Voting – Part 2

 

Why is it important to Vote in 2026?

Voting in the 2026 midterms matters for several reasons. Most urgently, the country is involved in a war that Congress has not formally authorized, while gridlock in the Senate has prevented meaningful action. Although the filibuster exists for understandable reasons, it can also block legislation when there is no clear 60-vote majority and one-party refuses to negotiate. To bring the war to a conclusion in the next few years, something must change: the Senate could eliminate the filibuster, which may carry long-term risks; voters could shift party control of the Senate; or the nation could take decisive action to avoid another prolonged conflict like Vietnam.

Second, the Republican Party is now led largely by right-wing, authoritarian figures who seem more focused on retaining power than on serving the country’s best interests. The United States was founded on government of, by, and for the people—a system that relies on compromise, broad participation, respectful debate, and solutions that promote the common good. We must revive this Spirit of America, or risk becoming the caretakers of a forgotten country remembered only as a moment in history.

Third, the economic case is straightforward. By the end of 2025, the U.S. debt stood at $37.64 trillion, the first year of Mr. Trump’s second term. By July 2026—before the second full year of that term was complete—it had risen to $39.8 trillion, a $2.2 trillion increase of about 5%. This came after Mr. Trump’s proxy, Elon Musk, purged 317,000 federal employees from their jobs. In addition, between 8 million and 17 million people lost health insurance coverage because of Mr. Trump’s cuts to ACA marketplaces. Gas prices, which ranged from $3.10 to $3.30 per gallon in early 2024, rose 33% to more than $4.06 per gallon by April 2026. Diesel prices increased by more than 50% between 2025 and 2026.

Fourth, our military is in its weakest condition in years—not because of the soldiers themselves, many of whom remain committed to their duty and to defending the people of the United States, but because Secretary of Defense Hegseth has stripped military leadership of some of its most capable minds and strategists. Since his confirmation as Secretary of Defense (SECDEF), more than 20 generals and admirals have reportedly been forced to retire. In addition, Mr. Hegseth has marginalized women and non-white men, advancing what appears to be a discriminatory agenda.

So why is it important to vote? We have only touched the surface. The simple answer to that question? To preserve the future of the U.S. of American for us, our future, and our children. Failure to vote is an abrogation of our responsibility as citizen of the U.S.A.