Today I voted. And perhaps for the very first time, both my spouse and I held the Democratic party line like our life depended on it. We researched every candidate on the 4 page ballot to see if any had an affiliation with MAGA or the man in the White House. If so, we said no thank you. But before you raise your ire and denounce us as purely partisan, let me tell you we weren’t always this way. In fact, our past ballots reflected a variety of parties, based on candidates character and their voting record. Hard to even fathom such a practice since the Republican party was kidnapped by such extremists. You know, those people who decimated and defecated within our Capital under Trump’s orders. You know, those same people the President pardoned. They are still doing his bidding aided by a partisan Supreme Court, Senate, House of Reps, DOJ, and endless cabinet positions, each sycophant saying yes, yes, yes to his inane craziness.

What did you vote for the last election cycle? A war, which was not sanctioned by our congress, that has upended relationships around the globe? A U.S. national debt that has surged past $40 trillion? The more than 8,500 children detained by ICE (trapped in horrific for-profit centers)? A President (and his family) who are directly and blatantly profiting from the building and expansion of Data Centers and unchecked AI? Total U.S. consumer debt reaching an all-time high of $18.19 trillion, driven by an uptick in credit card and auto loan balances, with families having to rely on high-interest credit to cover their daily needs? The current record-high gas prices? Food prices that are 2.7% higher than they were last year? The national median price for an existing home reaching an all-time high in August? High, higher, highest. All of this has happened since the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue took office. I am sure most Americans didn’t vote for any of this. But here we are.

[Everything in the list above can be researched. If facts are your thing, start with the most reliable FactCheck.]

Years ago, my spouse and I happily voted for a Republican Governor, an Independent Congressman, a Democratic Senator, and a Republican State Representative, all on the same ballot during the same election. These were all good people, who, in our opinion, stood up and risked their careers for causes that were critical for their constituents. We heard them debate. They were coherent and factual. Most attended church or school functions or local parades and some even shook our hands. We loved our eclectic ballots. But that was before a felon was elected and busied himself with the denigration of the people’s house and everything our ancestors worked to build. Those who held clean air and clean water and open spaces sacred. Those who funded public libraries and public schools. Those who built bridges across every divide. If you review history you can find achievement on both sides of the aisle, although currently, “Some Republicans Are Finally Realizing They Wrecked the Middle Class.” Alex Thomas, after hearing an interview with Vance wrote, “Vance admitted the Trump administration botched the Epstein files and suggested (before directly denying) that Israel is influencing America’s behavior in the Iran war. It was all destined to be largely unsurprising stuff—that is, until Rogan made a boilerplate attack on socialism. Vance picked that moment to offer a complaint that decades of Republican economic policy has left Americans suffering and that (most horrifyingly for Vance) the policies of his own party have “created a generation of kids who kind of are attracted to socialism” (The New Republic). Yes, we do care about Universal Health Care and Inalienable Rights for all. Is that socialism? Don’t tell those who created such social programs as Medicare, Social Security, Veteran’s Benefits, Worker’s Comp, ect.

Today I voted. With an eye on our children, our grandchildren, our planet. This is a pivotal moment to consider all of them and everything that made you proud to be an American. If you can remember you will know how to direct your ballot. If you have forgotten drag out a history book and read Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address,” Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “First Inaugural Address,” Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” or Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union.” Their words will remind you why you love this country and how lucky you are to still have the opportunity to reset the course of our grand nation.