sides and I always think to myself, what if people didn't rush to judgement but started dialogue instead? Asking people why it is they picked the person they did or which issue they voted on and why. There's more common ground than you'd think but that takes time, intentionality, compassion and understanding. And some people would rather take the easy way out and just stick to the judgement.

The two-party system is failing us. The current system makes it so difficult to vote for a candidate because of the polarized stances. Not only are they polarized but I think they're inconsistent too. I touched on the anti-abortion/pro-death penalty conflict earlier. That's just one of many. In 2020, we had democrats (I'm generalizing) advocating for masks because it helped the greater good and protects others. Meanwhile you had republicans (again, generalizing) saying it was a restriction on their rights. Take that same attitude and apply it to abortion and you'll have switched sides.

In my opinion, it's not easy to pick a party or a candidate. I can guarantee there are really good people who will vote for both major parties. While you might disagree, remember people have to pick and choose. They prioritize issues that are important to them and in some cases pick the lesser or two evils. Now obviously there's third-party candidates and independents that I'm leaving out. I've seen people reference those as "wasted votes." I don't agree with that - no vote is wasted but it's unlikely one of the candidates will get enough votes to win the election. So, we still stuck with just two options (even if you opt to vote for someone else).

Regardless of who wins in 2020, we have the next four years to make sure we get a good candidate. I'd love a candidate that brings people and ideas together, instead of driving them apart.

Maybe you think I'm being naïve or unrealistic. Maybe you like this just the way they are but I personally think we can do better. I hope in 2024, I'm not suffering through another election year not knowing whether to laugh or be terrified. I want to be excited to vote. I want to have good options. I want all of us to have good options - good people who will be good leaders. I want the best for this country and its people.

After all, we deserve it.