A Reader’s Not Happy About “Ridin’ With Biden”
From a reader:
For many, many months now, I’ve been struggling with the ethical dilemma of voting for Joe Biden and, believe it or not, I’m still struggling. Those of you who know me well know how deeply I care about the nuances of our political system. And this choice we have is lose, lose.
Our decision isn’t as cut and dry as “not being Trump” or “restoring the soul of our country.” There are a lot of issues that need addressing. There are people in this country and around the globe who are suffering and it’s not enough for us to have a seat filler, like Biden, or even kick the can down the road. In fact, a Biden presidency will be just as damaging. For them it’s life and death, and from my privileged cheap seat, I need to not take this decision lightly.
Our responsibility today is not to rush to vote for a lesser evil, as I also argued about four years ago when the choice was between Trump and Clinton, but to sustain the course of critical thinking that seeks to overcome both evils. More than 300 million human beings trapped to choose between a Coke and a Pepsi deserve and must strive for a healthier choice. An entire planet at the mercy of US militarism and warmongering most certainly has everything to lose from either of these two American calamities.
You’re completely right that “there are a lot of issues that need addressing.” Can you name a single one that is better addressed by Trump than Biden? I can’t.
When you write, “Our responsibility today is not to rush to vote for a lesser evil,” I honestly don’t know what you mean. One of these two men will be our president next January. Trump is unequivocally evil, and Biden is imperfect, to put it kindly.
You continue: “Our decision isn’t as cut and dry (sic) as “not being Trump.” I’m afraid it is; I’m not happy about that, but it’s true.
You, as an intelligent and decent human being with a choice to make, are morally compelled to choose the one that, by your wits, represents the least damage. Sorry, but that really is cut and dried–that’s Biden, every day of the week.
