Stuck ‘between a rock and a hard place’

U.S.A. -- If there’s anything on which both Republicans and Democrats can agree this election season, it’s that America definitely deserves better.

After more than a year of extensive and exhausting campaigns that have reached millions of voters, the general consensus of the population seems to be that both the free-wheeling, billionaire business tycoon known as Donald Trump and the hot-button-issue candidate typically found embroiled in (and seemingly quite comfortable with) controversy known as Hillary Clinton have brought voters to a new low in 2016.

And with campaign slogans like “Make America Great Again” and “Stronger Together,” it would seem that the US is due for something better as both parties hearken to days passed and have made improvement the primary focus of their respective campaigns.

However, my argument is this: Do we truly deserve better?

Let’s face it -- do we? Are these candidates not demonstrative of the times?

A candidate for president (or any office for that matter) should be a true representative for the people and should therefore be elected in accordance with what the people want (‘Murica!!!).

And, although this system isn’t flawless and sometimes allows corrupt or unqualified candidates to land positions of leadership, I think many will still agree that this process (a.k.a. Democracy) is the best possible system the world has ever produced.

Communism. Marxism. Socialism. Dictatorships -- these are all examples of efforts made when the peoples of our world took a big swing-and-a-miss.

As Americans, I think we can all agree that Democracy, Liberty and Capitalism remain unchallenged, and that the use of these systems has lead our nation to being the greatest in the history of the world, offering real freedom and opportunity to people of all nations.

Therefore, and with the spirit of presidential candidacies still in mind, I argue that, when our two candidates are each concluded to be contending for the worst choices in US election history, Democracy is simply (and justly) providing to us the nominees that best represent our current modus operandi (method of operation) and overall time in history.

In short -- Democracy is simply doing its job.

In my opinion, our addiction to cell phones; our 10,000 cozy little television stations with millions of brain-washing advertisements; our participation trophies; our student-loan crises; our unhinged, politically-correct mindset; and our attention deficit disorder have permanently thrown the greatest country the world has ever known into a great, black abyss where it seems like just about anything could come along and shatter our way of life.

But there is another issue that undoubtedly claims its fair share of the blame for our would-be candidates.

Indeed, an issue of the utmost importance exists: voter turnout.

What I simply do not understand is the fact that almost everyone I meet has formed some semblance of an opinion on each of our elected politicians without either (a) researching the candidates and their qualifications or (b) voting come Election Day.

However, let’s look at some numbers that may shed some light on why political upheaval is allowed to run rampant through American politics:

With more than 350 million people living in America, one would think that the people’s choice would truly represent the country, but with only 54.9 percent of the voting age population (VAP) turning out to vote, how can we be truly certain that the correct candidate is selected?

It was determined that, as of the 2012 election, 235,248,000 million people living in the US were of voting age (18 or older), and just 129,235,000 of them (54.9 percent) actually cast a vote on Nov. 6, 2012.

Taken a step further, these 129,235,000 represented 57.5 percent of eligible voters in 2012 (note the difference between those of voting age and those eligible to vote, by way of felonies, immigration status, etc.), showing a gross decrease in voter turnout between 2012 and the previous 2008 election, which saw 62.3 percent of eligible voters actually vote.

This isn’t enough.

Personally, this shows me that, even at the highest turnout in recent memory (62.3 percent in 2008), approximately two-thirds of the entire voting population actually cared enough to cast a vote -- and exemplifies the nearly five percent drop in 2012.

Is it fair to say that, considering the hostility our recent political discourse has created through our two leading nominees, voter turnout is in serious danger for 2016?

Whether it’s 50, 60 or even 70 percent, this is still leaving millions upon millions of uncast, unused and wasted votes that could have otherwise determined the candidate which truly represents the desires of the people.

And what makes it worse is what I eluded to earlier in this essay -- everyone seems to have an opinion on the current president, negative or not, even if they didn’t utilize their right to vote.

So what am I getting at? What’s my point behind exposing the phony would-be voters out there?

If you don’t vote -- you can’t complain.

Without voting, you leave it up to chance that the best candidate was chosen; without voting, you allow the corrupt or unqualified to take office; and without voting, you show that you aren’t truly concerned with who becomes president or what direction in which the country is headed -- in fact, it shows that you care so little that you are willing to allow your uncast vote to interfere with due process.

I encourage everyone to get out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Don’t do it just for yourselves or to get an “I Voted” button -- do it for everyone.

Do it for Democracy’s sake.

Do it to preserve Liberty.

Do it to preserve Freedom.

Do it to ensure that the greatest country on Earth stays that way.

Do it so you actually have a platform on which to stand when others challenge your political views.

Do it for America.

Vote.