Decision 2024 and Forward

Decision 2024 and Forward.

Do you have a hard time making decisions? Can you quickly decide on a course of action? Do you avoid it completely?

I can only speak for myself, and it all depends on the situation. Some things are easy to determine while others may take me days. 

This week I am posting my Tuesday Blog a day early. While I make a concerted effort to remain neutral about politics, Tuesday is election day in the United States. This is important enough for me to lay aside my normal and speak to your hearts.

As an American citizen we are granted the privilege to cast our vote for the person we deem best qualified to lead our country for the next four years. Our ancestors fought and died for us to have the freedoms we enjoy. We may not like the options before us, but we must vote.

If you participated in early voting, then you have made your decision. Good for you! For those of you who have not, I encourage you to visit your local polling center to vote. 

Our country is divided, and things continue to look bleak. Relationships are strained, even broken and the hostility I see towards segmented groups of all kinds saddens me.

Both parties have failed us miserably, but we still must vote. I have voted both Democratic and Republican since 1980 when I first had the right to vote. It has never been about a party for me, but what the candidate said they stood for. 

Here are the things I expect to see a candidate concerned about:

1. Healthcare
2. Equal rights for all 
3. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
4. Education
5. Economic growth, housing costs and jobs
6. Military support – those serving and veterans
7. The planet – solar energy, climate change
8. Protecting the country from terrorism

These are the basic needs of an American living in our country. We all deserve healthcare, social support, freedom to worship and be who we are, love who we love, get a great education, have clean water and air, support those who serve our country and protect us from those who want to harm us.

That is a huge bill to fill, but I do believe if you read the constitution, our founding fathers felt the same. We have fallen far, far below these standards, yet I STILL look for these basic tenants in a candidate.

So, what do we do if neither candidate fits the mold?

Again, I can only speak for myself. I look to see if a candidate supports the top five. I make the best judgment I can based on what I know and pray for God to guide them. If they have held a previous office or position, what did they vote for? Fight for? Not what they said in an interview or debate. What have their previous actions shown to be true?

Beyond that, that is it. I cannot control Congress, or the House or the President. But I can control ME and try to effect change where I live with the people I encounter daily. We must start somewhere. It must start with me and you!

FOR THOSE WHOSE CANDIDATE WINS ON TUESDAY:

Do not gloat. Your candidate won; celebrate in private. Your victory may be someone else’s heartache.

Stop posting your political beliefs on social media if it has caused damage to your relationships. Just stop.

Pray for your President daily. You wanted him/her to lead our country then pray for them and hold them accountable for winning your vote. 

FOR THOSE WHOSE CANDIDATE LOSES ON TUESDAY:

Do not post your frustration, anger, disappointment, etc. on social media. It doesn’t change the outcome, and no one cares what you think. Just stop.

Find your representative and stay in their face when major decisions are on the agenda. Make sure they understand what the people in their district need and want. You can easily find this on your state government website.

Pray for the President daily. Even if you do not like him/her.

I know many people who have been stressed and full of anxiety over what may happen. I understand, I do, but my words for you are this: we will be okay regardless of the outcome on Tuesday. People who lived through the depression, war times, etc. felt as though life would never be the same. However, life moved on, and we are still here. 

Decisions. Hard but necessary. Go vote but remember, we are okay.