We Have Now Entered the Binary Phase of The Presidential Election

[MineralMan]

Yesterday's Democratic Convention finalized our choices. Between now and Election Day, we all must make a choice. Each of us must decide how to cast our votes. One of the two major party candidates will become President next January. It is a binary election.

Every voter has a couple of other options if he or she chooses not to vote for one of those two choices, however. Voters can not vote at all or vote for some minority third party candidate who has no chance of victory. Voters who make one of those choices, though, will not affect the outcome of the presidential election with their votes.

Every four years, we choose an outcome that is the sum of all the actions taken by the candidate who becomes the President. Some actions affect short-term issues. Others, however, affect things that linger on far longer than the President's term of office.

As we move toward November, we should all consider the outcomes that will ensue based on who wins. We should consider them very, very carefully. Presidential elections are all about outcomes. They are not about absolutes of political philosophy. They are not about whether the nation will simply be one or another thing. They never are about that.

In this country, the presidential election is our only real national election. All voters can participate in determining who becomes the President. No candidate will ever reflect 100% of the goals and principles of even one of the voters who participates, except perhaps the candidate him or herself. We are too diverse a nation, politically, for that ever to occur.

As you think about the November election, consider the issues you think are most important carefully. Ask yourself which of the two major party candidates is more likely to help move the nation closer to your goals for those issues. Then vote accordingly. Make your choice based on outcomes, both short and long-term.

Think long and hard about those things. If you do, your choice will be obvious. Vote for the outcomes you prefer, even if they won't be 100% realized. No candidate will match your goals completely. That is impossible. One of the two candidates will, however, be a better choice. Vote for the better of the two candidates, and encourage those you know to do the same. Make the best choice you can in this binary situation.

That's my opinion. Thanks for reading it.

[Orsino]

1. No. We've entered a critical phase in which candidates need our vote.

They will do their best not to have to change trajectory much, but if anyone is hoping for big policy shifts, now is an excellent time to lobby your favorite nominee for new commitments. If enough of us speak together, we will be hard to ignore.

I would recommend lobbying both nominees, but we all know that Trump will not listen, is incapable of understanding, and doesn't give a fuck about us.

(But also re-read the OP, and recall if you need reminding that it's one or the other come November.)

[MineralMan]

2. I never bother lobbying Presidents or presidential candidates.

I'd rather spend my time lobbying legislators at both the state and federal level. I have met them, chatted with them, and there's a better chance my efforts will be noticed. Presidents? Not so much.

[Orsino]

3. We see how well that works.

I don't mean to disparage you in the least--just want to emphasize some new paradigms that need paradiddling. Every one of us that wants big change had better be redoubling libbying efforts at every available level, and shouting out windows in between.

I'l try to take my own advice.