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2016 Presidential Election

Shockingly, Trump won.

Not shockingly, I'm among the deeply disappointed.  I've been a vocal Hillary supporter since January.  Here's what's on my mind:

1. I'm disappointed that it seems most people voted straight-ticket this election.  

Personally, I think that's a cop out vote.  Straight-ticket voting abstains the voter from the responsibility to do any research--it's for the lazy and for people too partisan to consider personal characteristics of those for whom they are voting.

Personally, I'm annoyed with our two-party system in general because it polarizes us and diminishes individual political thought and discussion.  Even with our system, I wish candidates would be listed without their party affiliations, and that the straight-ticket option were removed.  Then, voters would have to at least look up the people on their ticket to see which belong to their party so they can vote.  They might have a chance of learning something other than party affiliation about their candidates.

2. I'm disappointed in our Electoral College System.

My vote for Hillary didn't count for anything because I live in Indiana.  My friend's Trump vote didn't count for anything because she lives in California.  If we switched to the popular vote, truly every vote would count.  I think that should be the case going forward.  In fact, I already let my representatives know using this site.

After I wrote this, I realized that the democratic candidate has now won the popular vote majority in 6 of the 7 last Presidential elections (Clinton, Clinton, Gore, Bush, Obama, Obama, Clinton).  So Republicans wouldn't let that pass. (eye roll.  sigh.)

Update: After some reading and thought, there's value in the electoral college system as it gives power to the states, even less populated ones, to elect the president.  However, dividing a state's electoral votes proportionally to the vote of its population, as in Maine and Nebraska, seems to be a fairer way to do it.

3. I hate to be dramatic, but I'm nervous and sad for the future.  

I think Obama made great strides in his presidency to make our country and world a better place--helping the uninsured, pushing for opportunities for minorities and underprivileged, pushing to protect our earth through environmental regulations and green energy, developing partnerships with other nations, and regaining the international respect that we lost with the Iraq War.  These are all things that could very well be undone with Trump's presidency, and that makes me really sad.

I really hope Trump proves me wrong and delivers profitable results for our country.

4. I'm humbled.

Like any informed voter, I thought my political opinion was clearly the right choice, the smart choice.  Now, I'm reminded that the US is an extremely diverse place, and that is a beautiful thing.  Everyone has the right to use their voices and have their voices represented in government.  If I lose out this time, that's okay.  It's still a blessing to live in a country where we have the right to vote and the freedom of speech.

5. On a more personal note... right now I feel devastated.

 In the next four years, it's very likely Weston and I will have our first child.  A part of me was really hoping to bring our first child into the world with a Madam President at our country's head.  I loved imagining our first child growing up seeing that boys and girls can achieve any dream they have, seeing the courageous, wise, and compassionate leadership that I believe a President Hillary Clinton would have shown the world.

Instead, if we start our family in the next four years, it will be under a Trump Presidency, which is not something I feel right now I can be proud of.

I'll probably add more later as I process this.
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