Kevin, I appreciate your honesty. I hope you and Bill will be okay with me sharing a link to a piece published back in September by Isaac Saul, founder of the online newsletter, Tangle, which comes closer to any source I've found at trying to present an unbiased assessment of events associated with U.S. politics. In it, he makes the case for why voting is important even when you feel unable to support either candidate. It made me think harder about the nuances of this topic. Wishing you all the best!
I’m often told “you are wasting your vote” by voting other. However, I feel the opposite. We all complain we want change, then we are scared of changing. I don’t like the polarization from a 2 party system. D’s and R’s win every time regardless. It’s a big country with many nuances, I’m an environment loving lesbian that believes in a woman’s right to choose. I’m also a small business owner that believes in hard work, personal responsibility and the rule of law. I’m tired of social issues dominating politics, governments job should be infrastructure and protecting its citizens and our democracy. I want real leaders in politics, not pandering power seekers.
Universal Health. Yes! For the benefit of every American.
Not for the benefit of Insurance companies. If we have a single payer, we don't need a third party in the transaction. $$ This system is currently what drives our growing medical costs.
I recommend getting informed about the benefits of social democracies. I moved to Germany in 2011 so my children and I could live in a safe place with public transportation that they’ve been riding on their own since age 7, free healthcare (covered by my taxes) w no extra costs at the Dr office. All Rx cost $5. Hospital bills only $10 for internet. We saved at least 20K on orthodontics here too. All this coverage was available even when I worked part time! 2 years maternity leave for moms and dads w/60% pay that you can take until your child (each child) is 18 and return to your job no problem. 6-8 weeks annual paid vacation. No pressure to work overtime. Unlimited sick days. The government pays parents $250/month per child until first degree or job training (~age 26). Parents of newborns get even more. Universities and colleges are free w maybe fees adding up to $500/year at most (but usually includes the mass transit card for unlimited public transportation). We have a social security program much like the US. I pay taxes here (~20%) and file US taxes as well. Food is affordable, restaurants amazing quality. Everyone walks and bikes and are fit. I do not know a single overweight person let alone obese. The lifestyle is great and I have few worries. There are some expenses here that are more than in the US and I can answer any questions you may have about life in a social democracy 🇩🇪❤️🇺🇸
I’ve never been anxious about an election, until this one. I’m a 50 year old male with 3 young children of ages ranging from 10-14, two of which are girls. I dread that they will grow up in a hate-filled and angry world. This is why it matters.
If I’d been undecided, your 7 things item about Trump planning to ask Elon Musk to help with federal spending would sway me. That man made zero good decisions after his purchase of Twitter, making cuts without considering implications for a tech company. Why would anyone consider putting him on a bigger platform? (Other than the quid pro quo for a big campaign donor)
I admit though, I was already going to vote for the party of personal freedom this election. I’m not interested in continuing to see women, gays, and immigrant populations marginalized through far-right policies.
from the outside: the us is broken. 2 parties who value destruction of the "enemy" more than building for the people. no matter who wins it won't get better. politicians should work *for* the people and value "compromise". getting paid by BIG WHATEVER is, as shown by history, not GOOD.
and when i read "more jobs than expected" i think "because most people have to get a 3rd job now because the 2 they already have still don't pay the bills".
I’m on the Trump train. I not only vote for him but his team of people. Can’t beat Tucker, RFK, Jr, Tulsi, Vivek, Elon, and the list goes on. The alternative is living in a socialist country.
See my comment, above. If you inform yourself about the benefits of living in a social democracy, you’ll quickly understand why the US does not have the best system.
As someone who grew up in a social democracy I can’t understand what this fear of socialism is - I think you must mean fear of communism and social democracy is NOT a synonym for communism. That’s like trump saying Kamala Harris is a fascist - GOP are just trying to make the words lose all meaning THATS the scary part.
Harris isn’t bright. Her record as a prosecutor was dismal and dangerous. She was promoted to higher offices based upon her affair with Willie Brown.
She couldn’t win a primary on her own and wouldn’t be where she is if Biden hadn’t chosen her, not for her mental abilities and/or her record, but for being Black when she isn’t. Her own Jamaican father says she’s not Black and she’s identified as Indian when it suited her, so she’s Black if it’s convenient and Indian if you want Indian.
She lacks character…Immediately after she was chosen by Biden, a 24 year old young sportscaster in Ohio, happy for her, very excitedly announced on the radio, that Biden had chosen a “colored” woman as his running mate. Because of the stupid state of the cancel culture world, he was immediately fired. Instead of showing a strength of character by standing up for him, saying he made a mistake in using that word, she let him hang publicly. I thought that showed an absolute lack of empathy, compassion, and caring for a young person she could have saved, professionally and personally. That act (or lack of action) disgusted me.
She’s for fracking if it’s convenient and not for fracking when it’s inconvenient. She’s for open borders when she doesn’t care about the consequences and sees the result as a bigger voting base, never addressing the crime issue or the drain on resources for veterans and the homeless its caused… but now during the campaign, she’s done an about face and claims to want secure borders…..but still is doing absolutely nothing about it (when she could convince Biden to sign an executive order at the very least).
She hasn’t addressed one single issue honestly during the campaign and she’s said nothing about foreign policy. When handed easy questions by the liberal media she answers in her usual word salad refrains that repeat the questions but add nothing of substance to them.
Her biggest campaign issue is fear mongering: that Trump is going to be a dictator (that D card proved to be untrue during his term as President).
In summary, she’s an incompetent and dishonest politician who will do and say anything to get the job she wants.
"As attorney general of a border state and chief law enforcement officer of the largest state in the nation, Kamala cracked down on transnational criminal organizations trafficking drugs and vulnerable migrants across the border. She took on the big banks and held them accountable for preying on homeowners, winning $20 billion for Americans about to lose their homes during the Great Recession. And she went after predatory for-profit colleges, winning a $1.1 billion settlement for students and veterans who got scammed. She made corporate polluters pay over $1 billion to clean up illegally contaminated communities and secured more than $230 million for the people from Big Pharma for their deceptive and dangerous practices.
As a United States Senator, Kamala championed legislation to raise wages and bring down costs for families — on health care, housing, child care, college, and more. She created a new program that invested billions of dollars to expand access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities. She fought for the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water, the freedom to vote, and common sense policies to keep our communities safe. She led the push to invest in our nation’s infrastructure, introducing legislation on clean water, lead pipes, and drought and wildfire resilience — all later passed into law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law." See tihs and more on kamalaharris.org
As a result of her sleeping to get ahead, her lies and her dimwitted answers to even soft ball questions by her own party hacks, I don’t respect her, nor believe any of her self serving/self promotional statements, nor believe anything her cronies put out…..And although you cite her self serving website, which shows accomplishments by others, while giving credit to her, you’ve not addressed even a few of the more/most significant issues NEVER covered by the mainstream (Kamala kissing) media: her cover up of Biden’s dementia, her stance that she wouldn’t change a thing about the last four years versus her word salad campaign promises to change everything, the unaddressed border crisis and, to add insult to that injury, her deafening silence in the face of illegal immigrant rape, murder, and public “disrespect” of the police (kicking and beating them up on the streets of NY and then giving everyone the finger when let out without bail), her lack of compassion and caring about the young man in Ohio, her opportunistic attitude about her minority status/privilege (changing minority lanes) when it suits her, her refusal to acknowledge the anti semitism (her husband should be ashamed of her but I guess the possible political power prize is more important than his pride) on college campuses and by The Squad, etc…ad nauseum. I could go on and on but I have to run to the bathroom to throw up.
Thank you for your comment on Harris and Brown. The message she sends to our girls is troubling - suggesting that using one's body can lead to success. Is this truly who we want in the White House?
Trump isn’t bright. His record as a business mogul was dismal and corrupt. He was promoted to higher offices based on his inherited wealth and bribery.
He couldn’t win a primary without intimidation and his key rival won votes without even being in the race. He exaggerates his mental abilities and his record constantly.
He lacks character…he brags about assaulting women, ridicules people with disabilities, and picks fights with a teenage climate activist who shows more character and leadership than he ever will.
He will cut SS, but maybe not. He will ban abortion but maybe not.
He hasn’t addressed one single issue during the campaign except revenge and fear and how much he’s been mistreated.
He absolutely would have had Jan 6th end differently if it was up to him (except it was a love fest, right?)
In summary he is an immature and spiteful person who does not possess a single trait desirable for a president.
As a life long republican, I cannot support Trump the person. He does not share my values of respecting and putting others first. You cannot make progress or be proud of yourself if you have to walk on the backs of others to get ahead. Trump does not live by any foundational values that I want my grandson to recognize as presidential or as being someone our country can look up to. I voted anti Trump.
No politician is going to be able to please all of us. No politician is going to say everything right or pleasing to everyone's ears. No politician is likely going to be able to accomplish everything promised during the campaign. But hate, division, disrespect, disenfranchisement of any kind should be unacceptable from any politician. Some people think they will be shielded from the effects of these destructive behaviors. But we will all suffer if this mentality should become the rule of the United States.
Sadly, I can’t vote for either candidate with a clear conscience. Neither will make our country better.
If you don’t vote you have no right to complain about the outcome or the IMPACT on your future and those you love. Just sayin’
Vote!
However that is not the only way to play a role in change. We are still "represented" whether we voted or not.
Contact those representative and demand the changes you believe are needed. That is potentially more impactful than your vote.
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
https://www.house.gov/representatives
There's another way to contribute other than to vote. You can become an ultra-billionaire and try to affect the outcome of the next election. ;)
Kevin, I appreciate your honesty. I hope you and Bill will be okay with me sharing a link to a piece published back in September by Isaac Saul, founder of the online newsletter, Tangle, which comes closer to any source I've found at trying to present an unbiased assessment of events associated with U.S. politics. In it, he makes the case for why voting is important even when you feel unable to support either candidate. It made me think harder about the nuances of this topic. Wishing you all the best!
https://www.readtangle.com/yes-you-should-vote-2024/
IF l could vote l'd vote Harris/Walz. (I'm not a US citizen nor do l live in the USA). Quite frankly Trump scares me.
I’m often told “you are wasting your vote” by voting other. However, I feel the opposite. We all complain we want change, then we are scared of changing. I don’t like the polarization from a 2 party system. D’s and R’s win every time regardless. It’s a big country with many nuances, I’m an environment loving lesbian that believes in a woman’s right to choose. I’m also a small business owner that believes in hard work, personal responsibility and the rule of law. I’m tired of social issues dominating politics, governments job should be infrastructure and protecting its citizens and our democracy. I want real leaders in politics, not pandering power seekers.
It’s not about Harris vs Trump. It’s about Progressivism vs traditionalism, I’m traditional and I don’t want to live in a socialist country.
as in "universal health coverage"?
Universal Health. Yes! For the benefit of every American.
Not for the benefit of Insurance companies. If we have a single payer, we don't need a third party in the transaction. $$ This system is currently what drives our growing medical costs.
I recommend getting informed about the benefits of social democracies. I moved to Germany in 2011 so my children and I could live in a safe place with public transportation that they’ve been riding on their own since age 7, free healthcare (covered by my taxes) w no extra costs at the Dr office. All Rx cost $5. Hospital bills only $10 for internet. We saved at least 20K on orthodontics here too. All this coverage was available even when I worked part time! 2 years maternity leave for moms and dads w/60% pay that you can take until your child (each child) is 18 and return to your job no problem. 6-8 weeks annual paid vacation. No pressure to work overtime. Unlimited sick days. The government pays parents $250/month per child until first degree or job training (~age 26). Parents of newborns get even more. Universities and colleges are free w maybe fees adding up to $500/year at most (but usually includes the mass transit card for unlimited public transportation). We have a social security program much like the US. I pay taxes here (~20%) and file US taxes as well. Food is affordable, restaurants amazing quality. Everyone walks and bikes and are fit. I do not know a single overweight person let alone obese. The lifestyle is great and I have few worries. There are some expenses here that are more than in the US and I can answer any questions you may have about life in a social democracy 🇩🇪❤️🇺🇸
Better not take your "social security" because that will support socialism.
I am very sad that our country cannot find a better choice. I cannot vote for any presidential choices. None even represent the term presidential.
Thanks to Elizabeth Beggins above for this great link https://www.readtangle.com/yes-you-should-vote-2024/
I’ve never been anxious about an election, until this one. I’m a 50 year old male with 3 young children of ages ranging from 10-14, two of which are girls. I dread that they will grow up in a hate-filled and angry world. This is why it matters.
My vote is not a vote for, but an anti vote. I can not in good conscience vote for Trump, ever.
The only power we have for the future of this country is our vote- I understand how you feel but don’t give up!
If I’d been undecided, your 7 things item about Trump planning to ask Elon Musk to help with federal spending would sway me. That man made zero good decisions after his purchase of Twitter, making cuts without considering implications for a tech company. Why would anyone consider putting him on a bigger platform? (Other than the quid pro quo for a big campaign donor)
I admit though, I was already going to vote for the party of personal freedom this election. I’m not interested in continuing to see women, gays, and immigrant populations marginalized through far-right policies.
from the outside: the us is broken. 2 parties who value destruction of the "enemy" more than building for the people. no matter who wins it won't get better. politicians should work *for* the people and value "compromise". getting paid by BIG WHATEVER is, as shown by history, not GOOD.
and when i read "more jobs than expected" i think "because most people have to get a 3rd job now because the 2 they already have still don't pay the bills".
In 1972 the American people voted Richard Nixon as President. I think we deserve better.
Trump doesn’t want to be President, he wants to be King and would fill his cabinet with loyalists to him not the Constitution.
I’m on the Trump train. I not only vote for him but his team of people. Can’t beat Tucker, RFK, Jr, Tulsi, Vivek, Elon, and the list goes on. The alternative is living in a socialist country.
See my comment, above. If you inform yourself about the benefits of living in a social democracy, you’ll quickly understand why the US does not have the best system.
As someone who grew up in a social democracy I can’t understand what this fear of socialism is - I think you must mean fear of communism and social democracy is NOT a synonym for communism. That’s like trump saying Kamala Harris is a fascist - GOP are just trying to make the words lose all meaning THATS the scary part.
Harris isn’t bright. Her record as a prosecutor was dismal and dangerous. She was promoted to higher offices based upon her affair with Willie Brown.
She couldn’t win a primary on her own and wouldn’t be where she is if Biden hadn’t chosen her, not for her mental abilities and/or her record, but for being Black when she isn’t. Her own Jamaican father says she’s not Black and she’s identified as Indian when it suited her, so she’s Black if it’s convenient and Indian if you want Indian.
She lacks character…Immediately after she was chosen by Biden, a 24 year old young sportscaster in Ohio, happy for her, very excitedly announced on the radio, that Biden had chosen a “colored” woman as his running mate. Because of the stupid state of the cancel culture world, he was immediately fired. Instead of showing a strength of character by standing up for him, saying he made a mistake in using that word, she let him hang publicly. I thought that showed an absolute lack of empathy, compassion, and caring for a young person she could have saved, professionally and personally. That act (or lack of action) disgusted me.
She’s for fracking if it’s convenient and not for fracking when it’s inconvenient. She’s for open borders when she doesn’t care about the consequences and sees the result as a bigger voting base, never addressing the crime issue or the drain on resources for veterans and the homeless its caused… but now during the campaign, she’s done an about face and claims to want secure borders…..but still is doing absolutely nothing about it (when she could convince Biden to sign an executive order at the very least).
She hasn’t addressed one single issue honestly during the campaign and she’s said nothing about foreign policy. When handed easy questions by the liberal media she answers in her usual word salad refrains that repeat the questions but add nothing of substance to them.
Her biggest campaign issue is fear mongering: that Trump is going to be a dictator (that D card proved to be untrue during his term as President).
In summary, she’s an incompetent and dishonest politician who will do and say anything to get the job she wants.
"As attorney general of a border state and chief law enforcement officer of the largest state in the nation, Kamala cracked down on transnational criminal organizations trafficking drugs and vulnerable migrants across the border. She took on the big banks and held them accountable for preying on homeowners, winning $20 billion for Americans about to lose their homes during the Great Recession. And she went after predatory for-profit colleges, winning a $1.1 billion settlement for students and veterans who got scammed. She made corporate polluters pay over $1 billion to clean up illegally contaminated communities and secured more than $230 million for the people from Big Pharma for their deceptive and dangerous practices.
As a United States Senator, Kamala championed legislation to raise wages and bring down costs for families — on health care, housing, child care, college, and more. She created a new program that invested billions of dollars to expand access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities. She fought for the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water, the freedom to vote, and common sense policies to keep our communities safe. She led the push to invest in our nation’s infrastructure, introducing legislation on clean water, lead pipes, and drought and wildfire resilience — all later passed into law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law." See tihs and more on kamalaharris.org
As a result of her sleeping to get ahead, her lies and her dimwitted answers to even soft ball questions by her own party hacks, I don’t respect her, nor believe any of her self serving/self promotional statements, nor believe anything her cronies put out…..And although you cite her self serving website, which shows accomplishments by others, while giving credit to her, you’ve not addressed even a few of the more/most significant issues NEVER covered by the mainstream (Kamala kissing) media: her cover up of Biden’s dementia, her stance that she wouldn’t change a thing about the last four years versus her word salad campaign promises to change everything, the unaddressed border crisis and, to add insult to that injury, her deafening silence in the face of illegal immigrant rape, murder, and public “disrespect” of the police (kicking and beating them up on the streets of NY and then giving everyone the finger when let out without bail), her lack of compassion and caring about the young man in Ohio, her opportunistic attitude about her minority status/privilege (changing minority lanes) when it suits her, her refusal to acknowledge the anti semitism (her husband should be ashamed of her but I guess the possible political power prize is more important than his pride) on college campuses and by The Squad, etc…ad nauseum. I could go on and on but I have to run to the bathroom to throw up.
Thank you for your comment on Harris and Brown. The message she sends to our girls is troubling - suggesting that using one's body can lead to success. Is this truly who we want in the White House?
Thank you! Please read my answer to “Julie” who thinks Harris walks on water.
Trump isn’t bright. His record as a business mogul was dismal and corrupt. He was promoted to higher offices based on his inherited wealth and bribery.
He couldn’t win a primary without intimidation and his key rival won votes without even being in the race. He exaggerates his mental abilities and his record constantly.
He lacks character…he brags about assaulting women, ridicules people with disabilities, and picks fights with a teenage climate activist who shows more character and leadership than he ever will.
He will cut SS, but maybe not. He will ban abortion but maybe not.
He hasn’t addressed one single issue during the campaign except revenge and fear and how much he’s been mistreated.
He absolutely would have had Jan 6th end differently if it was up to him (except it was a love fest, right?)
In summary he is an immature and spiteful person who does not possess a single trait desirable for a president.
As a life long republican, I cannot support Trump the person. He does not share my values of respecting and putting others first. You cannot make progress or be proud of yourself if you have to walk on the backs of others to get ahead. Trump does not live by any foundational values that I want my grandson to recognize as presidential or as being someone our country can look up to. I voted anti Trump.
Moral vs. amoral, inclusion vs. revenge, all-serving vs. self-serving -- enough said.
No politician is going to be able to please all of us. No politician is going to say everything right or pleasing to everyone's ears. No politician is likely going to be able to accomplish everything promised during the campaign. But hate, division, disrespect, disenfranchisement of any kind should be unacceptable from any politician. Some people think they will be shielded from the effects of these destructive behaviors. But we will all suffer if this mentality should become the rule of the United States.