Tomorrow will mark the turning point of our country. By this time tomorrow, millions of Americans will be flooding the poll booths to decide our next president. The stakes are high this election. Practically everyone hates one or both of the candidates up for presidential election. Candidate personality aside, the 2016 platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties are almost complete opposites, with opposing views on topics such as abortion, same-sex marriage, voting rights, and climate change. The policies of our country, and the very nature of our American lives, are about to change, and we have the choice of which side prevails.
The hate for both of the candidates has made many voters reluctant to step foot in a poll booth. How can you choose what seems to be the lesser of two evils? What’s the point if both candidates suck? There’s no way that sexist racist homophobe is going to win so why should I give my vote to Shady Hillary?
Well, firstly there’s that whole business that we have the right to choose our leaders while other countries don’t, so you shouldn’t take it for granted. Yes, we are choosing the lesser of two evils this time around, but at least we are able to actually choose. Many people, African Americans, women, Native Americans, fought and died for our right to step into the booths.
Secondly, because if you want one platform to succeed over the other, you should do all you can to help that platform gain power. Otherwise, if policies pass that you don’t like, you really don’t have grounds to complain about it if you didn’t use your vote.
Take a look back at Brexit. The majority of people did not want Britain to leave the Union, but people did not believe that the Brexit movement would ever be passed. Because of this, they didn’t go out and vote. But who did show up to the voting booths? The people who wanted Brexit passed. Staying home instead of exercising their right to vote has left many British citizens in a state of panic as their country takes a turn for what looks like the worst, and we could be next.
The journalist in me has tried to keep this article neutral, but I just can’t keep it all inside. I can’t pretend that I’m not scared that some of my close friends are going to lose their right to get married, or that some will be discriminated against, or some will be victims of hate and violence. I can’t pretend that the very idea of an old white man in an office telling me what I can and can’t do with my body doesn’t infuriate me. I can’t pretend that I don’t believe it is completely idiotic to give tax cuts to the wealthy instead of the poor. And I can’t pretend that I am not absolutely baffled that someone who believes climate change is a hoax could actually hold the presidential office. I can’t write with neutrality toward Donald Trump because even typing out his name gives me a bitter taste in my mouth. How such a despicable and disgusting human being has made it this far actually terrifies me.
But my personal political views are not the important part of this article. Some of you may agree with me, some of you may disagree with me, and that is all fine. My point is this: if you agree with me, go vote! If you disagree with me, go vote! If you have any slight opinion on any type of policy, go vote for it! As someone who doesn’t turn 18 until late November, I cannot stress enough how lucky you are to be able to have your voice heard. We have a very important decision to make tomorrow, so please be a part of the decision. This election will affect everyone’s life, we cannot take it lightly.
