17 Thoughts and Feelings About November

Keeping with the theme of the election thus far, I’m going to say how I feel and largely ignore what I’ve learned in college. I’ve even made it a list because I’m a ~millennial~

I’m voting for Hillary Clinton and I love President Barack Obama.

But:

1. I love Barack Obama not because he had a perfect presidency, but because in his eight years he has faced immeasurable odds and truly changed the direction of this country.
2. He has not done everything right. I hate that the US military uses drones. I despise it. I believe calling out the Obama administration as well as the military for the murder of innocent civilians is not only appropriate, but necessary.
3. Obamacare needs some work. It does. It isn’t there yet.
4. I can love my President and criticize his policies and practices that I don’t agree with. It is my duty as a citizen of a democracy to advocate for what I believe is best for myself and for others.
5. On this same wave, I can vote for Hillary Clinton knowing full well that I will criticize her actions and advocate for improvement and accountability on her part.
6. I will never forget nor forgive when Hillary silenced a Black woman who was advocating for a better and more fair country.
7. Both Obama and Clinton are moderate democrats that need to be pushed left by more liberal senators and congressmen.
8. I plan on voting not only for the presidential election, but EVERY election. If you truly supported Bernie Sanders and wanted a revolution, vote out local and state level policy makers who aren’t working for you. That ground swell movement can happen behind anyone! Make it happen in your town, or your state.
9. I will constantly push for heavier consequences for big corporations, and I will criticize anyone and everyone who is linked to Wall Street money, especially those who choose personal gain over the betterment of society.
10. I will never agree with the bombing and invasions of other countries, especially the bombing of civilians.
11. I will never forget when Hillary tried to pander to voters using hot sauce, snapchat and her womanhood. I won’t forgive her for it either. Every time she panders, I’ll boo, or turn join in turning it into a hashtag that she’ll have to address.
12. I will probably always hate Bill Clinton. That saxophone and southern accent bought him too much good faith. He is a trash man, and I hope Hillary dumps his no good creepy vegan ass.
13. The Crime Bill of 1994 will not be forgiven or forgotten and in the next four years we must remain vocal about changing the policy Hillary helped create. I will never accept lawmakers who push racially targeted laws, or who allow unfair practices* to remain in our criminal justice system. *by “practices” I mean “incredibly unjust, unequal treatment of people across the United States, particularly POC and people from lower socioeconomic levels.”
14. I wish Bernie could have delivered all of what he campaigned for, and I wish it could start in January of 2017. But that's not what's going to happen. For those just joining in to US politics, we’ve got a long, sometimes slow, and all the time frustrating battle ahead of us. One that will happen through policy changes, leadership changes, and restlessness.
15. Write in votes aren’t going to do anything but weaken any real chance of change. Jill Stein is not a viable alternative for Bernie Sanders, and couldn’t win this election if she got every independent on board. (Which she won’t)
16. If you really felt the bern, you must realize that you are going to need a leader you can fight against, who you can demand more from, who you work with. You need a leader who will listen to people like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
17. I’m voting for Hillary Clinton, not because I’m a woman, or even because I think I could love her and support her like I do Barack Obama. I’m voting for Hillary Clinton because I think my voice, and the voices of all Americans, are important, and must be heard. I believe that the right to challenge our government to do better, and to make the U.S. home for all people, is one that must used daily. Hillary Clinton’s administration will listen, it will react to criticism, it will take notes. Think about it. In this campaign, has Trump reacted to critique in any way other than denial or rebuttal?

When you vote in November, you are deciding if your voice will be heard on that day, and every day for the next four years. We live in a democracy. Maybe it’s not truly working for us. But it doesn’t hurt anyone to vote. People fight for this right all over the world. Many Americans still have to fight for this right. It is your civic duty to vote. Choosing not to, or voting without real thought is irresponsible.