The upcoming presidential election is on its way and not only is it important to vote—but to feel good about your choice when voting.
The political efficacy of this country has always been unbelievably low across most demographics and age groups—especially the youngest voting age bracket, the eighteen to twenty-four year old range.
However, in times of great stress when we may be at war, receiving a domestic attack or threat, we are much likelier to go out to the polls and vote. This is has also become the case more recently with the political gridlock that has suffocated many pieces of legislation that would have been passed had both the president as well as the majority in Congress been of the same party. Millions of Americans feel that politicians are either corrupt through and through or have grown even farther apart from their purpose to serve the people and this country and are instead in it for their greedy designs.
By prefacing this article with that general mindset of the masses, it helps explain part of the reason why this election is highly anticipated and of higher interest than previous elections.
Another reason this election has so much attention not only from Americans, but from the rest of the world, is that there is a chance for another momentous breakthrough for this country in terms of electing another disenfranchised member of our society-- or a chance to elect a celebrity and charlatan that has recently entered the political arena.
My intention for those reading this is to help guide you in not only making the most rational decision you can for the sake of our country's future, but also to be proud of making that decision.
Donald Trump officially accepted the nomination from the Republican party on July 22nd and Hillary Clinton officially accepted the Democrat's nomination on July 26th.
Those are the only two candidates who have an actual chance of winning the election. Gary Johnson, of the Libertarian party, is currently polling at around seven percent, according to national polls, and Jill Stein, of the Green party, is currently polling at around three percent, according to the same national polls.
To think about voting for either of these candidates with the hope that they might win is ridiculous, inexcusable and politically irresponsible. You wouldn't spend a bonus you receive once every four years on a lottery ticket that has an unbelievably low probability of winning so why would you take your precious vote only to give it to someone who will almost certainly not win.
Thinking the alternative is irrational and should not be considered.
What is rational is looking at the choices at our disposal: Clinton or Trump. Now through my eyes there is a clear choice. However, there is a surprising amount hesitation from either side of the political aisle over who to vote for.
Generally, for Republicans, with the exception of the minority section within that group who are die-hard Trump supporters, there is a lot of skepticism about whether or not to endorse and/or vote for Trump. Many Republicans don't feel as though he represents their conservative values accurately nor is he a promising leader in some of the fields he claims to be; business, diplomacy, public speaking, foreign affairs, and the list goes on. This is a very rational concern for them and it becomes somewhat understandable when American voters for the most part vote their color through and through not only in presidential elections but elections for other political offices. There is a sense that they might be betraying their party. There is a counterargument to this fallacy that will be addressed later but it is very important to remember; vote for your country first, not your party.
For some of the Democrats' confusion, it is just as frightening, irritating, and astonishing, for a separate reason. Many young students and professionals who were in support of Bernie Sanders simply cannot let it go that he conceded to Clinton for the Democratic nominee. This is unfortunate because Sanders brought a sense of humanity and genuineness, that voters seldom perceive from politicians and even more seldom perceived from politicians running for office. What is important to understand for committed Democrats and likely college students is that you need to have your brief grief period, and then get over it. Get over it. You are not going to change how our political system works before the election occurs and you certainly should not, not vote for Clinton because of an email scandal or that she simply is not Bernie Sanders. Foolish, liberal-posing, young Democrats are plotting this egregious error in judgment when considering not to vote for Clinton. Do not chop off your nose to spite your face, because if you do, spiting your face translates to the possibility of allowing a slim, yet manageable path for Trump to slither his way into the office of the Presidency.
Two-hundred seventy votes are needed for the world to know who is the next President of the United States. For Trump to have even a chance of winning he needs some upsets in purple states that are currently leaning towards Clinton, but more importantly and sadly, plausibly, is for Trump to win Pennsylvania and Florida. These are potential states that if Republicans that want to vote Clinton but are too loyal or Democrats who have this distorted sense of what makes sense, don't come out and support Clinton, we may see a man that not only has no qualifications to enter said office, but who may inflict damage on ourselves and our international neighbors that could take decades to minify and resolve.
I am embarrassed when I hear people who claim to be critical thinkers and were initially going to vote for Sanders but now are either not sure of who to pick between Clinton and Trump. There are even people who would prefer Trump over Clinton and they consider themselves Democrats. There are others who will say they aren't going to vote anymore because their candidate dropped out or it is pointless. They are wrong. What is pointless is not voting at all.
If Trump is elected and you did not vote for Clinton, you are in part to blame. It is a phenomenon that I am sure will be quoted in history textbooks in the years to come when there were Republicans who came out and embraced Clinton and in the same political saga-- there were alleged Democrats who would not support the ideal, rational candidate who is Hillary and also be happy about it.
It infuriates me when they begrudgingly decide to support her when that is the only logical and ethically-sound decision to be made from the beginning and they should in fact be championing her.
