Like nearly everything else in life, voting is a ‘use it or lose it’ proposition. And your choice in November is stark. That’s because one choice removes your choice.

Yeah, here’s the long version.

Every election there is something more fundamental than leaders on the ballot: it’s your civic power. Showing up to vote means you value your ability to self-govern, and you recognize that majority can rule effectively. It also demonstrates you see the United States as “US,” and can tolerate letting others’ agendas win, because in 4 years, you’ll have another chance to govern differently once again.

If you abstain from voting, even in protest of the candidates, you are ceding your power to self-govern. Literally. You’d be saying your voice – when it actually counts – doesn’t matter. Hating on candidates by hating on democracy is not equivalent. I experience democracy as the best form of governance the world has come up with by far. It gives me a chance to move mountains, by moving policy. It gives you that opportunity too.

In just a few short months, we could on purpose, or by apathy, elect one candidate who doesn’t value playing the game of democracy as it is. He’s such a compelling entertainer, he’s bewitched many by framing HIS win as “them losing their civic power.” Don’t fall for it. It’s YOU losing yours. He’s promised to take your right away, and he’s got a team poised and ready to do it.

But, why can’t we have someone younger/better choices, etc.?

I don’t care why we don’t. I know why: apathy and abstinence from actual participation: good people not running for office, smart people not getting out the vote, creating policy, or speaking up. What we have now is Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump. We set up a duel and this is what we are dealing with. There’s not much time to pivot, so let it go. It’s a friggin’ duel.

So…

I hope you VOTE, even if a write-in. By showing up, you indicate to you that you care about yourself in our current form of government. You’d be voting YES to democracy, and hopefully, that vote will count toward citizen votes mattering beyond 2025.

I also hope you learn, but not from pundits. Which policy positions will actually help you? It’s so easy to get distracted by some random complainer on the border, a troll, railroading talking points, or arrogance. I hope you think through for you: do you want your wives, daughters to have private health care? Or the government to interfere? Do you want protections like Affordable Care Act? Do you want social programs like public schools and social security? How about food stamps and medicare? Maybe just better roads and capped prices? How about protections for our air and water? What matters to you? Vote for that.

Below I’m making the case for what I see are the two biggest issues on the ballot in Nov 2024. And I hope you encourage your ‘abstinent’ friends get out to participate, no matter what. I know who I want to win by a landslide, but honestly, even more than I want to see Biden win, I want democracy to win HUGE.

What’s really on the ballot