Written by Ethan B. Ellis.
Everybody’s made up their mind by now. The only question left is how many of us will vote.
I’m 84 but I will. I just got out of the hospital this week but I will. I have cerebral palsy but I will. I use an electric wheelchair but I will. My hands no longer can mark my ballot so my 12 year-old son will mark it for me and I will.
Why?
Because I want to keep my health insurance despite my pre-existing condition, because I want to avoid a having a limit put on how much health care my insurance will pay for during my lifetime.
Because I want my wife and son to be able to pay for Social Security and get it like I have.
Because I want them to have Medicare when they retire like I do.
Because I want them to have Medicaid if they need it.
Because I want my friends with disabilities to enjoy the rights I didn’t grow up with but helped win.
Because I want my son to to live in country where everyone is equal.
Because I want him to live in a country where rich people no longer pay politicians to make them richer and make poor people poorer.
Because I want him to live in a country where everyone gets the services they need regardless of what they cost.
Because I want him to live in a world where nobody goes hungry or thirsty and everyone breaths pure air and drinks clean water and no one is displaced or dies because of climate change.
Because I want our democracy back so his vote will count at least as much as mine .
I wasn’t born. yesterday. I know I won’t get these things just by voting this year but that’s the best tool available to me - and you - right now. After the election, we’ll have time to decide what we have to do next to win back our democracy and gain full equality but right now the vote is our best weapon. Let’s use it for ourselves and all who and what we hold dear.
See you at the polls.
