When we first met the GOP hopefuls for the 2016 Presidential election, some of us were left scratching our heads at the sheer number of possible candidates—17 before the primaries and 12 after they took place. We all had very definite ideas of who had the better chance of winning the nomination and what that campaign might look like. But I think I can honestly say that no one, not even the most fervent radical Republican or Democrat, imagined the absolute circus that this race has turned into.
As a country, we should be horrified. And that goes for both sides of the political fence—everyone, no matter their party affiliation, should be disgusted at the lack of diplomacy, tact and integrity that is being exhibited in the months leading up to November 2016. Voting is a privilege that many countries do not enjoy, and it is a right that has been hard fought for in this country. We are making a mockery of it with our willingness to accept the behavior displayed by those who wish to lead us.
“At this point, America will turn almost anything into a reality show. Now it’s the future of the United States that will be given the Honey Boo Boo/Duck Dynasty treatment. This one will be right up there with the O.J. Simpson trial.” – Henry Rollins.
–Hate, fear and disinformation are being thrown around by would-be candidates in order to prey on a citizen’s most basic fears. Let me be very vocal in stating that our country has no room to place preferences or disfavor on religious ideologies, racial compositions or cultural backgrounds of any kind. The United States of America has long enjoyed a reputation of being a haven of promise and opportunity for everyone. We have had revolutions for independence, moral codes of ethics and for the rights of all genders, races, religions and sexual orientations. We have led that charge in the past—despite missteps and stumbles along the way—and yet we now let that leadership role fall to the side like a forgotten toy.
There comes a time in every person’s life when the vote for President of the United States of America matters more than that of any previous election. And with the flames of hate and thinly veiled racism licking their way across the land, at no point in the last century has an election meant more to the future of our country than the one taking place this November.
We need to continually remind ourselves that every election matters. Even the caucuses. Here’s an interesting tidbit: this past Super Tuesday, 8 million GOP voters turned out while only 5.5 million Democrats turned out. Let’s ignore the disparity in voter turnout between parties for a moment and look at the bigger picture here. Super Tuesday covers 12 states and approximately 57.5 million eligible voters. Yet only 13.5 million turned out for Super Tuesday. Let that sink in a moment.
Every American eligible to vote should be exercising that right at every election they’re eligible to participate in. They should be educated on the issues to the best of their ability and they should make their voices heard. Sometimes, barriers do actually exist, so if you have transportation issues, check with your local mass transit authority—many offer free rides to polling stations. If you have access to a computer, a quick Google search can uncover many local options for ride sharing to and from polling places. If you have questions about voting policies, registering or resources, the Election Assistance Commission is a great starting point for valid, up-to-date information. My point is, we need to start taking our right and responsibility to vote seriously. Further, every election should be approached with an air of respect, dignity and a solid understanding that our votes are not only going to affect us personally, but will affect future generations as well. Our votes hold power. Don’t think so? Check out this vote count from Methuen, Massachusetts:
Yes, you’re reading that right—one vote. One. Vote. From this day forward “my vote doesn’t matter” is forever struck from a laissez faire voter’s lexicon of excuses.
The pendulum is swinging, and it is barreling its way back to a “we” mindset. Americans need to stop fighting each other and let that natural progression happen. Balance is a necessary force. It keeps us level and grounded. Balance in politics needs to be viewed in a similar manner before the entire system crashes and burns. There is no one way to do anything right—there are many different approaches that can result in a favorable outcome if only we keep an open mind and remain flexible and willing to compromise for the greater good of our country. As we approach this year’s election, instead of allowing our nation’s reputation to sink even further into the abyss, let’s offer up the “Great Hate Debate” as proxy instead.
