Haleye23, 29

Since middle school (7th grade to be exact) I have identified as a democrat. I distinctly remember the year Obama was running against McCain and being one of the few people in my school NOT wearing a shirt in support of McCain. From a young age my parents taught me that part of being a decent person and good citizen was by voting but also using my critical thinking skills. My parents never influenced my beliefs but were always there to answer my questions and provide their owned lived experience. Growing up in a deep red state I often felt like an outcast but I never wavered when it came to my core beliefs.

I believe that everyone in the USA has a basic human right to access affordable health care, food, water, education, religious freedom, and to receive a living wage. It is disheartening to see the lack of empathy with the current administration and those that align with the far right.

We are living in scary times now where we are seeing a rise of disinformation and fascism. I am appalled by our Cheeto in Chief and those around him that enable him and encourage him. I am upset that as a nation we have stopped aid to other countries and we are apparently okay with making Gaza into some sort of beach side resort. Also, the way Vance and Cheeto spoke to Zelenskyy about caused me to have a freaking brain aneurysm.

This is not who we are as the American people and I find it so frustrating that we have a minority in office speaking for the majority. I’m happy to provide my insight as a healthcare worker and mental health professional during this trying time to support anyone in anyway that I can. Even if I don’t make a massive difference I want people to look back and say that I tried and that I was on the right side of history.