To Vote or Not To Vote, That Is The Question

Just a quick update before I get to the main point of this post. Within the next couple of days I'm going to be changing up my blog. That means there's going to be a name change, design change, everything. This honestly isn't a Christian blog anymore and I want the freedom to express myself however I want to. So just a heads up that changes are a comin'!

Okay, so it's 2016, the world's going to pot (in my opinion) and America is holding it's presidential election. This my third (?) time voting, I believe, and I have never been so conflicted as I've been this election. With the last two elections, I knew who I wanted to vote for, it was a pretty clear cut decision (hint: it wasn't Obama either time). But this time, oh lord, I look at these two candidates and I just want to pack up and get the hell out of this country cause it ain't gonna be pretty. For me, a choice between Clinton and Trump is no choice at all and since I don't think any of the other runners have even a remote chance of winning, I found myself trying to choose between the lesser of two evils.

Growing up, it was always pounded into my head how important it was to vote. "Your vote can make all the difference, never not vote!" But what if there's no right decision? What if having to vote for one of two terrible people just completely goes against your conscious? Then do you vote for one of the other people that you still don't really agree with and who really have no chance of getting elected? Is there really no other choice? Those are the questions that have been plaguing me as this election has been drawing closer and closer. I've been stuck in this rut thinking that I have to vote for one of them and it sure isn't going to be Clinton which leaves me with Trump. Whoopee. Can you hear the lack of excitement as you read this?

Not voting never occurred to me as an option. Like I said, I always figured that rain or shine, it was my civic duty to vote. But recently I was reading an article, and I really wish I had saved it, but the author talked about how they weren't going to vote for anyone in the presidential election. They also mentioned a couple of other people in power, some congressmen I think, who also weren't planning on voting. And one of the things they said just kinda stuck with me. If enough people don't vote, then doesn't that send a message? Doesn't that tell whoever wins the election and the higher ups in government that they really need to work their asses off because they don't have the support of the people? That they have a real issue and gaining that support and working for the people needs to be a priority?

If you have a clear cut idea of who you want to vote for, if you absolutely believe in their policies and that they are the best person to run this country, then good for you! Vote for that person, whoever they may be. But if you're on the fence, if you're voting for the lesser of two evils, then maybe consider not voting. A lot of times people say that silence isn't something you really want, being silent can be considered passive. But also consider that in certain moments, silence can be deafening.