At some point in the last few days before the election, as I was thinking of ways to justify possibly voting for Jill Stein I remembered something. The only reason my opinions of Donald Trump had formed as they had was because I viewed him through the lens of the same media establishment I despised for their coverage of Sanders’ candidacy. I decided I needed to listen to Trump and give him a fair hearing. So, that is just what I did.

In listening to the man speak I found something surprising (or not). I found that on trade, I agreed with him. And on ending the wars? I also agreed. And on taxes, and middle class economic policies and on prioritizing America over the global market place. Agree, agree, agree. I also found the more I agreed with him the more racist, sexist and xenophobic I became, at least according to some friends and online acquaintances. My positions hadn't much changed, but the perception of who I was as a person did to so many enlightened liberals I would have these conversations with. That led me to the ultimate realization: Donald Trump HAD to win and he needed MY support. So, I gave him my vote.

American Media is a propaganda machine that breeds war, suffering and bloodshed around the globe. They feel entitled to select our political candidates and set the parameters on which our discussions about American governance take place. In the 28 years of my life what has that gotten this country? Decades of wars in over half a dozen countries. A social hierarchy of victimhood that foments discord and division. Generations of young Americans stunted in their assertion to adulthood saddled by debt and unable to find gainful employment. All of these issues can be laid directly at the feet of those who we have entrusted to govern our country and at the feet of those who are supposed to hold these truths to their power.

Hardly a mention of the many crisis’s facing the American citizen today ever grace the news desks at Fox, CNN and MSNBC. We hear about Russia, impeachment and collusion and that only reaffirms my belief that these institutions are lost. They are so blinded by their own hubris and believe so strongly in their own self-importance they cannot understand how or why they have become so distrusted by so many.