IF

What's up.
I'm about to get super political on you guys, so if that's not your thing, tune out NOW. 

I have been getting very wrapped up in this election. 
I think this is one of the most critical elections in our country's history, very specifically when it comes to social issues and civil rights. 
And by the way - it IS about civil rights.
I've been getting pretty riled up about it, because to me there is SUCH a clear choice. 
However - last night as I was watching our phenomenal president speak, and when I watched our incredible first lady speak, I had an epiphany of sorts: I realized that there are so many people out there who feel just as strongly about their candidate being in the right as I do about mine. And if that's the case - they SHOULD vote for him. 
Because that's what democracy is about - being given the choice to vote for someone who's beliefs and principals you STRONGLY believe in. 
But as I was thinking about this, I realized it all comes down to Ifs. 

You should vote for the opposing side:

IF you truly feel he's considering the MASSES
IF you have done everything in your power to check the facts from BOTH sides
IF you believe that certain Americans DO NOT deserve the same rights as others based on genetics
IF you think that sick children should be denied medical care because of their family's income
IF you think that college should be for the elite 
IF you think that this country SHOULD be at war 
IF you think that people who love someone of the same gender should NOT be allowed to defend our country
IF you think that people DO NOT deserve health insurance if they have less money
IF you think that it is acceptable for the government to decide that certain citizens are NOT allowed to get married
IF you think that women do not deserve the right to control their own bodies and futures
IF you think that religion and politics SHOULD be intertwined
IF you think that FACTS and TRUTHS are NOT important in speeches and policies
IF you think that cutting down on foreign oil dependency and increasing alternate sources of energy ARE NOT a priority
IF you think that the trickle down theory will somehow work this time
IF you think that women who use birth control are "sluts" or that there are different levels of "legitimacy" to rape
IF you think that the way the financial crisis in 2008 was handled was wrong
IF you think that we should NOT be open to accepting new citizens from other countries
IF you believe that stem cell and space research are a waste of government time and money
IF you think that the Constitution should be amended to state that all men are NOT created equal (and that women certainly are not)

IF YOU feel as strongly about these things as I do about their opposites, then you SHOULD vote for the new guys.

But MOST IMPORTANTLY:
IF YOU feel one way about a candidate but HAVE NOT done your research about the FACTS on both sides of the argument, DO SO. 

IF YOU are NOT sure about where you stand, please check out This Quiz. It might be helpful. 

PS - have you ever looked at a word so long it begins to look wrong and super weird? That's what IF YOU looks like to me now...