We are less than a week before the most crucial Presidential election of our lifetimes. I wish it was hyperbole. Believe it or not, many are still unaware of it.
Yes, mind-blowing!
Somehow, I’m finding out – there are a few people who have no idea what it is at stake for the upcoming election, or even who they are voting for… and some are not even sure if they are registered to vote. It is both disappointing and extremely disturbing. Further, a lot of folks do not know the policies each candidate supports or advocates for. Ignorance is not bliss, and I intend to shed some light onto this issue.
First off, let’s answer some basic questions:
- Who is eligible to vote in the United States of America? Only US Citizens who are adults and registered to vote, and do not have other impediments such as being convicted criminals are able to vote in the US Elections.
- Can illegal aliens vote in the US election? No, they cannot. Not even Permanent Resident Aliens (also known as “Green Card” holders) are eligible to vote. And having a Green Card is a prerequisite for attaining a naturalized US citizenship. It is a very arduous process that can take several years, and again, it is required in order to become a US Citizen. And yes, even becoming eligible to become a citizen takes many years. So no, illegal immigrants cannot vote, when even legal immigrants who passed the vetted process of having a green card cannot vote. So, if you hear about illegals being able to vote, then you know it is total crap. How do I know? I’m also a naturalized US citizen and it took me years for each step to take place, and even to reach AND maintain eligibility.
- Can people offer money in exchange for votes? No, that’s illegal. Even if you were going to vote for that very person, the fact of accepting money for that vote is indeed illegal for the person paying the money and for the person receiving the money. There are several statutes about that, and it varies from state to state, but generally speaking if you are being paid for casting a ballot that is highly illegal.
- Can you (or should you) wear any campaign paraphernalia at a voting station? No, that is also not permitted, and a poll worker will likely ask you to remove that item before you cast your vote. Just don’t do it. Whether you love MAGA or Harris, the way to show your support and devotion for your candidate of your choice is by voting. By the time you enter the polls the campaigning is over.
I can go on, but hopefully that covers some of the basics many folks are confused about. Voting is a privilege, and it has a lot of impact no matter if you’re in a swing state or not. Staying home or not voting is something you should never take for granted. Not to get mushy, but a lot of people have fought and died for giving people this privilege that so many squander. And today, more than in any other election before, knowing what you’re doing when you cast that ballot is more important than ever.
There is a narrative that we are in a fight between “good and evil” – as though it was a religious connotation. The reality is that we are in a fight between the freedom you already enjoy and authoritarianism. To put it succinctly, if the candidate’s rhetoric is divisive, it is authoritarian, and if it is unifying it is what America truly represents. The former will try to frame our nation as though it was a third world country, or a nation in decline. It is not true, and it is intended to awaken a visceral feeling of fear and anger towards one another. That’s how authoritarians galvanize power.
The 2024 presidential candidates
Sadly, a few people living under a rock still don’t know who is in the ballot for this presidential race. But remember, the race is not only between presidential contenders, but there are also governmental races (for Governor in many state), and many other congressional and local elections. Do you know who everybody is competing on your ballot? Would you be able to identify them on a height line? More importantly, do you understand their policies AND their opponents’ policies?
If you answered NO to any or all of these, you need to get hot and figure all those answers before you go and vote. There is nothing, an authoritarian love more than a blind fool who will cast a vote for them without really understanding what they are voting for. Think about it like signing a blank check to somebody who you like, but don’t really know much about what they say – despite any warnings your loved ones give you about this person.
Elections are like that, but the blank check is not about money (although it will cost you money too - one way or the other), but it is mainly about your freedom of choice. And if you think you’ll be ok because you “supported” the authoritarian, then you are too naïve. Authoritarians care about you until they get in power, once they do you become immediately disposable, no matter how much merch, time, or devotion you’ve poured onto this individual.
The Presidential Tickets are:
For the Democratic Ticket
Incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris running for President and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz running for Vice President.
This ticket has been endorsed by Democrats, Independents, and Many Republicans, which include a significant number of Ex-MAGA.
For the Republican Ticket
Former President Donald Trump running again for President, and Ohio Senator J. D. Vance running for Vice President.
This ticket has been endorsed mainly by MAGA Republicans.
On this article I will not tell you who to vote for, that is your decision. But I can tell you why I am not voting Red. And I’ve written a lot of articles as for why in good conscience I cannot endorse Trump or Vance. And to be clear, if Harris and Vance had anywhere near the same baggage, I would also not vote for them. Period. But what I would urge you to do is to really understand what Kamala and Trump are really fighting for on this race.
As I said, Kamala is making it very clear that she is fighting to UNITE the United Sates of America. Trump for better or worse still has rhetoric that has an “us against” them message. For example, Kamala says that she would welcome and embrace MAGA folks voting for her. Trump and many of his followers have vulgar merchandise that includes but it is not limited to literally depicting urination on anybody non-MAGA.
If that is your thing, I don’t know what to tell you. That sounds the opposite of UNITED States of America. And to be honest, at this point we are past the point of subtleties. Find out WHY so many Ex-Ultra-MAGAs have voluntarily broken ranks with Trump. They are very vocal about it. You can hear that from their own mouths.
Is Kamala Harris perfect? No, but nobody is perfect. However, Trump would cast himself as flawless – despite the obvious shortcomings. His and her shortcomings are not a reflection of you. Each person makes their own decisions, and who to follow and vote for is a very important decision that you’ll have to live with for the rest of your life. Think about that when you hear the stories of why so many ex-Ultra-MAGAs regretted voting for Trump. You owe it to YOURSELF to know this kind of stuff before you step into the place where you’ll cast your vote.
If after you hear from them you still like whomever you like, at least it is YOUR decision. Good or bad, you’ll have to live with it. And it is likely this decision will affect many generations after you are long gone. Therefore, showing up just “Knowing your side” is not only reckless, but also unamerican. If you dislike Trump or Harris, hear from their own mouths their policy and their platforms. Assess their character objectively.
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Your Vote makes THE difference
Yes, I understand that the focus a lot of the time is on the swing states, and their votes red or blue are taken for granted. But the reality is that swing states change from election to election, and a lot of times it is really based on the number of “registered” voters for either party. But to me that is a gross oversimplification. Why? Because people might be registered to one party and still vote for the opposition.
That is indeed the case that can be made for how a lot of the ex-Ultra-MAGAs are breaking ranks with Trump and endorsing Kamala Harris. This is indeed a very important factor, because the mass exodus from MAGA is also creating a vacuum on those who remain to be more vocal, or even more emboldened to say or do whatever seems to resonate with those who remain. The remarks at Madison Square Garden this past Sunday are a clear example of what I mean.
Like or dislike Trump or Kamala, you might have realized that the country seems more divided than ever before. And this has to stop. When the USA is divided, only adversarial nations win. These adversarial nations have overtly called for extermination and strikes against our country. This geopolitical situation is dire and has been getting worse. There is a reason why some of these adversarial regimes were not being “overtly provocative” when Trump was in office. Trump policies were convenient to them. Once Biden got into office, the policies were inconvenient, and the geopolitical situation changed.
I’ve written a lot of articles about geopolitics, so I won’t delve into detail on this particular article. However, I will say that we have plenty of issues that are not easy to resolve, and that the experience and character to prevent major armed conflict will not be solved with mean tweets and name calling. And for anyone who thinks the contrary, they have just demonstrated they do not really understand the strategic process for geopolitics. We are moving fast into a varsity level situation where a united America will either make us swim or sink.
When you cast that ballot, you must remember that you have to understand everything about each candidate on that ballot AND their opposition. If you don’t, you’re not helping America. Voting is a privilege, and a huge responsibility. Your voice, however small you think it is, makes a difference. Yes, even if you’re outside Pennsylvania or any of the other swing states. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones understanding what you like or hate about MAGA and what you like or hate about Kamala – objectively.
At the end of the day, you want to cast your ballot to achieve what we are all about. And that is that WE are the UNITED States of America. And anybody who advocates to divide us is de-facto aiding the adversaries who want to end our great country from being free. Final thought, remember that those who wish to divide us don’t care about your loyalty. To an authoritarian, even the most obedient acolyte is disposable, especially if they are inconvenient in any way. Vote Wisely! HLC