Don’t Vote

I’ve never really been a political guy.

I have voted for two presidents in my life time, and consider the act of voting something I only do when I deeply believe that a candidate will make the world around me better.

I’ve never really been a government guy.

The government, and it’s agencies, have long shown two things: 1) that the saying “absolute power wants to stay in power absolutely,” is true and 2) rarely does anything that government does to affect the macro, seems to change the micro.

I’ve have never been much of a conspiracy theory guy.

The truth is always out there. In fact, it usually lives in the world of simplicity and screams to be known. Yet, humans have always loved stories since the first caveman drew a fish just a little bit bigger than the one he actually caught.

So as these primaries begun to catch energy, I told myself, that this was a year that I would not particpate. That I would sit on the sidelines and steadfastly adhere to my rule that “if you don’t vote; shut the fuck up.”

I ignored The Road To The White House 2016 when there were 17 Republicans debating each other (what the hell was that?) and listening to Democrats yell about something or another, all while knowing that Hillary Clinton would win the nomination, as it was her turn. (Yes, I do believe there are very determined lines of succession within parties.)

Bernie was cool. And all the people loved him. But not enough to vote for him to be president. This cat walked out of the Capital on his lunch hour and told 3 reporters that he was running for president. And the collective response was “Why is Larry David running for president?”

And slowly, it became clearer and clearer that the joke that was Donald Trump wasn’t a joke any longer.

Especially when he called Mexicans rapists and druggies. My brother-in-law is Mexican. Last I checked he, or any other Mexican I know, is neither a rapist or drug mule.

Then he started down the path about Muslims, and LGBT and abortion, and the lies. Jesus, the lies!

How could anyone listen to this cat and think to themselves, “That’s the guy I want to represent my country to the world!”

But 45% of the United States does. Seriously, what is the world we are living in? Who is playing the cosmic joke that people no longer want to embrace goodness? Hey God, It’s Me Margaret. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?

But, back to voting.

This election cycle has taught me something that I never realized. Not voting isn’t simply giving up your right to complain. Not voting is the acceptance of the outcome.

That’s right. It’s your fault that whatever we get, well, we get. There is no washing your hands and walking away, shrugging and exclaiming “Not my problem!” Because it is not only your problem, but you have become part of that problem.

Voting isn’t a right, it’s a necessity. Our hyper-connected world no longer operates without the ability of each voice being heard. Our AR/VR/Chatbot/Robotic world is designed to provide voice.

And if you don’t vote, you are not just opting out of the election process, you are opting out of the future.

No matter how much I wish it wouldn't come so fast, the goddamn future is here.

So I am voting.

I am voting not only for the President of the United States, but I am voting so my voice is counted in what this future we are in the middle of becomes. I want goodness to exist in the world as a standard, just like HTML or MP3. I want to hold my hand out to someone and not have them check the color of my fingers. I want that stupid ass self-driving car to stop in all neighborhoods.

I am voting.

I am voting for the future I want not only to live in, but for the people that follow me to build apon.

I am voting because every voice is now heard, and I never want yours silenced.

Because it will be. Mine has been.

I have voted for two presidents in my lifetime. On Tuesday, I will be voting for the third.

Of course, if you prefer to be silenced, don’t vote.