"For the first time in my life, I will be voting against a Republican candidate for president."

[Skidmore]

19. Welcome and thank you for the thoughtful and detailed post.

I appreciate all of your concerns about the current republican ticket. I would, however, encourage you to consider the effects of the social policies on the economy. An out of control drug policy has filled our prisons with nonviolent offenders and created a de facto border war. Women, who support their families financially--either with a partner or without, suffer the effects of disparate wages and health care options. Our LGBT citizens contribute to our society financially and in many other ways and do not deserve to be treated as unequal when it comes to their personal and financial business. Civil rights and economic viability are not mutually exclusive. We will only be a healthy economy when we learn how to value and respect all of our citizens. We cannot afford to slide down a steep slope in which we turn aside from those who have limited voice or none.

Most importantly, I would urge you to continue to speak out on the buying and gaming of the election process, especially with those Republicans you interact with on a daily basis. Democracy cannot flourish when all dissenting voices are stifled and when voter suppression is carried out so systematically.

Thank you again for your remarks.