Why Voting is the Most Crucial Thing You Can Do
The choice is clear, and this election is too important for us to sit idly by.
By Nina Faynshtayn
The Progressive Teen Staff Writer
THE UNITED STATES IS FACING ONE OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL ELECTIONS IN OUR HISTORY. Call me biased, but I think the options are clear: we’re choosing between an extremely educated, experienced, and passionate Hillary Clinton and a misogynistic, egotistical, and ignorant Donald Trump. Regardless of who you agree with, it won’t matter in the long run unless you partake in the election by voting.
The next President of the United States will be responsible for a variety of decisions, which will ultimately determine the fate of our country for the next several years. In fact, they will be in charge of appointing justices to the Supreme Court (four will be selected, due to the loss of Scalia), and shaping our national policy on so many forefronts.
We must carefully consider our choices because they will, in turn, shape America’s choices. Morality is a factor that should weigh heavily on our minds. I could quote something Donald Trump has said, but there is so much to quote that it would probably take up this entire article. Trump has a truly despicable track record of expressing offensive, egregious, and dim-witted comments, both in real life and in the media, about a wide array of people and issues. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is offering so many practical things to the American people: affordability of college, immigration reform, tax relief to the middle class, etc. She is definitely living up to the standards that this country was built upon.
Every. Vote. Counts. Let me reiterate: every vote will assume a position. For every person who does not vote, the other party has a greater chance of winning. There are many undecided voters in this particular election — Republicans and Democrats alike — who are facing difficult decisions based on their beliefs. Everyone who can vote must vote. Quite simply, Trump cannot win.
A Republican family member of mine could not support Trump for moral reasons, and was stuck in between the two candidates. In the end, he decided to vote for Clinton. In fact, of the five presidents that are still alive, zero support Trump.
“Everyone who can vote must vote. Quite simply, Trump cannot win.”
To put it into perspective, if Trump becomes president, he will be responsible for approving and rejecting laws, managing foreign relations (in which he has already proven his incompetence), and serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Ladies and gentlemen, this man will be controlling our nuclear weapons. He has insulted a number of countries and people and stated that he’s a “businessman” (one who has been bankrupted four times in the last 25 years and lost one billion dollars in tax money). He has already proven himself untrustworthy in those fields, so in reality, there is nothing that has truly prepared him for the challenging decisions he will have to make.
Hillary Clinton is one of the most empowering, professional, and accomplished people in politics, which is why I, along with many other people, look up to her. Not only has she been Secretary of State for several years, but she has also been alongside Bill Clinton at every step of his presidency. Her views are simple and realistic, allowing for the economy to grow and the middle class to prosper. She supports immigrants, and every person, for that matter. Most importantly, she encourages people instead of bringing them down, and is always prepared in any situation.
The choice is clear, and this election is too important for us to sit idly by.
Voting is a privilege that every U.S. citizen at or above the age of 18 can claim as their own. They have a chance to become a part of the decision-making process of our government. Voting is what makes America a democracy.
Women had to fight for their right to vote less than 100 years ago, and African Americans had to fight for their right to vote less than 60 years ago. Now that every man (and woman) is considered to be created equal, do not pass up the opportunity.
I’m only 14 years old, a freshman in high school. If I could vote, I would…and so should you.
As you finish reading this brief yet vital piece of information on your computer screen, just remember to vote. It can and will, quite literally, change your life.
