Ever since I was a small child, I’ve been exposed to politics. I knew my grandparents were Republicans and my mom had been more Democratic, which eventually changed. I never knew what these things meant. I mean really, at 5 years old that meant nothing to me. I didn’t understand how elections worked, or why we had to choose someone. And why couldn’t the other candidate that didn’t win just become the Vice President? It made sense in my head, again, at five years old.

As I grew older I understood these differences more and more, but I still never understood the parties. I didn’t understand why we had to be divided. It wasn’t up until a few years ago when I hit high school that I really started to understand. Typically, and I cannot stress that word enough, Republican=conservative/“older" values and Democrat=liberal/“newer" values. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and not everyone can fit in those categories. I am one of those people.

It wasn’t until this election that I really paid any attention to the differences or what side I was on. I always thought I was democratic, but I didn’t know WHY. Looking at this year's, 2016, election I realize I am not on either side. I am one of those rare, but becoming more normal, people in the middle. So, NO, I do not agree with most of either side. To break it down, I’ll use the some of the major topics from this year’s election.

Climate change is not just some theory scientists are trying to scare you with. It is a real thing and we need to start doing something about it. Icecaps do not just start melting and disappearing, there is a reason behind it and whether you like it or not, it’s humans. While many people may think, “Well why should America do anything about it if no one else will?” Someone has to start making a change, and if everyone is waiting for someone else to do it it will never happen.

Free College. I think that’s mostly ridiculous. College, at least in my lifetime, will probably never be free. Frankly, I think free college would do more harm than good. With that being said, how expensive college is, is insane. I do NOT want to die in debt. I do not think it is doing any good for anyone to be paying tens of thousands of dollars to go to college. If my parents were able to work and pay their way through school, I think that I should be too. I shouldn’t have to have get so far in debt to get a “good” career that will make decent money to be stuck paying off bills for my entire life. I know I was meant for more than that. I do not want to owe my life and money to the government because I chose to go to school and get an education. Now for those of you that will say, “Well you can join the military, they’ll pay for your schooling”. Trust me, you do NOT want some people in the military. Not everyone can handle it. If people get kicked out for mental illness, I wouldn’t even get in. I am one of those people who could not do it. You also do not want people doing something for the wrong reasons. I’d rather know that I have people committed to my country and not just committed to a pay check, maybe that’s just me.

The wall. Here is a huge issue that, as well as the college and military segment, I know will get some people’s blood boiling. Please hear me out. I do not think spending billions of dollars on a wall is a good investment. We already have fences that people climb over. Please remember, “where there’s a will, there’s a way”. I do not think a wall will solve our problem. Maybe it’ll make things a little harder, but it’s still going to take years to build this wall. Immigrants (which is what this country was founded on, remember that. Unless you are Native American, you were not from America) will still be able to get into the US. Yes, it will create more jobs, and then when it’s done those jobs will disappear, at least some of them will. I honestly feel like there is a better, quicker solution to this problem, but I don’t know what it is. I just picture this huge tacky wall on all American borders and roll my eyes. Unfortunately, I just can’t see it.

Homelessness. It is a problem. Not all homeless people choose to be homeless. No one seems to care about the homeless veterans until refugees are involved. No one wants to help the homeless. Most people assume that the homeless want to be homeless so they can be on welfare, or for drugs. Not because of unfortunate circumstances. Not because the bank took their house because they had too much debt. Not because their significant other left them and they became too depressed to function, and by the time they got themselves together it was too late. Not everyone is some money grubbing, lazy person who refuses to get a job. We need to find a way to help these people out of extreme poverty and into the middle class. Please note that I never said we should hand them our hard earned money. We need to find a way to help them. Bridge this ever widening gap between the excessively wealthy, the wealthy, the middle class, and the poor.

Gun control. We do not need to keep guns from law abiding citizens. People who follow the law are not the problem. Instead of making it impossible for law abiding citizens to get a gun, do deeper background checks, do psych evaluations, make a longer waiting period and teach gun safety. Again I’ll say, law abiding citizens are not the problem. What we really need to focus on is how these shooters are getting these guns. Check the black market. Crack down on the real problems, where criminals obtain these guns. Research options to make guns themselves safer, so the person who LEGALLY bought the gun and ONLY the person who bought the gun can use it. There are other options, we just need to look into them.

Women rights and LBGTQ rights. As a woman I believe I have the rights to do as I please with my body. Yes, that includes abortion. No, adoption is not always an option. Adoption is expensive and a lot of the times willing, wanting and compatible parents are turned away because they are gay. Let gay parents adopt, let a woman get an abortion if that is the best option for her. Saying that I agree with abortion as an option does not mean that I have ever or will ever get one, it’s saying I believe in the right to do as you wish with your body. With that being said, after a certain time frame, abortion should not be allowed(unless medically necessary). As for LGBTQ rights, let them get married, let them adopt, and let them use the bathroom of their preferred gender. Trans people are not the problem, perverts are. I hate to break it to you, but those people are already using your bathrooms anyways.

I know people criticize me for being in between, for not picking just one side. However, I will not compromise my beliefs to fit into a specific category. We have this notion that we need to fit in, to fit a mold. We need to be accepted by society and that is the reason why America isn’t great anymore. Immigrants came to the US for religious freedom and, in doing so, we’ve created this monster that everyone must be the same. You’re allowed to have a different religion, but within reason. If you are Muslim, you are a terrorist; at least that's what the media is telling us and wants us to believe. I’m horrified by what this nation has become and I’m terrified to see where it goes. Whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican I fear that neither option will help with country; both options are too extreme.