Why #ImWithHer

I don't much care for Hillary Clinton. I disagree with a number of her policies. I find many of the mistakes she's made annoying, largely because they have been avoidable. And I will vote for her.

It isn't a question of voting against someone. Firstly, on a fundamental, abstract level there is no such thing as a protest vote. There is no box to tick which says "Anyone but _____________" It is literally impossible to vote against someone. Whatever vote you cast- and it is your most basic responsibility as a citizen to cast a vote- is a vote /for/ someone. It's your way of saying "I want this person to serve as president." You don't get to append any judgements or caveats to that. When the votes are counted they are only counted as affirmations.

Now, you won't always agree with that person. And that's good! There are 218 million Americans who are eligible to vote (but only 146 million are registered- go register!) and only one of them will be president. That person cannot be your personal avatar of democracy, nor should they be. Conversely, that person shouldn't be able to dictate the principles of the American voter. That would be totalitarianism.

So, right up front, agree that no matter who you vote for, you will not agree with them 100% all the time. They will make decisions you don't like. They will make mistakes from time to time.

And yet you have to vote! It is your responsibility! To not vote is to abrogate that responsibility, and do a disservice to yourself and your nation.

But thank gods they're not the only one up there. This isn't a monarchy- even a constitutional one. This is a constitutional federal republic. It is founded on a constitution, divided into separate federal powers, and is governed by representatives whom we elect.

The president does not run the country. What I believe began as a casual shorthand evolved into a popular fallacy. The president does not run the country. The president doesn't even run the federal government, though that is marginally closer to the truth.

This election you will get to vote for a congressional representative. Do so. Put some thought into that vote (if you can. In 4/9 congressional representatives in Massachusetts are running unopposed, which is a big blinking red light on the dashboard of our democracy). Write to your representative.

That's where your opinion matters. That's where difference is made. That's where you can write in the margins all your concerns and provisos and caveats- and demands! The president does not represent you- your congressperson does.
Tell them that you don't like something the president plans on doing. You honestly don't need to do more than that. You could send an email or make a call in less time than it takes to order a latte. "I think this plan is shit. Don't support it." You could tell them that you don't like one of their plans. They are the ones who make a difference. The president is the lightning rod, your representatives are the roof. Both are important, but you need the roof a hell of a lot more often than you need the lightning rod, and you should care for it far more than you care for the lightning rod.

So we come to the lightning rod. Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is smart, soundly reasoned, professional, experienced, tough and more- I'm sure your facebook has told you. She has spent her entire adult life in public service, and has the scars to prove it. The checkers in her past often prevent people from acknowledging the sheer expanse of that past, and the mountain of that experience that it represents. And it seems that she has made fewer mistakes than your average politician, considering the amount of time she has had to accumulate them.

Hillary Clinton is abundantly qualified to serve as president. That’s why I will vote for her. Has she made decisions I disagree with? Of course she has. She will again. Has she made mistakes? Of course she has. She will again. Demanding perfection from a candidate is unreasonable. Demand, rather, that they be better than they are. When they make a mistake- hold them responsible, and move on, there's something else coming.

But I don’t have a right to a share in Hillary Clinton. Neither do you. When I cast my vote for her this November, it doesn’t entitle me to ownership of her. She doesn’t need to do what I say, and I don’t need to like what she does. That’s why I’ll vote for my congressional representative, and send them a letter explaining what I do or do not want to see happen.

America isn’t mine. I don’t get to determine where it goes or what it does. Sometimes it will take a step backwards from where I think it should be. I’ll be angry, frustrated. I’ll write an email, or make a call. It might make a difference- or it might not. America isn’t mine. It’s ours. I can’t demand that it be perfect, but I will always always always demand that it be better than it is. You should, too.

Hillary Clinton, I believe, can serve it to make it better. #Imwithher