I’M DONE VOTING FOR “LESS BAD”
I hit a breaking point this morning. Driving home from the gym, listening to Republican senators and House members making their rounds on cable news, I realized something with absolute clarity: I am never voting for “less bad” again. I’m done with it. Not wavering, not softening, not “holding my nose” for the sake of the team. Finished.
Listening to these interviews was like watching wind-up toys. Every answer started with the same reflexive deflection— “But Biden… but Biden…”—no matter what the question was. Healthcare? “But Biden.” Small businesses? “But Biden.” Farmers? “But Biden.” Meanwhile, their constituents are screaming about the economy, inflation, crime, and debt, and these so-called representatives can’t muster anything beyond pre-loaded talking points.
I sat there actually embarrassed for them. Embarrassed for what our politics have become.
Quick story. Back in the early 2000s, when I started a lacrosse program in Southwest Florida, I coached some tough kids—kids I pushed hard, kids who rose to the challenge. At one point I used to call them “kitty cats” when they weren’t giving their best. They showed up to practice wearing shirts with kittens on them. It was hilarious—and they toughened up. Those teenagers from 2002 were mentally tougher than half of Congress today. These politicians are terrified that someone might send a mean tweet about them.
There’s an old saying: sometimes you have to take three steps backward to move five forward. And that’s exactly where I’m at. I refuse to vote for candidates I do not believe in. Not locally, not federally, not anywhere. Spare me the fearmongering about “but if you don’t vote for this one, the communists will win.” Maybe they will. Maybe a political shock is exactly what this country needs to hit rock bottom and finally rebuild the right way.
Because what do we have right now?
A Congress that has accomplished nothing.
A Speaker who caves every time.
A Senate that rubber-stamps debt increases and pork-stuffed spending bills.
Billions sent overseas.
$40 million a week still going to the Taliban.
A national debt growing by trillions.
And Republicans? They get a bill passed out of committee to ban sex-change surgeries for minors… but can’t get leadership to hold a vote. Nothing changes.
Greta Van Susteren asked a Republican lawmaker why Congress is adjourning on December 22nd when they’ve accomplished next to nothing. His answer? “Well, you know, this is a long process… we work hard…” Nonsense. They work hard at talking. At doing media hits. At fundraising. At pretending. What they don’t work hard at is governing.
The truth is uglier:
Republicans and Democrats rely on each other to maintain the spending, the debt, the appointments, the machinery, and the power.
Both sides wanted Elon Musk to go in 2016. Both sides protect the spending pipeline. Both sides punish anyone who threatens the gravy train.
There was a South Park episode during Bush vs. Kerry where the town had to choose a new mascot: a “giant douche” vs. a “turd sandwich.” One kid refused to vote because he said both choices were terrible. The town tried to exile him for not “participating in democracy.” That’s exactly where we are now.
I’m done participating in a system that demands loyalty to failure.
I’m done voting out of fear.
I’m done supporting candidates simply because they’re “not as bad as the other guy.”
If you can’t earn my vote, you will not get it. Period.
