My Rant: Vote your Way. Ignore the Haters.

I know it’s not a popular take, but I am not a fan of the two-party system. I tend to vote for whoever I want, not whoever you or the majority of folks want.

I agree that it is a better system than most, at least we have a couple of options, rather than being forced to bend a knee to a king, queen, or dictator.

Voting is an honor and privilege. Even though things might not go your way, voting is crucial for democracy.

That being said, there are more than two types of people in the U.S. I am not a Republican or Democrat. I agree with both parties on a couple of things, but I choose to be my own man because their views and way of doing things do not line up with my own.

In my opinion, this year has been tame compared to 2016 and 2020. Those years broke up more families than I have ever seen.

Society has become a place full of keyboard warriors that cheerlead for their favorite political party and if you are on the opposite end of the spectrum, you are dehumanized and ridiculed.

It seems that the mute and unfollow button has become a powerful tool in lowering the exposure to many that regurgitate nonsense from political commercials.

There is nothing wrong with voicing your opinion, but there is something concerning when your opinion sounds programmed.

When you feel the need to dehumanize or demonize someone because of their political view, that is an energy that I will never understand. This may be because I was raised to love my neighbor as myself.

I do miss the days when I had no clue who was voting for who. Now everyone tries to impact each other's vote.

The most crucial thing is that you vote.

Again, I loathe the two-party system and strongly disagree with how the main parties operate, but voting is definitely important.

Thankfully, if a person wants another option, it is on the ballot. It is often called a “wasted vote”.... I understand the principal of that statement but some people don’t want to settle for the “lesser of two evils.”

Chances are that we won’t see another party receive a majority vote in our lifetime, but I have always dreamed that we have more legitimate options.

That day may or may not come. Until then, I will be voting and I encourage you, my fellow Americans, to get out and vote your way.