U.S. Presidential Election 2016: Our View

We are one week away from the U.S. Presidential Election, and what a process it has been.  It seems every four years people say that “this time it has been the most contentious, unprecedented, important and unique election.”  We believe that, at least in our lifetime, this one wins “hands down” in each of the aforementioned categories.  We would both love to share our personal perspective on who we will vote for and why, but we believe this should be a personal and private decision for each of us.  So instead of taking a side, we would like to share some personal perspectives and insights on next week’s election day, and discuss the implications and ramifications for our exceptional way of life.

• As painful as this process has been, supporters of all sides must and will come together to rally around the eventual winner.  No matter how wrong every voter might feel about the other side, the American Way will win out and the states of America will once again become the United States of America.  This is fundamental to the U.S. democracy and, while not perfect, there is no better system.
• The real geniuses of this and every election are not the people on the debate stage slugging it out, but rather our Founding Fathers who did all the true heavy lifting.  We considered it a chore in elementary school that we were forced to learn about the separation of state and church, the checks and balances that prevents any one branch of our three branch government from exerting too much power, term limits and our brilliant U.S. Constitution.  The foundation of the U.S. is built upon a system that allows the people who vote for the losers of the election to have many more bites at the apple and there is a process in place, with procedures and rules that allow us all to live as united citizens with conflicting beliefs and opinions.  Truly an amazing accomplishment.
• The U.S. process is self-correcting.  Like a living, breathing organism that combats illness and disease, our electoral system creates the opportunities and processes to alleviate periods of extremism and correct outright mistakes.  It might take time, be frustrating, and cause temporary disappointment and heartache, but the will of the people does win out and the American way of life is not a sprint, but rather a marathon. 
• Everyone is allowed to express his or her opinion(s) in the U.S. system without fear of repercussion.  We can disagree intensely, and the conversation may stretch far beyond “impolite” into the range of “outright rude,” but that is the deal, and thank goodness we have all signed up for it.  The U.S. and we as individuals are far better off by encouraging the expression of a wide assortment of conflicting ideas and then voting based on them, versus suppressing independent thought, controlling the media or using force to intimidate those we disagree with. 
• The peaceful hand-over of power is beautiful poetry and should be cherished by every one of us and never taken for granted.

While we have kept to ourselves whom we will vote for on election day, you now know why we are thankful that we live in the U.S. and have the right to make our own decision.  We encourage each of you who lives in the U.S. to follow your own heart, mind and conscience, and make sure you exercise your amazing privilege of voting on November 8 for our next President of the United States of America and in all other contests.

With pride,

Rich and Brian