Tomorrow, Americans will cast their votes. This election has drawn clear lines between the two sides. Not in recent memory has the divide between what two groups of people think our direction should be, been so wide. With so much at stake with votes that will lead to differing policies that will take us in very different directions, I ask you, what path will you choose? I know what path I will take.
I choose the path that leads to freedom of choice. The path that allows a woman to make her own decisions concerning her body. The path that doesn’t force a woman to make the same decisions as you. The path that doesn’t lead us to theocratic rule. That path does not have mama grizzly tracks. That path is a Democratic path.
I choose the path that sees the healing of the sick as a moral obligation, not a business opportunity. The path that understands that there is no humanity in allowing the poorest among us to suffer with diseases for which we have the cure. The path that knows a healthy society is a strong society. That path is not created in a witches cauldron. That path is a Democratic path.
I choose the path that leads to everyone being able to become an American, not just those a few deem fit. The path that understands that a broken system has allowed some to make mistakes, but recognizes the contributions of those individuals, not shun their differences. The path that understands the desire of many to uproot their lives for freedom, and doesn’t punish them for wanting to experience what we have created. That path is not littered with headless Arizonans. That path is a Democratic path.
I choose the path that leads to equality. The path that will allow homosexuals to enjoy the same rights and freedoms as me. The path that allows for gay weddings and for gay couples to be able to adopt children. The path that leads to more families, more stability, more freedom and more acceptance. That path is not that of the crazy old man at the end of the counter in New York. That path is a Democratic path.
I choose the path that sees peace as the goal, and doesn’t look at war as a bottom line. The path that sees fewer flag covered caskets get unloaded in the dead of night at an Air Force base. The path that sees our nations future generations stay here and build a life rather than going there to give their life. The path that understands that security starts at home, and doesnt always take us to another’s land. That path isn’t where we get our heads stomped on by an opposition supporter. That path is a Democratic path.
I choose the path that knows the fundamental fact that if you allow the wage earners of a population to keep more of their money, it will spur an economy as it has in the past. The path that doesn’t allow the wealthiest to maintain the power while keeping the middle class suppressed. The path that envisions an economic policy that fosters a slew of innovative growth. The path that sees an economy once again be the gold standard, not the global laughing-stock. That path hasn’t seen the feet of a California billionaire. That path is a Democratic path.
I choose the path that knows there must be a balance between private enterprise and government programs. The path that encourages growth in a private sector but doesn’t think our retirement years should be managed by the greediest among us. The path that understands that a system with a seventy-five year proven track record isn’t something to be shrugged away. The path that honors its elderly and does its best to protect them. The path that respects the dignity and honor that comes with age, and doesn’t look at the expense of caring for age as a burden. That path doesn’t echo the voice of an extremist from the Nevada desert. That path is a Democratic path.
I choose the path that cherishes the freedoms our constitution gives us. The path that fosters an exchange of ideas, especially if they differ. The path that wants to hear the dissent, so that we can all understand the desires and needs of a nation. The path that doesn’t block free speech, but encourages it and protects it based on the founding document of our country. That path is not where detained reporters sit. That path is a Democratic path.
I choose the path of hope and promise, not the path of fear and divisiveness. The path that sees what a great society we are, and can still yet become, not the path that sees despair and hatred. The path that unites us all within our own differences, not the path that uses our differences to instill fear. The path that yearns for a brighter future, not longs for a past of inequality. The path that says you can live your life as you wish and I will do the same, not the path that demands you do as your told. The path of good, not bad. The path of hope, not despair. The path of dreams, not nightmares. The path of love, not hatred. That path, my friends, is not stained with tea. That path is a Democratic path.
So I ask you again, what path will you choose?
