Ready, set, go!

Ok, here it is.
I have a dilemma, and I want to share it.
I don’t want to vote. It’s too depressing. But, it’s my civic duty as an American citizen!
Background. Some of my earliest memories involve going with my parents to see Barry Goldwater, helping paint my mom’s school board election signs, and tagging along with her on her board member duties. My parents were Precinct Committeemen, District chairmen, presidential primary delegates! Civic duty is in my blood! I go to jury duty! And, I always voted Republican, before 2016 that is. Let’s just say, I didn’t vote for Donald Trump. I was an anti-Trump, #nevertrump, but I digress.
But I’m not suddenly a Democrat. I just believe people are more important than power, freedom is more relevant than security, humanity deserves better. I still believe in the sanctity of life, free markets over bureaucracy, and liberty and justice for all.  
I didn’t vote in the primary election. My choices pointed fingers at each other as to who was the softest on immigration. Believe me, none of them are soft. One was the former Sheriff, yes, that sheriff. America’s sheriff. Another actually said, “Illegal immigration is the most significant crisis of our time.” Really? 
I have a friend who also used to vote, mostly Republican, because the Libertarians can’t even seem to take themselves seriously. This election cycle she plans to vote the Democratic Party line, not because she believes it, although parts of the platform do line up with her ideology, like not incarcerating migrant children and legalizing medical marijuana, but “to shake things up.” To me, that’s sad. The state of politics today makes shaking things up more important than policy.
For me, I drew the line on voting for someone I found to be morally reprehensible. Since that time, I’ve taken a hard look at my own beliefs and positions. Sometimes I’m not sure of my own answers. I’ve been unsure how to resolve this, so I think I’ll try a list, in random, stream of consciousness order. Perhaps this is my political platform. It’s incomplete, and may even contradict itself sometimes, but life is messy. I’m messy.
1. Pro life
2. Pro free market
3. Pro safe work environments 
4. Pro immigration reform
5. Against incarceration of immigrant children
6. Supportive of peaceful asylum seekers
7. Love people, regardless of color or creed
8. Aware that privilege allows me this position 
9. Uncomfortable with the idea of privilege, but accept it exists
10. Pro freedom of speech, even when i oppose the actual speech
11. Avoid being a racist
12. Avoid misogynists
13. Protect children
14. peaceful coexistence 
15. Minimal government