The Scene staff
Midterm elections are right around the corner, and I can’t help but feel nauseous.
During any election, some people get stressed out, anxious and grumpy, spreading negative energy across the nation. This year, everywhere I turn, someone is talking about the importance of the Nov. 6 election and the impact it will have on the presidency.
Republicans now run both chambers of Congress. Some would argue that they’re just rubber-stamping what the president wants and declining to investigate, criticize or provide any other oversight, per their constitutional duty.
The election will affect the presidency because, if Democrats took over the House or Senate, they would be a “check” on Donald Trump’s power.
That’s a valid point. The election is important. But some people have gone crazy, turning into evil trolls and becoming dismissive of other people’s feelings and opinions.
Just like myself a few years ago, many people don’t understand the impact of midterm elections. Americans aren’t voting for president or vice president. The people who fill those offices are selected in general elections every four years. Trump was elected in 2016, so he won’t be up for re-election until 2020.
But voters are making many other important decisions in midterm elections, which take place two years into each president’s term. They’re choosing all U.S. representatives, some U.S. senators, some governors and many other state and local officials.
Sometimes voters in midterm elections are also deciding on bond issues, propositions and other public-policy matters.
U.S. senators serve six-year terms, and those terms are staggered, so only one-third of the U.S. Senate is up for election or re-election at any one time. In Missouri, the big race this year is between incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, and her Republican opponent, Josh Hawley, the state’s attorney general.
I know that this election will have a big effect on the rest of Trump’s presidency and the 2020 presidential election. And I know I must vote, but I have a hard time generating any enthusiasm for it.
I hear empty promises being made by politicians, and that makes voting seem more like a chore than a civic duty.
During all election campaigns, candidates are asked about issues affecting our nation, including the U.S. economy, immigration, justice reform, trade, health care, abortion and gay rights.
Debating the last two is mind-boggling to me. Why is an adult’s decision to love another adult up for anyone else’s business? We don’t question heterosexual rights. And I’m really tired of the pro-choice verses anti-abortion debate. You should be able to do what you want with your own body.
I have conflicting thoughts about elections. I don’t believe most of the points argued address what is really important to human life.
Look at the food we put into our bodies. Whenever I go to the grocery, I’m amazed that there are so many options. And whether food comes in a can or box, whether it’s organic or not, that can have a long-term effect on your health.
This makes me ask, “Why is it legal to put sugar in everything?” If health care is such a big issue, why not enact laws to make sure our food isn’t poisoned? Why do we have organic and non-organic produce? Why can’t we all eat the same food without giving the rich the upper hand, leaving the poor to suffer?
The reason why this change would never take place is that the people in power wouldn’t benefit from it. I could give many other examples of things that bother me, but I won’t.
I honestly believe that if our government, lawmakers and other leaders cultivated a culture with “quality” of life in mind, the world would be so much more productive, and people would live lives of dignity.
Instead, most politicians and others in power focus on “quantity” of life, including how to make America more profitable and how to make themselves richer.
The system needs to be improved, and we should practice quality over quantity as a nation. It’s an uphill battle sometimes, but I will continue to do my duty and vote.
From a theoretical standpoint, voting is important because we get to engage in the function of government, helping to elect leaders who will make a difference.
I’m encouraging everyone to print out a sample ballot, do their research and vote on Nov. 6. Uber is offering free rides to polling places. You can find the location of your polling place at showmevotes.civicengine.com.
Remember, many of us (including women and blacks) didn’t have the right to vote for generations. People fought to give us this right. Take advantage of it to honor their hard work and dedication.