I'm Vile, You're Vile: Politics in 2020

It's mind-boggling to me how little choice we really have in presidential elections.

Something trending on Facebook right now is an open letter directed to "White Evangelicals," penned by a so-called Christian pastor named John Pavolitz. 

A friend, chastising evangelicals who support President Trump, said, "It is a high price to be paid. If you support Trump, your support becomes a part of your testimony whether you want it to be or not. It is a part of your contribution to this generation & it matters."

To which I reply: 

The person on the ballot is a figure-head. We vote not for the person but for the policies his party represents and promotes. Are the policies good? Do they represent what I believe and value? Or are they abhorrent? Even if the figurehead of that party is handsome and well-spoken, what should matter is what the party will do, if it represents my worldview, if it will advance ideas I support and agree with.

That’s what should influence my vote. Other than that, what choice do we have?

Nevertheless, the condemnation leveled toward someone that will vote Republican is personal, a smear on your character: You support a vile man; ergo, you are vile (“becomes part of your testimony”).

Not surprisingly, it’s easy for me to flip the script: I find the policies of the Democratic Party platform to be vile. You support a party whose policies I find vile; ergo, you are vile.

Tit for tat.

But it doesn’t have to be. If only we could trust each other to be true to our values.

Politics has always been ugly. But never more so than now.