It's finally here, Election Day is now upon us!
Which means it's time for you to get your bootay to the polls and vote if you haven't already.
I hear this all the time: "one vote doesn't matter anyway, so I'm not voting."
One vote doesn't matter?
Are you crazy?!
You can bet your bottom dollar that your vote matters, because each and every vote holds much more power than you may think.
And if you don't speak up, then you're allowing someone else to speak for you.
There's so much at stake in this election.
Whether it be taxes, education, women's rights, foreign policy, healthcare or the economy - so much is on the line. You have the right to choose who you think will best serve your interests, and not only who you think will be the better President of the United States, but who you think will better represent your State.
The President has many limitations, so picking the best Representative and Senator can make a world of difference in the policies that are put in place going forward.
I believe it's every citizen's duty to vote each and every voting year. It's YOUR responsibility as an American citizen to take part in this democratic process that so many have fought so hard to have. But with that said, please, PLEASE be an informed voter.
Low information voters are just as bad as non-voters, in my opinion.
I know reliable information can be hard to come by these days, because there are tons of lies and junk to sort through, but here's what I suggest:
1. Visit each candidate's website and read up on the issues and where they stand.
2. Take some of those issue and google them. Use keywords about the issues and type in fact check
with them. Some great websites that you can go to directly are politifact.com and factcheck.org.
Here's another good website too: november6th.org. Research issues that you think are the most
important to you and the whole of the country.
3. Make your own informed decision, based on evidence you found. DO NOT vote for a candidate
or party just because that's what your parents told you to do. You have your own mind, so use it!
I know that not all of you will agree with me on who should be the next President of the United States, but that's not the point here. Even if you're voting for the other candidate, it still matters to me that you vote. Because as I said earlier, when you don't vote, you're allowing someone else to speak for you. And with the amount of money in politics these days, that's something you never want to happen.
Citizen's United has to be one of the worst decisions ever made by the Supreme Court. It allows corporations to donate an unlimited amount of money to candidates and wealthy fundraisers are now able to drown out our voices with their huge campaign contributions.
As Elizabeth Warren put it so fantastically:
"Corporations are not people. People have hearts, they have kids, they get jobs, they get sick, they cry, they dance. They live, they love, and they die. That matters. That matters because we don't run this country for corporations, we run it for people."
So don't let big corporations drown out your voice. Vote and get everyone you know to vote too.
I don't know about you, but I sure as hell don't want some billionaire deciding the fate of our country with only the top 1% in mind. I want a country that is for 100% of the people.
Voting is the one fundamental thing we all do (or should do) as Americans.
So if you do only one thing today, make sure it's voting.
Your voice can change the world.
And if you need just a little more inspiration, Will Ferrell has an offer for you! ;)
Happy Election Day, friends!
Hi I'm a new follower from the GFC blog hop. Your blog is lovely i can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeletewww.akachymecindy.com
this is so true. it irritates me so much when people don't vote!
ReplyDeleteNewest follower from the GFC blog hop, hope you can come by and follow back :)
ReplyDeleteErica
www.ericastartwalking.com
Couldn't agree more! I am so thankful to live in a country where I have a voice, however small.
ReplyDeleteWill Ferrell definitely got me to vote ;)
ReplyDeletexo TJ
Good post. It's also important for people to NOT vote for a candidate just because their parents wouldn't like him.
ReplyDeleteGREAT post. I can't help but feel irritated with people who are perfectly able to vote but don't. Now following from the twitter/fb/blog hop :)
ReplyDeleteBre @ Peacoats & Plaid
Hi nicole! Stopping by from the facebook, twitter, and blog hop. I'm now following along! :)
ReplyDeletewww.thislifesbeautifulmoments.com
Hi Nicole! New follower from the blog hop today! Thank you for hosting. Great info in this post too.
ReplyDeleteHolly
http://notdonegrowing.blogspot.com/
Great post!! Your blog is adorable. I am so glad I have met you; meeting you from the hop by the way. I am so sad I missed the ornament swap though, I've been hunting one for like a month. :( I hope you are having a great Thursday. Thanks for co-hosting! ♥ Stephany
ReplyDeletewww.stephanyhyder.blogspot.com
Hi Nicole! I'm following you via the twitter. facebook. blog hop.
ReplyDeleteYou can find me here at Hurley Love
OH I love that you posted such a rousing post in support of voting. How lucky are we to live in a country where we can voice our opinions this way and affect change in our sweet country.
ReplyDeleteAloha,
I just wanted to you to know how incredibly sweet it was to have you at An Aloha Affair last week. I hope you'll join me and our team of beautiful bloggers this week for an even bigger affair. I'll save a spot just for you...
Cheers,
Nicole
localsugarhawaii.com