V O T E. Especially you women.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Lucretia Mott. Lucy Stone. Margaret Fuller. Susan B. Anthony. Julia Ward Howe. Sojourner Truth. Alice Paul. Lucy Burns.

Thanks to the grueling work and dedication of those women above, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Amendment XIX was ratified on August 18, 1920. Less than 100 years ago, ladies. Do you know that South Carolina rejected the ratification in 1920 and that they didn't get around to officially passing it into law until 1969? That's less than 50 years ago. Votey vote vote vote vote! Women and men, all of you.

If you don't want to read my politics, please conclude your reading here. Happy Election Day!
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Women of America: you were "granted" the right to vote less than 100 years ago. If I had one wish, it would be that everyone could speed read A Handmaid's Tale today so you can see what might happen if wombs become property of the state. The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of women in subjugation and the various means by which they gain small freedoms in a totalitarian christian theocracy.  The new regime overthrew the U.S. Government, took advantage of electronic banking to freeze the assets of all the women, and kept a class of women as handmaids for reproductive purposes. Fiction, yes. Too close to what's going on out there, I think so.

I don't want to debate abortion with you. No one is FOR abortion. I want to respect your right to make your own decisions and to observe your own personal and religious beliefs and practices, and for you to give me the same courtesy.

Regardless of whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, the absolute stunning gall of men in positions of power trying to REDEFINE RAPE on the national scale, tossing around terms like forcible rape, and saying that pregnancy as a result of rape is like pregnancy out of wedlock is an assault on the sovereignty of women. It is despicable and disgusting and we should not stand for this. These men should not be running for office or sitting in office if they are so very flippant about something like rape that is so detrimental to the safety of women.

I will never vote for anyone who is anti-choice, because I don't believe abortion should be a national issue. I've never had the luxury of choosing between two candidates who are solely focused on growing the economy, improving this country's infrastructure, and protecting this nation from threats both domestic and foreign. So yes, I will be a one issue voter until my lady parts are no longer a national public issue.

"But the economy is more important, Roe vs. Wade will never be overturned!," they cry. If it will never be overturned, why is it being chipped away at on the state level? Why all this focus on what rape is and when women should have children? Why mandatory vaginal ultrasounds? Why any of this instead of 100% focus on an economic recovery?

I wouldn't trade my individual liberty for a 10 foot hole filled with gold bricks. I especially would not trade my individual liberty for the PROMISE of gold bricks. I hope you won't either.

p.s. I have voted in every election for the past 17 years - presidential, local, primaries. I have NEVER gotten an "I voted" sticker. I feel sad inside.