It’s been a surprising journey for me to end up with Clinton. I was all in for Obama the last time around. It’s been an interesting eight years. I have lived aboard and then moved back. I had two children. I grew up.
When this cycle started I was much undecided. I didn’t love Clinton and I didn’t love Sanders. I have read both sides. Looked at the candidates’ views and I ultimately decided that my vote will be for Clinton.
1. I like the fact she has been “running” for President for forever.
I have a career. I have worked very hard on my career. I have put time and effort in the positions I have taken and the path that I have set for myself. I agree that the first time around she got surprised by Obama. But then she picked herself up and went and worked with President Obama. That to me says a lot about her character. She has experience as a lawyer, First Lady, a Senator and a Secretary of State. That is a pretty damn impressive resume. I like that she has ambition. Do you think that Cruz, Rubio and frankly every other candidate (outside of Sanders) hasn’t been “running” for President their entire lives? Why is ambition in women bad?
2. She is a woman.
Yes, I’m voting with vagina. It’s not the only reason I’m voting for Hillary Clinton but it’s an important one for me. I have a daughter. It’s important for me that she grows up in a society where our leaders are something other than white men. Obama was a role model for POC’s children. He brought different issues and views to the White House. I believe that Clinton will do the same for women’s issues. I’m a working mom. Clinton was a working mom. She was the one who coined “It takes a Village” Back when she wrote her book, this line was highly controversial. I often think of that phrase when dealing with childcare choices and doctor’s appointments and equality of parenting within my marriage. I think true equality is an issue that most mothers deal with regardless of if you working inside the home or outside. When she highlighted the disparity in Social Security for caretakers, I realized that she really got what women face. It’s more than universal childcare, it’s more than a higher minimum wage. It’s a fundamental way of gender roles within American society.
3. I prefer universal coverage and a public option to single payer healthcare.
I lived in London for seven years. I had a complicated delivery with the NHS. There are certain things about the NHS that I really like. There are others that aren’t so great. I think the problems with our healthcare system go far beyond who we write premiums too. I think our problems with healthcare are far more complicated. We are unhealthy and overweight. We overuse services. We are overmedicated. We demand tests that are not needed. We would rather take the shortcut to solve health problems rather than take a longer more holistic route to solve the underlying problems. I would really like to see premiums completely decoupled from the employers.
I don’t think Sander’s plan is realistic at the cost that he putting forward. The fundamental question I ask is how it that his plan promises 75% more than what the UK can offer but for a fraction of the cost the individual.
I don’t love Clinton’s plan but I find it more realistic to what can actually be achieved.
4. Free college
I would have benefitted from free college. I went to my state public university. I 100% paid for it myself and graduated with student loans. I don’t think everyone should go to college. Again, I think I’m influenced by my time abroad. Yes, it’s true that most European countries have free higher education. The UK recently started requiring students to pay. One thing that isn’t discussed is that most European countries track students at a pretty young age. Not everyone goes to college. In fact the majority don’t. European universities are also no frill. No fancy sports team or huge lecture halls.
I like that Hillary Clinton plan address the fundamental problem of why the hell is college so expensive. Why does the University of Vermont cost $14k in tuition alone? (FYI, it’s one of the most expensive in the country)
I think I could see a compromise between Sander’s plan and Clinton’s. Free university for the top 5% of each state coupled with a student loan interest rates never exceeding 2% ever.
5. Republican congress
I’m a pragmatic. I appreciate people who can dream big but at the end of the day, I want the details. I need to know how you are going to get things through Congress. It bothers me that the current thought is that we all sit around for two years and then bam we magically get a liberal Congress that is going to rubberstamp the President’s legislation.
1. Where were you during the Obama administration and how come he didn’t get a free two years? And 2. What about Blue Dogs? You do remember them.
These are few of my thoughts. I tried to address my personal feelings and also some of the policy differences. These are not all the reasons I’m voting for Clinton but they are some. I think it was good that Sanders is in the race. We need big thinkers to help us shape public policy. I think that he can continue to bring his ideas as a Senator and should he win, I will vote for him.
Update: I just want to say thank you to everyone for the respectful conversation in the diary from both sides.