Needless to say, it is a pretty stressful time in the U.S. right now. The 2016 election is polarizing, frustrating, and putting forth arguably two of the least popular candidates in history. However, while any presidential election is serious and deserves to be treated as such, I think the anger, hate, and pessimism is getting pretty old. At this point, it seems to just be causing unnecessary division and insults. Even in the toughest of times there are always some positives, so let's look at some:
1. They would both be first-term candidates
While many people swear that either Trump or Clinton is going to be some extreme beyond the ordinary politician, they are both going to be first-term candidates. Naturally, the desire for re-election will likely moderate their actions to some degree, and due to both their low popularity and the polarization of both sides, re-election could be rather difficult without appealing to people across the spectrum. After all, this election is a wake-up call, and with any hope we will have a slightly less terrible palate to choose from in 2020.
2. Neither are taken that seriously
Many of us have heard the difference between a leader and a manager, in the sense that the latter leans on their position and the former tends to inspire and motivate people. How many of us actually see either candidate as a charismatic, integrity-filled inspiration that we would [metaphorically] follow into combat? A few, but not many. In fact, with how adversarial this election is, it seems that for many the goal is simply to keep one person out of office, not to actually follow or support this person throughout their term. You know that club leader or supervisor that nobody listens to when they're not in the room? I have a good feeling we might see a lot of this over the next few years.
3. The satire basically writes itself
If you don't check The Onion at least once per day, you're missing out. Trust me, there is some absolutely amazing stuff on there, regarding Clinton, Trump, the debates, and numerous political issues.
4. It really gets the point across
If you're a Republican or Democrat, despise your candidate, and didn't vote in the primary, I think it's safe to say you probably learned a lesson. If you're one of the people who is so disappointed in our selection that you started paying extra attention to congressional, state, and local elections in an attempt to try to alleviate the damage, I think you learned something good as well. If you were entirely apathetic to political issues but the shock of this election has gotten your attention, I think you got a nice wake-up call as well. I'm not here to criticize people; I'm open to giving people the benefit of the doubt that they finally started realizing the importance of political participation.
5. It's awesome for third parties
Trust in the government has been declining for decades, and likewise, trust in incumbent candidates as well as the major parties is declining too. While I've been a third-party member for years, I feel that even supporters of the major parties should welcome the rise of additional parties. It mirrors competition in the marketplace, and allows us to choose a candidate based on their individual merit.
For those that aren't aware, a third-party that gains 5% of the vote is awarded federal funding in the future. Third-party voting is a rolling snowball, and like virtually anything in politics, does not satisfy those who need instant gratification. Nonetheless, with the (roughly equal) exodus of voters from both parties to third parties, this could pave the way for long-term change. I like to be optimistic.
6. It's funny
Before some radical left-wing internet warrior calls me an insult I've never heard of, yes, it is pretty funny. That doesn't downplay the seriousness of it; if anything it acknowledges the poor situation and uses humor to convey a message. As many people of both sides have agreed, this election has spurred some amazing memes and a lot of the aforementioned satire. Being able to laugh at even a drastic situation is a very beneficial skill, and does wonders to keep one's sanity and motivation. Laughing is good, and this political season has spurred a lot of it.
While I encourage everybody to do their research, voice their opinions, and head to the polls, I also encourage everyone to not treat this like an immediate life or death situation. A little optimism never hurt anybody, and even in the hard times, it never hurts to find some positives.
