ballotTo the 30 and 40 somethings who are not planning to vote this year, think about it. Deciding to not vote would be like trying to punish the old high school teacher you despised by refusing to study for the final exam. No one is hurt by that choice but you!

Up until a few weeks ago, the choices seemed dismal. We were all expecting to have to vote for someone that neither party truly wanted as their candidate. Both parties failed the American people by not finding some way to circumvent the two old guys who were running, but the Republicans were terrified of Trump’s vengeance and the Democrats were terrified of losing to Trump. They had no way forward except to keep going down a path few wanted to travel. Then Joe Biden wisely stepped aside. How wonderful it would have been if Trump had done the same and we could have reset the whole thing, but here we are.

Regardless of how you feel about the two candidates or the two parties, there are some high stakes in this election, and the one who ends up the White House will have a profound impact on your future. You will be voting for what kind of country you will oversee in a very short time. Who we put in the White House and in congress now will determine whether we make progress on some issues that will shape, even determine our priorities for the next decades when your generation is in leadership. In fact, who we put in the White House this year may determine whether we even have a democracy by next election.

Here are some issues to consider, and one not to consider.

Climate Change: That’s THE big one, even though it is not a high priority for either party. Within 10 years, the consequences of climate change will be the ONLY issue. The national and global economy, national defense, climate migration, international conflicts, the debt, the price of insurance and everything else will be driven by the catastrophes that come with climate change. We’re now just seeing the front end of it, and it’s terrifying. The question is: Which party will take climate change more seriously? Neither party will make the drastic changes necessary to stop or reverse it. They know that such changes would guarantee defeat in the next election cycle, and besides, we as a nation don’t have the fortitude to make those kinds of sacrifices yet. The task for now is to acknowledge the crisis and make changes in the right direction to at least slow the damage. The alternative is to do nothing, to continue to call it a hoax, and consequently make the situation more dire each day. Make climate change THE issue now.

Global alliances: Our global partners are essential. Our economies, our trade, our defenses depend on each other. We don’t function without our European and Asian allies. One candidate and party recognize our essential global bonds, such as NATO, and continues working to strengthen them. The other makes threats or even hints at walking away. That imperils all of us.

Diversity and Human rights: We are a diverse nation. Always have been, always will be. We are a multiplicity of races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, physical and mental abilities. Which candidates and party acknowledge the importance of our national diversity, will make space at the table for those differences, and will protect the rights of each group? Passing legislation that marginalizes one group or another does not make them go away. It simply divides and diminishes us. Any candidate or party that yells, “We want our country back,” which is shorthand for “white, straight, short-sighted men in charge,” run from them fast.

Reproductive rights: Whatever your views on abortion (never, when, under what circumstances, etc.), vote your values. Should decisions about terminating a pregnancy be left up to women and their doctors or to legislators, most of whom are financially secure white men? Should physicians be able to make their decisions based on sound medical judgment or on religious beliefs of legislators? Should your wife or daughter risk legal punishment for the choice to begin or end a pregnancy? Should having such a choice depend on which state you live in? Vote for those who act (not just talk) according to your views.

Immigration: Immigration reform is not within the president’s jurisdiction or power. Executive orders can tweak and apply pressure, but the real responsibility for change rests with congress. Simply demonizing immigrants or blaming them for social ills to scare those of us who are comfortable is simply wrong. They are people, most of them desperate, and we need to elect people to congress who will take seriously a humane and comprehensive immigration plan rather than those who block progress for political reasons.

Presidential immunity: The Supreme Court has changed the game. The president now is essentially unconstrained by law. The only constraint will be her or his own ethics, moral character, allegiance to the Constitution, and the will to put the needs of the American people above personal needs. We now have a choice between a candidate with a long record of seeking justice and forming alliances for the purpose of change, and an aging and diminished candidate with a felony record, a sexual assault record, and a promise to make his presidency one of retribution and accumulation of power. If democracy is to survive, there is a clear choice.

Who’s on deck? This is a big one. One of the candidates likely will not make it through his term. Either by death or incompetence, the vice president will likely be called into duty. Should something happen to either Harris or Trump, Tim Walz, everybody’s favorite high school teacher and coach, or J. D. Vance, who won the ring-kissing contest for the Republicans and has two years of governmental experience will finish the term. It’s the backup crew, the advisors and cabinet members that make a president successful. Harris, and Biden before her, have surrounded themselves with competent people with integrity, even if you don’t like all their policies. Trump, well just look at his people in the past and those coming up who authored Project 2025.

Forget the Economy: Both candidates and parties will talk about the economy and blame the other for the problems. They will promise to bring down prices and inflation, reduce the national debt, and make your future more financially sound. They won’t do any of that. The president can’t. The budget and tax legislation that affects the debt are the responsibility of the House and their ability to work together. The economy is a talking point to either infuriate you or scare you, but neither candidate nor party has a plan that will radically change things. Don’t let talk about the economy be the deciding issue.

There are many other issues, but I hope you get the message. Don’t just complain about the dysfunction and polarization in government. It’s there for sure. But those only change if we elect serious people interested in working together to get things done. And things get done when people my age (75) offer perspective but don’t demand leadership positions, while people your age vote and make your voice heard in whatever way you can.

Millions will not vote this year. Most of them will be under 40. That’s more than enough to determine the outcome.