I know you’re tired. Me too. I mean, I have a blog and a Facebook page mostly devoted—for now at least—to the presidential election, and for months I have been determined to do as much as I can to see that Hillary Clinton wins (and perhaps more importantly, that Donald Trump loses). I am a machine. I am indefatigable. I am a monster. RAWR! But also, finally, I am … sick of this shit.
Like you, I have a whole life to which I must attend. And I don’t know about y’all, but I’m spread a little thin right now. I have a full-time job, plus my writing. I am a wee bit deficient at maintaining important relationships with family and friends (and I have the BEST friends, believe me). I am in the middle of a divorce and at the beginning of a relationship that, thankfully, is far more fulfilling than I had expected at this point in my life. My house is one big bad wolf/lazy weekend away from collapsing into a complete mess, and lately I’ve been failing more than succeeding at taking care of myself physically (did you know that stretchy black yoga pants count as appropriate attire for pretty much anything because they absolutely do). My fingernails generally look like I’ve been doing yard work in a war zone.
Why, you ask? WHY? Well, part of it is that I am alternately a tornado of activity and dead lazy just as a matter of course, but another part of it is that this election fills my thoughts and has done for months now. NPR, FiveThirtyEight, HuffPo, MSNBC, CNN and the like are my daily brain food. And a part part of me just wants to be done. DONE.
We are not done yet, though. We’re about to come to the most important part. In five days, those of us who weren’t lucky enough to vote early will be heading to the polls to decide on the leadership of this country.
You might be thinking of opting out at this point. Staying home. Because you don’t live in a battleground state. Because you know Hillary is ahead in the polls. Because ugh, just ugh. DO NOT DO THIS THING. Do not retreat into your comfortable lair with your wine and your Netflix, no matter how tempting it may be. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to gird our loins, to take up the shield of the righteous, the sword of truth. It is (almost) time to VOTE.
So why should you vote, even if you truly believe that because of where you live, your vote will make no difference? Let me count the reasons.
- The new battleground states. Clinton could possibly take Texas this time around. TEXAS. Your vote might count at a presidential level for the first time if you live in one of these states.
- Congressional obstructionism. Look, Congress is filled with a bunch of obstructionist jerks who need to be replaced. Democrats have the chance this year to take back the Senate, which means we wouldn’t have to watch another four years of them doing everything possible to bring government to a screeching halt. They’re not doing their jobs, and they have indicated that if they’re reelected, they intend to continue that pattern, going so far as to suggest that they would not approve ANY Supreme Court justice appointed by Clinton in the next four years. Really? REALLY? Those fucknuts need to GO, and you can help make that happen. At the very least, the more votes for Clinton we have, the less “she doesn’t have a mandate” crap they can try to use as ammunition for obstruction.
- Other down-ballot elections. Presidents are important, yes. But so are your state, county, and local officials, as well as any proposed actions that might be on the ballot. In fact, those elections will impact your life more directly. Find out what they are (and how to vote) here.
- Complacence is the enemy. The only way Clinton will lose this election is if enough of us stay home because we think she’s got it sewn up. It has happened before.
- You owe it to yourself and everyone else. Look, you have tolerated the inescapable suckage so far. If you don’t go vote, it will all have been for nothing. NOTHING. And you voting will serve as an example to everyone around you. Got kids? Got friends or coworkers? Go. Vote. Be an example.
- This is a historic election. Women who were alive when we won the right to vote have been/will be able to vote for the first woman president. If you don’t understand why that’s a big deal, I don’t even want to know you. Be a part of history.
- Hillary Clinton is the most qualified candidate in modern—and maybe all—of American history. She has dedicated her life to public service. She is fiercely intelligent, nearly always the smartest person in the room, and a powerful force for good. Far from being “the lesser of two evils,” she is the best candidate we could have hoped for. She will have our back and other nations’ respect.
You’re tired. I’m tired. Let’s take a day off from all of this. Hell, take several days off. But Tuesday, November 8, we must use our powers for good. Let’s do this thing.
Don’t boo. Vote.
