The election news is getting fairly awful; and I’m going to be happy to go on a news blackout for at least several days once the election has been called. I got a message from a reader who said that she objected to writing about elections that take place every four years when important elections happen every two years, at least. She is absolutely correct (and thank you, Anne, for that)! Senators are elected every six years, Representatives every two. I don’t know what’s going on for you locally with your state, county, or city politicians, but you do and can vote accordingly.
Think for a bit about the school board in your local area. Much has been said lately about school boards. Many are from conservative groups who object to some book content or topics. Do you agree with book banning, or do you oppose it? Vote for a candidate who supports what you want to see in our schools. Does what happens in these issues affect you if you don’t have children? Do you have nieces and nephews? Grandchildren? Children that you care for? Or do you possibly just care about the society that you live in?1
Voting rights are a huge issue right now. Whatever you believe about election integrity, you should be voting to support your position. Don’t know what you believe? There are lots of videos you can watch to find out what seems true to you, and time should be taken to be informed. While I want everyone to vote who is able, I also don’t want to anyone who is able to vote to be kept from doing so. If my voting rights are important, so are other’s voting rights.
If you don’t think that a single vote matters, remember the vote that Trump had to end The Affordable Care Act? It all came down to one vote from one Senator. Your one vote matters.
Don’t know where you stand on an issue? There’s news on-line, YouTube, and other informational outlets. If you tend to listen to one point of view, try listening to another.
My final thought is this: If your candidate is rude and hateful to others, they will be to you, too, given an opportunity. There are a number of ways to express yourself, so opinions should be delivered with facts, and without demeaning the other parties. Again, if someone demeans their opponent, you will be next in line if you need to ask questions.
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1 I heard, very long ago, that The Handmaid’s Tale and The Last Temptation of Christ should be avoided as anti-Christian. It was said with frustration and anger, but when asked what specifically was offensive, the person speaking said that he hadn’t read the books, but… There should never be a “but,” either it’s been read or not, or someone is just doing what a young man I knew used to call “making noisy.” I found one of the two books offensive and didn’t finish reading it, but the other, The Handmaid’s Tale, was a book I couldn’t put down. I wonder what I might think if I tried to read it again.