How I Choose to Vote as an Average American
Who I Am
I am an average American.
I say that, because I am.
I grew up in a middle-upper class family. I said the pledge of allegiance every morning in school. I learned about the constitution in school but somehow memorized none of it.
I never liked talking about politics because I felt stupid and uninformed. I felt like I never knew enough. We never talked about it at home and that was okay with me.
I don’t really understand the stock market, I’d rather watch movies than the news, and spend most of my free time focused on having fun with family and friends.
However, when I went back to school to get my Master’s in Public Administration, I found myself in a government class. It was the hardest class in the world for me. I really had to work to understand the checks and balances, structure, and principles that govern our country.
I graduated with my Master’s, grateful for the class, but more focused on my niche of nonprofit management and improving the lives of older adults when I graduated. And that was good with me. Stick to what I was good at, ya know?
But, as one does, I continued to grow up. I see more of what it takes to make good communities. I’ve seen what city councils look like, the effect of organized volunteer organizations, chamber meetings, etc. I’ve seen that oftentimes the difference between a good place to live and a not so good place is the people who are in power and the leadership they provide.
The initiatives they are passionate about. The service organizations they create.
Good communities are created by good people.
I believe the same principle applies on local, state, and federal levels.
I have realized that if I don’t take responsibility for my opinion and personal right to vote, other people will. Meaning, if I choose to remain uninformed or say “well it will be what it's going to be” I give up my ability to help good prevail and have good people in charge.
I believe the atmosphere of politics is such that no one wants to get involved because it has become so contentious to do so. To avoid contention, we do nothing. I don’t think that is right. I think being involved and talking about politics is necessary to keep those in power who have our benefit in mind.
In truth, I don’t know all the details of this election. That's not to say I haven't tried to get informed by reading multiple articles from both sides and different news sources. I have watched both debates. I've read the policy points of each candidate. And that's it.
I haven’t followed the news daily, I haven’t talked about it with all my family and friends. All I’ve done is try to get a basic viewpoint for myself. And I think that's enough.
In a podcast I recently listened to, it pointed out that in our society, we often feel we need to be perfect before we can do anything. We don’t. I don’t have to know and understand politics perfectly to be involved - and neither do you.
So, with my imperfect, yet informed, knowledge, here is what I see.
Who I Will Vote For
I see two candidates who I don’t love.
I don’t love or agree with a lot of the values of the democrat party regarding abortion, LGBTQ, etc.
I don’t love Trump’s hateful attitude, deceit, and violence in his past administration and comments.
I’ve always been a Republican….
So what to do? Some people have said, “I just can’t vote for either one” and I understand the sentiment. However, I strongly believe that is not what your voting power should be used for.
So, what do you do? I’m not sure what you will decide, but here is what I’m going to do.
I’m going to vote for Kamala Harris.
I will vote for her for a variety of reasons (I listed out pros and cons below if you are interested), but this is the number one reason - she is not Trump.
She is someone who is educated, has a long-standing career in politics, has been seen to make effective changes, has worked closely and been mentored by other people who have governed intentionally, she is a woman (and think that example is needed for women today), she is a collaborator and works with other people and alliances, she is working towards helping families and individuals, etc. She is not perfect and neither is her campaign, but she is capable and has a strong administration behind her.
I also know she will not be running her administration with “my way or the high way” approach. It will be influenced by those she works with, checked by other parties and viewpoints. She will govern with more of the values of democracy and justice than Trump.
I will link different articles on Trump and his behavior below as they sum it up better than I can. I personally just do not see how he is someone we want to look up to as a country. To trust with so much power. His disregard for morals, dignity, respect, and justice are irrefutable. His personal life and treatment of women, employees, and others lacks any type of respect.
I don’t think I will always vote this way in the future, but I feel this election is different because of who Trump is and the effect on the Republican Party he has had. I hope one day to vote Republican again as the more conservative values line up better with my personal and religious values.
Not with Trump administration though. Not this election.
Why I Vote
I am just an average American. The things I care about are my family and my day to day. I don’t need to be super involved in the world around me, watch the news, etc. I don’t really have a ton of interest in it and enjoy my life and the little world I live in.
However, I KNOW my little world is influenced by a greater one. How much my groceries cost. The safety of my neighborhood. Etc.
I know this country was created to be good. To lead with justice. To not let any man get too much power. To benefit the American people.
I don’t love all the things of Kamala Harris’ platform, but I will take them over the deceitful and hurtful attitude and actions of Trump.
Your vote actually does matter. It always does, but especially on a close election like this.
Your decisions of who you vote for locally will have a larger effect on you and your community. Your kids. Your neighbors. Your friends.
Your presidential vote will have an effect on the attitudes, values, and direction that we head for the next four years.
I just ask that if you, like me, feel you don’t know enough or it’s not important to get involved, you reconsider and vote with intention in this upcoming election.
- Lindy
Tips: Make plans to vote. Vote early, coordinate with your spouse to watch kids, hire a babysitter, schedule time during your workday, etc. There should be no scheduling or availability reason you don't vote. Make it happen, don't make excuses.
Pros & Cons: (personal stance)
Harris:
Cons:
Abortion, LGBTQ, handouts. I don’t agree with her views and direction she is headed on abortion. I am pro-life and after going through three years of infertility, this is something I am passionate about.
I don’t agree one her stance on LGBTQ… I think there needs to be more protection for children and teens against corrective surgeries and the overall attitude towards gender confusion.
Democrats are big on federal aid. With my husband being in medical school, we benefit from that and it’s something I’m grateful for - hoping and knowing we will pay it back. I know it doesn’t do that for everyone and has negative effects on the economy.
Pros:
Kamala Harris is an educated and normal human being. She went to school, became a lawyer, has a long history in politics, and has worked with and been a part of effective changes and issues throughout her career.
Views on gun control are what we need. How can we justify the shootings and weapons that are allowed today?
She’s made effective changes during her career so far and has been seen to know how to work together with other people to make change.
Not only is she a qualified candidate, but she is also female. Having that type of role model for women and girls is extremely needed and something I admire.
Trump
Cons:
Destructive attitude. The majority of those who worked with him in his first term were either fired or left due to their inability to work with him and his attitude. Think of that person in your group project in high school or college…. Times ten.
Inability to let power go. Walz had the best argument in the VP debate. When you lose, you lose. You shake hands and you go home. Trump couldn’t do that and instead turned to violence on Jan 6. Think of President Washington and what our country was founded on… not that.
Corruption. Intent on having people in his cabinet and administration who will say yes. Those who said no to him or kept him in check are not who will be in for a second term.
Rhetoric. Especially in the last year, reading through more of his comments and his viewpoints, he says whatever he wants. Name-calling and leaving biting, rude, underhanded, disrespectful comments to others, about others, all over the public sphere. The way he talks about women, families, etc. shows no regard for general well-being. He has changed the rhetoric of politics and our nation for the worse.
Has been called a fascist by many leaders who worked closely with him
Is willing to separate immigrant children and parents
Tariffs? Living right by the Canada border I have no idea how this would benefit our country or my community… prices would be so high.
Pros:
- More power for the Republican party and those that are generally more conservative in it.
Pro-life, kind of. Still, a power that will not be in the hands of those who deserve to have it.
Resources:
I think this was well thought out and well written.
ReplyDeleteAbout government financial help, I know what you mean. I think there are some instances where there is potentially too much given (which can be debilitating in the long run), but... I also have been the recipient of help-paying for college. I definitely needed help paying for school, which allowed me to earn my degree in education and become a teacher. In AZ when we had Henry, we were eligible for Wick, and we really needed the grocery help at that time for our family. It's hard when people abuse the system. (This is not limited to poor people on welfare, as there are wealthy people who shift their money around to not contribute) I knew people as well though that were getting government money for unemployment and were not trying to get a job at all, but playing video games all day. I think that there is never going to be a perfect system in our current world regarding this. In our church, we do give fast offerings to help those in need and have a welfare system for those in need. Jesus taught over and over to take care of others, and to help the beggars and to help the widows, and fatherless (there are a whole lot of fatherless in our country alone), etc...we, as a people, try to honor this as best we can. 🙂 God will judge.
About abortion-my dad was adopted. He could be because his biological mom kept her pregnancy. My grandma had 4 adopted kids, and fostered others. My great grandmother adopted 1 and fostered 51 other kids and babies in her lifetime. I don't agree with abortion as afterthought birth control. IMO it is wrong. It is very sad and bothersome to me, especially having had a miscarriage. However, this is not the only scenario. 2 examples- my sister who was a wife and mother of 2, had a molar pregnancy. It had to be removed for her safety. It's not even a real baby, but a growth posing as such. Yet, medically, it was listed as an abortion. A friend of mine who I grew up with, was pregnant with twins and lost one during the pregnancy. To remove that fetus/baby, it was medically listed as an abortion. If it was not removed, she could've or would've eventually died of sepsis. (The other twin survived, thankfully.) In our church, general authorities have said that abortion is "allowed" (meaning not considered a sin I think) in cases of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is at risk, or if the baby is so severely deformed it will not survive regardless. So even though I do not believe in or support elective abortion, I can vote for someone who I think could or will make a good president, governor, etc...even if, or including those who want to protect girls and women from these other possible, horrible instances where they have to make decisions no one would wish on anyone.
In regards to elections, I feel like this topic is a red herring used every election to pull voters one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteI am a registered republican too. From my observation, the republican party has changed quite a bit over recent years though. Honestly, many of those in power in it, remind me of what Elder Bednar talked about this conference. In general, though I find virtues and vices in each political party, I did not vote for the republican candidate last election, nor will do so this election.
I appreciated President Oaks talk in April 2021 (his career was in law and government). The talk is called, "Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution" for reference.
"...There are many political issues, and no party, platform, or individual candidate can satisfy all personal preferences. Each citizen must therefore decide which issues are most important to him or her at any particular time. Then members should seek inspiration on how to exercise their influence according to their individual priorities. This process will not be easy. It may require changing party support or candidate choices, even from election to election. Such independent actions will sometimes require voters to support candidates or political parties or platforms whose other positions they cannot approve. That is one reason we encourage our members to refrain from judging one another in political matters. We should never assert that a faithful Latter-day Saint cannot belong to a particular party or vote for a particular candidate...We testify of the divinely inspired Constitution of the United States and pray that we who recognize the Divine Being who inspired it will always uphold and defend its great principles. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Thanks for sharing your opinions Lindy! It takes a lot of courage to share your political beliefs online, especially as some will take offense to the beliefs of others.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I would like to share that my vote is for Trump for many reasons, including some that you shared in your post. Abortion, the economy, illegal immigrants and the safety of our country, and the health of my family are some strong factors leading me to choose Trump. One thing that you failed to speak of is that when we are choosing a president, we are not choosing the person, but what they stand for. Unfortunately I have seen Kamala flip flop on her policies and lie about previous statements she has made too many times. I don’t know where she stands, but I know where she has stood the last 3.5 years and I haven’t liked it.
One of my biggest fears for our country is to lose our freedom, especially our freedom of religion.
Recently at a rally, as Kamala was speaking someone in the crowd shouted, “Christ is King.” Not only did she respond by saying, “You’re at the wrong rally” but volunteers removed these people from the rally. This is very different from Trump who consistently praises God and states that Jesus is the only one who can save us!
I’m going to share a link with you to a broadcast given by members of our church, mostly politicians, that share why this is actually a choice between freedom and captivity. As I fight for our freedom to worship, for the family as God designed it to be, and for our country, I’d be remiss to not share it with you. I highly recommend watching it as it was truly inspiring for me. Follow the link and then register and it will allow you to watch the recording.
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/play/egrMXTS2ln4Njntm82rj7LbJcWvrchOIg6jNeAf9tvbSgEffFGlgO_N9ewtsdxVPgIZwSQudEZb6NtY.7fVICRmYopLrmdoI
I think another thing we fail to recognize is that the debates and a lot of the media is left wing biased. I read through the articles you shared, and of course they are going to speak poorly of Trump, just as a Conservative site would speak poorly of Kamala. The name calling, and cruelty comes from both sides.
I have many other ideas I would like to share regarding some of the thoughts you listed here, and if you are ever open to talking about it in person, I would love to chat!
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1985/04/reverence-for-life?lang=eng