Why is it that when people try to discuss politics, it turns into a screaming match or an "it's all rigged man, it's all a conspiracy, I don't like voting" debate? I find it incredibly difficult to have any discussion at all and it hurts, mainly because of how hard so many of our fellow Americans have fought for the right to vote, the right to speak their minds, and pursue the other freedoms so many other countries wish they had. So, in order to show how ridiculous some of us sound about the elections and voting, I am going to reveal the three biggest lapses in our thinking about the presidential election.

1. "My Vote Doesn't Matter."

This is, in my opinion, the biggest excuse and misconception about our democracy. In the grand scheme of things, you're right, you're vote doesn't matter because there are millions of other citizens voting. However, it seems that more and more people are thinking this way, and that can start a dangerous trend of nobody voting for the person that will affect your daily life and actions. So, it does matter. It matters because you are expressing a freedom and right as an American citizen that other nations kill, literally kill for. It matters because if you do not vote, you really have zero standing to talk about how "crappy" our government functions. I cannot handle people who explode into a rant that goes something like, "The president is such an idiot, he passes legislation that I don't agree with... blah, blah, blah." Then, I ask them if they voted in the last elections, and they say "no." Well then, shut up! Please, don't be that person, express this right to vote and embrace it as an American.

2. "Money Controls Who Gets Elected."

I am going to try and not bore you to death with this explanation, hang in there with me. But money is not everything, and as much as it seems to play a huge role in our presidential elections, the amount of money and where it comes from has some very extreme limitations. These can help someone make a decision about who to vote for. The largest portion of presidential hopefuls receive their money from things called PACs. They are Political Action Committees and they have groups that express an ideal or interest that they find important. In other words, groups such as the NRA, the Green Movement, and even a group strictly for the advancement of computers like 3D printing have a PAC. These groups are highly influential, but every PAC that puts money into a campaign has to make it public and it can be foundhere. There are groups for an intense amount of interests and this helps the voter because you can find those PACs that appeal to your ideals and see who they are supporting during the presidential race. So, in that regard, money does control a presidential candidate, but only once they are elected since they need to listen to those PACs who supported them during their campaign trail. Yes, it means that you have to do a little research to find the right candidate.

3. "I Don't Like Any Of The Candidates."

Every four years we must vote for our Commander in Chief, but it is usually a selection between two candidates, a Republican and a Democrat. In every other part of our lives, we have at least four choices to pick from, right? You have your choice of Pepsi, Coke, Root Beer, Mountain Dew, and so many other options for soda, so why should we only have two options for the most important job in America? The problem is our lack of involvement early in the campaign for president. Most of us never vote during a primary election when the field of candidates is much larger and interests vary more significantly during this time. How can we change this problem? We can fix this by staying involved with the presidential election earlier, but it requires someone to consistently observe what is happening. That means checking the latest polls, speeches, and other occurrences on the campaign trail. Sounds fun, right? No, of course not. We have so many other things to do—school, work, social life, and anything other than watching people run for president.

What these misconceptions really boil down to is, are you an American? Do you understand that there are countries who hate our nation for allowing the general population to vote on who will run it? Do you realize that this democracy was not raised up in one night and that many of your neighbors have been killed to defend this right? Have you ever had a close friend explain to you how his parents risked everything to flee their homeland in order to have these basic freedoms that we take for granted? It all comes down to your willingness to support and defend your country through the expression of elections. You are doing your part in the protection of America by voting. That is why our nation has been attacked previously—people disagree with our ideals. By voting, you are telling them that we as a people are strong and confident in the future success of democracy. So, to conclude, register to vote, take some time out of your day to really look at the candidates, and find the one that agrees with your way of life the most.