I didn’t grow up a Democrat. My mother instilled the duty of voting into me, but that was it. We didn’t go to marches, we didn’t donate, and we certainly didn’t canvass or phone bank. In fact, we thought those people were… pretty strange. 

We would sit down at the dinner table one night in September and Dad would push his tortoiseshell glasses up his nose, sigh, and announce who our family was voting for this year. Usually, they were Democrats, though, as a former serviceman who never hit Vietnam, Dad didn’t sympathize much with Kerry. We never questioned, or so I thought at the time. 

I write about this not solely for the purpose of personal meandering, but to add context to my decision to become active. We were and are regular people, not polemics or influencers. 

I’m voting for Biden because he’s the best choice in this race.  Honestly, despite his age, he’s a good option. He’s funded our infrastructure more than anyone since FDR, fought to keep businesses like US Steel American-owned, and wants to make sure that every American adult and child can fulfill their potential through education. 

Further, Biden has the willpower and strength to stand up to people who want to make our country worse.  Christian Nationalists scare the living daylights out of me- they have guns, they support insurrection, and they want to unite their church with our nation’s government. They’re sponsoring people like Trump, Robinson, and Morrow, who pretend hate is the same thing as loving God. 

That’s messed up. 

One of the best things about America is the fact that we can all have different beliefs and still coexist and love each other. We can celebrate our differences, and through them succeed better in everything from business to medicine to having really darn good food. We are all stronger together when y’all means all.

But wait – there’s more. When you vote for a President, you vote for his team. That’s his cabinet picks, y’all. Remember when Trump won last time? His Cabinet was filled with under and unqualified people and the turnover was so high DC looked like a pinball machine. Omarosa… should not have been affiliated with the White House. Neither should Anthony Scaramucci, Betsy DeVos, or Ben Carson.  If you vote for the wrong guy you destroy the infrastructure of our Federal Government. 

How do you want the government to respond if you have an emergency? Do you want them there, helping out immediately, or do you want them calculating whether or not you voted for them? That’s the difference between the parties now. 

It can be hard to switch your affiliation like I did or vote against your party, but sometimes it’s the right thing to do. The GOP is a vehicle for hate now, not the party of John McCain. He would be horrified at the actions of former President Trump, from his decision to monetize the Bible to his adoration of Putin to his classic phrase of “grab them by the pussy.”

But consider- do you want public schools? Republicans have sworn to gut their funding. Do you believe in the right to abortion, even if you would not choose to have one yourself? Republicans are fighting to reduce access further- and putting lives at risk in the process. Do you believe that immigrants should have the chance to pursue the American dream, like our ancestors did? Republicans are running on a slate of xenophobia and hate.  

I refuse to live in a world dominated by the modern Republican party’s values. Not only will we suffer, but the world will. So please join me, and vote Biden.

Oh, and for the record: Mama told me she’s been voting Blue the whole time. So talk to your kids about why voting matters and why you’re picking who you choose.