An uncomfortable post

I hope it comes as no surprise to my readers that when I vote early next week I will be casting my ballot for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Being in a blue state this feels as though it is a very little thing in the effort to bring our country back past the brink of no return . I'll be honest and say that I am feeling such stress and fear about this election that I can't listen to any news or look at social media for very long. The radio is pretty firmly set on our classical music station even though they are in the middle of a pledge drive. The pledge drive is preferable. 

But for those of you who are supporting the other side, if there are any of you left who continue to visit my blog, here is what I need to say. When I drive around and see signs in people's yards supporting that man, I treat it as an early warning system. The people who live in this house are not safe for my family to be around. This is far more than a difference of opinion. That worked for all the presidential elections prior to 2016. Whether you had a Carter or Ford sign in your yard was a difference of opinion, with each person viewing the role of the federal government through a different lens. This was the era where Democrat and Republican elected officials could disagree on policy but still be very good friends. 

What is not a difference of opinion is whether my gay or trans children have any rights. What is not a difference of opinion is the right of legal immigrants to be in this country. When personal safety is at stake it is not a difference of opinion. When I see that you support Trump I hear that you think it's okay for rich people to break the law as they choose. I hear you say that maintaining the rights of white, wealthy, male Americans is more important than anything else. I hear you say that as long as you can maintain your existence it doesn't matter what happens to anyone else. I hear you say that you can't be bothered to pay attention to the truth because it is inconvenient and you'd rather not admit that you've been played by the rich white guys who don't actually care about you. 

And to any women who are stuck in marriages where your husband thinks he can control your vote: You can still vote for whom you want; he doesn't need to know. Your life won't get better if you vote for a party who thinks women's only purpose is to birth babies.