The 2016 Presidential Election: A Hotbed Of Political Crisis [Opinion]

I am writing this with utmost neutrality in mind. Earlier in this election cycle, I made numerous social media posts in support of Bernie Sanders during the primary.

I have come to the conclusion that we have entered a full-on political crisis. Neither of the two presidential candidates at the forefront are an answer to the dire issues facing our nation at this moment in history.

In blue, you have Hillary Clinton. Electing her would be a milestone in American history in regard to women and their (rightfully) expanding role in the political actions and stances of the U.S. government; however, it is this same individual that (like most Democrats nowadays) is beholden to special interests and large corporations, who have pledged vast sums of money to support her campaign (and therefore, their agenda if she is elected); most disturbingly some of the same investment banks responsible for the relatively recent financial collapse are among her top donors, whose funds she has received from as far back as the 1980s.

Hillary has claimed that this money and donor base will not affect her decision-making… I don’t believe it (The Inquisitr’s own Reno Berkeley recently reported on her likely support of the DAPL (Dakota Access Pipeline). In addition, her hawkish foreign policy stance will ensure that we remain in perpetual warfare with increasing tensions and a further unfurling situation in the Middle East. Bernie Sanders supporter (and Green party voter) Susan Sarandon has stated her concerns with Clinton’s neoconservative support in the below interview with BBC Newsnight. There’s much more to say but I’ll leave it here so I don’t write a novel.

In red, you have Donald Trump. There are many reasons he has garnered the support he has, yet a few main motivations are racial scapegoating/broad-stroke Islamophobia (a broad detailing of his anti-Muslim sentiments and absurd concerns with sharia law threatening the U.S. are in this Washington Post article). He perpetuates the illusion of the “American Dream” and false meritocracy that leaves minorities and the poor in the gutter (Allianz CEO Oliver Bäte speaks of the dead dream in an open letter published on CNBC), social stances and economic propositions that would further damage the social and financial integrity of our already-ailing country (broad tax CUTS?? This will do nothing to shrink the deficit, and the wealthy/corporations who will benefit from this will not use their additional savings to raise wages or add more jobs; they’ve been doing perfectly well with their current business model of layoffs, tax evasion, cutting benefits (the few that are left) and broader mentality of rampant, selfish greed, sociopathic disregard for humanity’s future and the natural environment.

Where does this leave me, a millennial voter participating in the first major election of my lifetime? I can give neither my vote. Hillary leaves much to be desired; while she may be the traditional “lesser of two evils” there would be minimal improvement to the already depressing status quo. Her coziness with corporations will ensure that nothing will be fixed regarding the malfunctioning machine of capitalism and all its catastrophic flaws. Her support of fracking and other environmentally atrocious (yet PROFITABLE) practices will prevent us from making necessary inroads toward the repair our planet so desperately needs.

I can’t vote for Trump because I do think women have the right to choose, they are FREE (this is supposed to be a FREE country, remember that) to make decisions that involve their bodies. Look no further than the below interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews where Trump responds in the affirmative when questioned whether women should be punished for having an abortion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Jpoecf0xY

If you are of Muslim faith, you are NOT a guaranteed terrorist and should not be deported simply due to your race or beliefs. A wall should not be built between us and Mexico. Tax breaks will WORSEN the economic situation (we’ve already learned that from the Bush tax cuts and Reaganomics that sparked the immense inequalities we are only now waking up to as a public (originally published in AlterNet, republished in Salon).

Black people all over this country continue to be persecuted and broadly locked in prisons for minor offenses, where they are subjected to subhuman treatment (link contains graphic content) and perform menial tasks for companies like Victoria’s Secret for mere cents per hour.

We need to return to isolationism. Our military action has caused nothing but chaos and ruin, widespread fear and hatred toward our people. We created ISIS by engaging in senseless wars that created a power vacuum in a conflict-filled region, with no obvious purpose other than to make a bunch of defense companies rich (article in The Nation) and to expand our twisted empire and appalling economic policies to countries where they have no place. Not to mention the despicable treatment toward our veterans…..

It’s no mistake that OVER 50 PERCENT of your tax dollars have gone to the military in recent years. Did you know that? The French pay only slightly more in taxes and they get free healthcare, school lunches that actually resemble food, free tuition, and a bunch of other amazing things that equal a dignified life that we have to pay extra for here. We don’t call them taxes, but crippling tuition fees, obscene healthcare co-pays, skyrocketing medication prices… these are huge costs we need to pay just to SURVIVE and have a standing in life (thank you to Michael Moore for detailing this in his recent documentary Where to Invade Next, which I highly recommend).

There are so many issues we face. They are all SOLVABLE. This election has incited nothing but fear, hatred, disagreements, and NO PROGRESS. Turn off the mainstream news. Dig deep and listen to the voices all around you. Unless you consult sources from all over the political spectrum you are being misinformed and, much worse, brainwashed.

Think critically and FOR YOURSELF. Don’t let other people tell you what to do or think, you already know the stances that are decent and RIGHT FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING. To be American is to have Black, White, Transgender, Muslim, Hispanic, and many more unique brothers and sisters…. We’re in this TOGETHER. United We Stand.

My girlfriend and I voted early for Dr. Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka; call us what you will. My vote isn’t a wasted vote. In the reliably blue state of Illinois in which I currently reside, the electoral college will hand this state to Hillary regardless. Brave people all over this nation are voting their conscience and showing growing support for the Green party and their progressive positions. Jill’s campaign is facing a media blackout worse than Bernie Sanders, yet you can watch their ongoing rallies on the Jill Stein Facebook page.

Green party voters are being shamed by Hillary supporters who have fallen victim to Trump-driven fear-mongering. People who have chosen to vote Green are all about continuing to build an ongoing movement which was brought to light by Bernie Sanders. If the Green party breaks 5 percent of national support this election, they will receive nationwide ballot access and $8 – $10 million of initial campaign funds for the next presidential election in 2020.

There are more than two choices. Good luck to you all this coming Tuesday, inform yourself as much as you can, VOTE, and may our country and its people start to move in a brighter direction.

[Featured Image by Alesandro14/Shutterstock]