What does mama putting herself first have to do with elections? Well, as white women we weren’t allowed to vote until 1920. I say white women because Black women were disenfrancised along with Black men until 1965. Because racism. Blatant racism still very much running the show for so many people. So you better believe that if you want to put yourself first as a mama, you better use your hard fought for vote to do so.
Normally, I’m all “vote for whichever candidate best fits your values, just please please vote”, but this election is different (the presidential election, but ya’ll know you still need to vote for all the down ballot offices too, right? RIGHT?) Because for me this election is a clear choice between love and straight up hate. Was Joe Biden my first choice of candidates? No he was not. Kamala Harris was my first choice so I’m pretty elated with her place on the ticket (although I fully acknowledge that she is far from a perfect candidate as well). Which brings me to my next point: THERE IS NO PERFECT CANDIDATE. FOR ANY ELECTION. EVER. Unless you get out there and run yourself, no candidate will likely ever be perfect in your eyes. You won’t be the perfect candidate for you either because perfection does not exist. And that’s ok. Democracy is an inherently imperfect system. It was designed that way.
This is why we have checks and balances and three branches of government. This is why we have separation of powers, powers reserved for the states, and the ability as citizens to elect many of the people who represent us. The question at election time is: which candidate is most likely to enact policies that will not only benefit me, but benefit my fellow citizens? Which candidate will enact policies which will protect the most vulnerable among us, the candidate most likely to enact policies which strive to ensure equity and true justice? The question is NOT which candidate do I think seems like a fun person to have a beer with? Or which candidate will “shake things up” (whatever the hell that means).
Listen, I am not here to tell anyone who to vote for. That’s your choice and your business. But me, I’m voting for the people I can go to bed at night feeling content giving my voice to. Because when you elect anyone to represent you and your interest, they speak for you. And the current President of the United States does not represent my voice or my values. Neither does the current Senator up for election where I live. And I get to use my vote to make it clear that they do not speak for me.
If you make the choice not to vote, or you choose to write in a candidate or vote for a third party candidate, you lose your voice. There’s no way around it. You have thrown away your ability to have any measure of adequate representation in government. And as someone who loves this country, as horribly messed up as so much of it is, I know that by engaging in our democratic process, I can affect change. But I can’t do it alone. Democracy cannot work properly unless we all vote. ALL of us. Election results should reflect the will of ALL citizens, not just the few who exercise their constitutional rights.
I’m rambling now, but honestly, this is just so important. Because for me, an economically and socially privileged cisgender straight white lady, my life hasn’t changed much in the past 4 years. I’ve lived the same comfortable existence that I have my entire life. So regardless of who wins the election this year, it is likely that I will continue to live this same privileged existence for quite some time. But I’m not voting for me. I’m voting for my values and my voice. I’m voting for everyone I love and value. I cannot vote for someone who doesn’t believe that Black lives matter. I cannot vote for someone who denies the right to serve in the military to transgendered people. I cannot vote for someone who denies climate science. I cannot vote for a racist person. I cannot vote for a white nationalist. I cannot. And the beauty of democracy is that I do not have to.
Here’s the point: what are your values? What voice do you want your elected officials to represent? We are in a time where the choice between our two presidential candidates is quite stark. There is no nuance in their views, no gray space between them. You have to make a choice. And if you don’t, all you are doing is giving power to someone who disagrees with you. Their voice gets louder, yours disappears. The math speaks for itself.
Please choose to use your voice with your vote. Please.
Put Mama First 
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