The 2016 Presidential election will represent the first time I am able to vote in a major election. Which, I guess, is pretty cool except that I think both political parties focus too much time pointing fingers and calling each other names rather than actually following through on their promises. I don’t care much for politics. Some of you may think I am part of the problem: just a part of a group of young individuals who don’t want to vote because they know their opinion won’t count (thanks for that, electoral college). You’d be right. I do not want to vote, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. Still, this election year terrifies me.
In the past, I’ve never had a legal say, so I didn’t typically pay much attention to politics. I also tended just to agree with whomever my parents were voting for. I didn’t know anything about politics and I still don’t really know enough. But I’m paying attention now. I know what each party stands for, I know who is representing each party and I know we’re screwed no matter who becomes president.
I have not yet met a person who, with conviction, can defend their presidential candidate of choice. Most answers I’ve gotten were, “I’m voting for Trump ‘cause Hillary’s a liar and I don’t want a lair in the White House,” or “I’m voting for Hillary because she’s a woman and Trump is a racist.” Those are great reasons not to vote for someone - no one wants a liar or a racist in office - but they shouldn’t be one's only reason to vote for a presidential candidate.
Having a say is actually terrifying, especially when there isn’t one choice more obvious than the other. I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but I don’t want to mess up by voting for the wrong candidate. Then again, you can never tell if who you vote for will or will not follow through on their plans. I have always said that when it came time for me to vote, I’d vote for the candidate who would do the most good for our country. While I agree with both candidates on some parts of their campaigns, I have not been able to say, “Yes, ___ really blew me away.”
There’s a running joke made by many Americans: they claim they’re going to move to Canada after the election results have been made final. We can all laugh at the joke, but I’m curious to know just how many people are half-serious. The fact that this joke even exists speaks volumes about the thoughts of many Americans.
This November, I’ll probably go into the voting booth and still have no idea who I'm voting for. I’m confused, worried and, to be honest, a little scared. Is that normal? I don’t know. My only hope is that Americans will make the best decision - not a decision based upon what the other candidate is not.
