When we exercise our constitutional right to vote this November 8 (or earlier!), we need to remember our place in the world. When we vote for the President, Congress and other political leaders in our country, we are helping to decide the future of the United States of America - and the United States of America is kind of a big deal.

Our country is one of the most powerful and most influential countries in the world. Our actions have consequences worldwide. Our policies affect lives outside of our borders. Our decisions send a message.

The world's eyes are on us. As a country, we carry the same type of responsibility that the oldest child carries toward their siblings, a teacher carries toward their students, and a President carries toward their citizens. Whether we like it our not, we are a role model for the rest of the world. Whether it's the type of role model that your mom gets overly excited about you hanging out with, or the type that she bans you from seeing...that's up to us.

We've earned this role model status because of the values that we promote. Freedom. Democracy. Equality. Progress. Helping the oppressed. Defending against tyranny. America - it's time to practice what we preach.

How can we claim to be a country of freedom if not every citizen is treated equally?

How can we promote peace if there is still so much violence and anger among our own people?

How can we encourage people worldwide to stop fighting and come to an agreement if our own leaders are arguing like children?

How can we respect our roots of immigration if we demonize the whole concept?

How can we ask for respect if our leaders don't offer respect to the rest of the world?

Consider these questions when you cast your vote. Hypocrisy has and will continue to erode our credibility, destroy our trustworthiness, give an impression of immaturity and discredit our values. We cannot promote our stars and stripes if our actions put that symbol to shame.

We cannot be successful if we aren't willing to compromise. We cannot progress if we are not bipartisan. We cannot be proud of our nation if we refuse to respect the people around us. We cannot remain credible if we refuse to acknowledge our mistakes. Looking out only for ourselves gets us nowhere.

The world's watching, America. It's your move.