I apologize. I really do. This is just so extremely important. I know you know that. But it's literally something that can affect the lives of millions. So I get amped up. I really am sorry if I come across as a self-important or haughty asshole.
I have to get to sleep anyway, but I wanted to leave with one final plea to anyone, whether Hillary or Bernie supporter, who thinks about skipping the election or voting third party or whatever if their chosen candidate doesn't win the primary.
Right now, both houses of Congress are Republican. We may get a Republican president. That president would then nominate whatever extremely conservative Supreme Court justices he wishes, which the Republican Congress will confirm right away. Every branch of government will be Republican, and the dismantling of what we've fought so hard to build will begin in earnest, with nothing to slow it down.
Every non-rich man, woman, and child in the country would be affected. Hell, children who won't be born for another decade or two will feel the effects of a hard right judiciary. Please don't let that happen. Do your part. Yes, it sucks to see your perfect candidate lose. But do you really want to be fucked by the devil if you can't kiss Jesus? There's no middle ground?
Finally, a personal appeal:
My older brother suffers from a few emotional and developmental disorders. He's got Aspberger Syndrome, he's OCD, and has severe Social Anxiety Disorder. He doesn't work, can't leave the house (except to see his doctor, and only because that's become part of his routine). He relies on government assistance for his antidepressants and most everything else, which he's openly told me are the only things preventing him from suicide. He feels he's a burden on society and doesn't think he has anything worth living for because he adds nothing to anyone's life and stares at the same walls day in and day out.
The thing is, he's a good person. He's loving and caring and has an amazing heart. And he does have a purpose. He loves and is loved by his family. He didn't ask to be born as he is, but he gets by. And he means the world to me. Besides just by being my brother, he was my rock growing up. We had an abusive father (I'm talking closed fist punches and being choked unconscious before I turned 12). We weren't allowed to have friends growing up, and were required to be indoors with the curtains drawn at all times (which I believe led to my brother's Social Anxiety because I also have that, but to a much lesser degree). We were each other's friends. We were our only emotional support. We had each other. Now that we're adults, I don't want to lose him. I can't. He's my best friend.
Why am I brining this up? He's one of the "takers" the Republicans are always talking about. He can't work, so he collects government benefits (he's hardly living large. He's 38 and lives with my mom in the single-wide trailer we grew up in). But these benefits (mostly the drugs and access to a doctor) keep him fighting. And he's always somewhat helpful (despite the odds) that some miracle drug will come along and clear away the fog and make him okay.
If Republicans take the presidency and hold every other branch of government, I'm scared they'll take away what little he has. I know how alarmist it sounds to say "vote for _______ or they'll kill my brother," but I literally feel as if his life may depend on the outcome of this election. Particularly if we get someone like Cruz, who wants to demolish damn near every social safety net in existence.
I'm not asking you to care about my brother. That's my job. But please realize that there are millions of others out there like him who are stuck in situations they didn't ask for and didn't create, and for whom a Republican win in November may literally mean the end of everything.