At Least We Have A Choice!

VOTE.

Or Don’t. It’s your choice.

I voted today. 

I am not a huge fan of politics. Blue Party, Red Party, Green Party, Purple party, gold Party. I’m a member of the in-between party, the party that wants to take bits and pieces from every party to create my own candidate because, honestly, I don’t particularly like any of the options laid out for me. And I know I’m not alone. 

During my senior year of high school, our class split into political parties, and the whole high school had to vote for the group they liked best. Each party made so many unrealistic and impossible promises to the underclassman. Some people would say whatever it took to get the votes. I can’t remember which party I was a part of or who won, but really, it didn’t matter. The most important thing I took away from the whole experience is politics are unpleasant, and politicians can lie. Politicians are the human equivalent of Instagram. They present their best selves and see how many likes they can get on their picture-perfect lives, but really, we don’t have a clue who they are beneath their shiny filters.  

As I read about candidates, I recognized some of them painted a pretty idealistic image of total bullshit, giving the idea that they can do more than they can. I voted for one person simply because they admitted that what they wanted wasn’t possible, so they’d try for the next best thing.

Maybe I’m a cynic, but I don’t believe everything I’m told. I’m also not a conspiracy theorist. Most political issues are messy, with a million degrees of complications, but often they are presented as yes or no questions—black and white. Or, in this case, red and blue. And all the in-between people resolve to choose which option they can live with, but at least we have a choice. 

No matter the outcome of this election, I am grateful we have the right to vote. I am thankful for many of the positive changes I’ve seen in my lifetime. As for those changes I’m not happy about, well, at least we have a chance to change them. I am grateful I have a voice and the ability to make a difference. I’m glad I could do my research and vote my conscience. Despite the problems our country faces and the many yet to come, I’m still grateful to be an American.