Editor's Note

Not moving to Canada

I've been thinking back about the first presidential election I was able to cast a vote, and how my perspectives have changed since that first time in a voting booth. As the years have passed, I've found myself not always adhering to my family's "Democratic Party or leave it" approach to politics. The best way to put it: Going back to the Clinton years, I've suffered from voter's remorse, which comes with a growing agitation towards my party—from state party leaders to the DNC. This presidential election I was aiming for Sanders, like many of my friends and even a few of my family. After torturing myself during vacation watching snippets of the RNC convention, I'm worried, just like the GOP nominee rallied everyone to be afraid, I'm afraid, too. But I can't fall in line with the Bernie or Bust crowd.

We can agree on almost everything, but when it comes to strategies that make it seem like voting for Trump would help get us where Sanders was going is better than voting for Clinton, or voting for third party candidates—no. No thanks. If the Midwest is going to make the decision for us, then I hope the DNC is finally doing some actual work now and organizing the vote in those states. Bernie Sanders is not going to be president. Neither are the two third-party candidates. I'm voting for Clinton.

Am I tired of suffering from voter's remorse? You bet. Do I think I just might suffer again if Clinton is elected? Probably.

But there's no way throwing a vote in any other direction is actually going to help this country. I'm afraid of Trump, but I'm not afraid of Muslims, Mexicans or African-Americans. I can't move to Canada. This is home. I hope the DNC rethinks their strategy. I just hope it's not too late.

— Mari Herreras, mherreras@tucsonweekly.com

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