I'm sick of this election and it hasn't even happened yet. I'm sick of all the magazine cover articles about it, I'm sick of all the social media posts about it, hell, I'm sick of all the memes about it (although Donald Trump's hair and Hillary Clinton's facial expressions will never get old). Here's the thing about politics in America, it has become so incredibly polarized and so incredibly ruthless, even people who used to enjoy it, are now completely over it.

Politically I am very middle of the road. I see both sides to ALMOST every argument and stance on critical issues our country deals with on a daily basis. So, naturally, you would think that all of the media obsession surrounding the 2016 Election wouldn't upset me. Um, wrong. At this point, politics reminds me of that one girl at public school who had to talk about Jesus every time she opened her mouth. You know, the one that would always shove her beliefs down your throat. And it would go on to the point where you could even be a Christian yourself, but you'd get so sick of her talking about it, that even you would start to dislike it. That's where I'm at right now when it comes to American politics.

Here's the thing, and I'm just going to lay out some facts here; according to the 2015 Gallup Poll, 30% of Americans are registered Democrats, 27% are registered Republicans, and 42% are registered Independents. In a study conducted by the Hansen Political Statum, there is a prediction that only 41% of eligible Americans (and when I say eligible, I mean above eighteen and a legal citizen so don't get your panties in a wad) will vote in the 2016 Presidential Election. That's a 19% decrease from the original 60% of those who voted in the 2012 Election. So why, exactly is there such a big decrease?

Well, unfortunately this article isn't about that, and I'm no Political Science major, so I'm going to leave that question unanswered. However, I will touch on the fact that many issues brought up in this Presidential Election have become extremely polarizing. Take abortion, for example. Abortion, along with gay rights, were two of the most polarizing issues. However, the list has grown exponentially in recent years--gun control, global warming, war, nuclear weapons, racism, Planned Parenthood, gender neutral bathrooms, private vs. public prisons, NATO...the list goes on and on. And the REALLY annoying part is that I can't even scroll through Facebook without seeing a long ass status about one of these issues, along with a picture of either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. In fact, I would argue that I see their faces now more than I see my roommates' faces. And I live with those people, dammit!

The other issue with this upcoming election and why it is so freaking annoying, is the overwhelming need and desire to be "right". Let me tell you something, it is impossible for everyone to have the same opinions and beliefs. Why? Because our experiences shape those beliefs, and I can guarantee that all of us have had very different experiences from one another. Your political stance is typically shaped around your morals, and your morals depend on things you've experienced first-hand (or what your parents tell you, which also annoys me). Not everyone is going to agree with everyone else, it's impossible. So sure, you can think someone is a complete dumbass for not agreeing with you, but I bet they think the same about you. At the end of the day, just accept you have your opinion and they have theirs, and move on with life.

Which leads me to my final point--if you haven't done any research on political issues yourself, and only believe something because your parents believe it, then we are doomed. You've been given a brain, as well as the RIGHT TO AN OPINION. Not many other people in this world can say that. So take advantage of your right to vote, have an opinion, do some research, and decide what you agree with on your OWN. Nothing gives me a headache more than someone who has no evidence or facts behind a claim they make. "Why do you have that opinion?" "Well, because I do." No. Facts, people. State the facts. If you're going to stand by an opinion on an issue, then have facts to back it up--not only that but facts that are verifiably true. Don't just pull stuff out of your butt. Quote the source, have the evidence, and make the argument. And if someone tries to refute your statement by just repeating their opinion rather than facts that back up their argument, then they're deliberately ignorant and not worth debating.