Paul Bieniek
pbb001@marietta.edu
Every Presidential election, the candidates never fail to proclaim “This is the most important election of our lives.” While I never thought I would admit it so soon after 2008, when our country was in the midst of the Great Recession, the choice our nation will make this Nov. 8 is by far the most consequential in my lifetime. And what worries me is that people, particularly my age, seem not understand this.
The reason for its importance is because of who the major party Presidential nominees are, and what they stand for. One candidate is a civil servant of nearly 40 years who has dedicated her life to working on behalf of the American people. The other is a man who has been caught on tape bragging about sexual assault in terms that cannot be reprinted here, who calls women “fat pigs”, “dogs”, and “slobs,” who slanders entire segments of our society such as Hispanics, African Americans and Muslims, and who is a failed business man who has declared bankruptcy multiple times.
In my opinion, this election should not even be close. And yet, whoever we support we will likely be biting our nails next Tuesday evening. I urge all liberals, moderates, conservatives, and anyone with a conscience who cares about our country to vote for Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8. I am not asking everyone to find Hillary likeable or agree with all of her policies. (Though on her website you can find detailed, specific policy proposals for a wide array of issues.) Hillary was not my first choice, I voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Ohio primary. But you do not have to find someone likeable to vote for them. We’re voting for a President, not a best friend.
Donald Trump has consistently displayed an authoritarian attitude, and proclaimed in his Republican Convention speech that “he alone” can fix our problems. Such an attitude goes against the foundational principles of our democracy. It would be an affront to all those who have sacrificed for our freedom, and dangerous for our society, to permit a man with that outlook to take up residence in the White House. And by voting for Clinton we can prevent that.
Trump is not an ordinary Republican. It speaks volumes that Republicans such as the 2012 presidential nominee, Gov. Mitt Romney, former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Sen. Lindsay Graham, and current Ohio Gov. John Kasich have all refused to endorse him, and in Romney, Graham and Kasich’s cases have publicly denounced him on multiple occasions.
Trump additionally displays little aptitude or understanding of complex foreign policy issues which could bring significant risk from our international adversaries such as ISIS, whereas Hillary Clinton served as our highest ranking diplomat, holding the office of Secretary of State from 2009-2013.
In addition to voting for Clinton, I encourage to everyone to vote for Democrats down the ballot. To highlight a few, former Gov. Ted Strickland is a tireless advocate for worker’s rights and women’s rights who deserves our support for the U.S. Senate. Mike Lorentz, the well-liked Mayor of Belpre, is running for the OH 6th U.S. Congressional seat. State Sen. Lou Gentile is running for re-election, and has done a wondrous job brining, well, jobs to our area, as evidenced by his earning the endorsement of the United Mine Workers of America.
What many people fail to understand is that for many, elections can have extreme consequences, especially for those not fortunate enough to attend a four-year institution. Regardless of you vote for, please do not stay home this election. If you are registered in the Marietta area, you can vote early at the Washington County Board of Elections through Monday. You can find their hours here: http://www.washingtongov.org/dept-boardofelections.htm On election day, vote at your designated precinct. If you’re voting elsewhere, remember to send in your absentee ballot before the specified deadline!
Paul Bieniek is the Vice President of the Marietta College Democrats. Views expressed in this article are solely the author’s and should not necessarily be taken as representative of The Marcolian, its staff, or its adviser.
