I’m not qualified to converse on this subject but I feel I must say something.

We are only a short time away from our decision to re-elect Donald Trump or chose Joe Biden to run our desperately divided Country.

For the most part, I’ve always voted Republican for reasons I can’t really put into words. I’ve always been for Capitalism, Freedom, and the American Way. Now that I’m early-retired, I kind of really need affordable health insurance. Since the republicans have not properly addressed my need, I feel let down. Since Democrats are definitely pro-affordable health care, I feel pulled to the other side. Sure this is a selfish reason but that’s what matters to me right now.

The are far more complicated issues here though. We are at a major turning point in the history of our country and the winner of this election may seriously affect the direction we skew toward to create a new timeline.

My plan is to keep an open mind and weigh both sides equally.

I watched the Democratic National Convention. Well, I skimmed through it to watch the speakers. Not so much of the commentators who gave their opinions. I prefer to make my own opinions rather than be persuaded by others. Democrats talk a good talk. They appear to speak from the heart. They seem to mean well for humanity and the planet. Maybe they are serious. There’s a lot of idealism that may or may not be achievable. It sounds good and I like it. How could you not? Still, in reality, we are listening to propaganda so I take it with a grain of salt.

Before I decided to approach this with an open mind, I wasn’t going to watch the Republican convention at all but then I felt it would be a mistake not to listen to both sides.

I watched the Republican National Convention. There’s no doubt the Republicans talk a good talk too. Plenty of propaganda here as well. A lot of what was said made me feel a sense of pride for my country. Pandemic aside, the country really is strong, free, and home of the American Dream. I liked what I heard BUT there was a nagging feeling deep in the background that these speakers were motivated by something more than just their heart. Considering the number of lies we’ve heard from President Trump over the last four years, I’m a little jaded. I would like to vote Republican but I don’t necessarily feel that Trump is the right person for the job.

So at this time, I’m properly bumfuzzled and perhaps that is what they intend to prevent confused people from voting at all. How that helps either side, I don’t know but that’s the scuttlebutt.

There is still plenty of time and upcoming debates to either help me make my decision OR confuse me further. In the end, I WILL be voting for one of them.

Both sides are spewing both Propaganda for themselves and believable conspiracy theories about the other. If you are not confused, then you may not be considering all the facts. I use the word, “facts”, loosely since truth is both relative and indiscernible nowadays.

What I think we ALL really want is to be able to select qualities from both sides. There are many things I like about the Democratic Ideals and there are many things I like about Republican Ideals. The two-party system seems to be more of a hindrance than a benefit. There was a time when the parties worked more closely together. They shared ideals and compromised for the good of the country. Now each side seems to have an agenda and damn the torpedoes! This is not good. Not good at all.

I do want a strong and powerful country. I do want healthcare. I do want freedom for everyone. I do want equality for everyone.

In the end, I’m going to have to make a decision and, as a human, I am likely to make it selfishly. I’m getting older now and have no children. That makes me care less about the future of the planet. After 30 years from now, it can burn to a cinder for all I care. (The sad and lonely side of me actually wants it to happen as revenge on humanity for making me stay this way.)

I do want those 30 years to be in the manner of the American Dream. Tough call.

Unless something comes up that is more important than affordable health care for me, I’m probably going to vote for Biden. At this point, it seems to be the “sane” choice.

Don’t let all the crap keep you from voting. Make your decision whether it is for the good of the world or for the good of yourself. Either way, you HAVE to vote. It does matter. If the election results are too close, we are going to have a shit of a time. Pick your side and make it so.