What kind of America will you choose?

Much of the media would have you believe that the upcoming elections are really just about personalities. Who’s more empathetic? Who’s more dignified? Who’s more likable? The truth is, Americans won’t just be voting for a particular candidate Nov. 3, they will be choosing what kind of country they want to live in, work in, and raise their families in. They’ll be deciding what kind of America they believe in.

As you go to the polls, ask yourself these questions:

Which America do you want to live in? One that upholds your right to freedom of speech and religious beliefs? Or an America that says only certain views are acceptable in the public square, and shames, bullies, and cancels those who disagree?

What kind of America do you want to work in? One like we had before the pandemic hit, when more Americans than ever said they were better off financially than they were just a year ago? Or one that insists we return to more taxes, regulations, and mandates on both individuals and businesses.

What kind of America will you feel safest in? One that honors and respects our law enforcement officers for putting their lives on the line to keep our streets safe? Or an America that calls for defunding the police and permits lawlessness and chaos in our neighborhoods?

Do you want an America where parents are free to choose where their children are educated or one where ZIP codes determine a child’s only option and perhaps their future? Do you want an education system that empowers families and rewards schools that succeed or one that props up the status quo and continues to fund those that fail?

The same could be asked about health care—do you want more choices at better prices or do you prefer the government making more and more decisions about what coverage you can have, what doctor you can see, and what your plan will cost?

How about the role of the judiciary?

When you vote for president, you are also voting for what types of judges will sit on the Supreme Court and in courtrooms across the nation. Do you want jurists that will interpret the laws as written or ones that make laws from the bench? There is a big difference.

From the interpretation of the Second Amendment and whether one has a right to own a gun to defend themselves and their property to the meaning of the right to life, judges matter.

Do you want to live in an America where we control our own borders and where those seeking to come here obey our laws? Or do you prefer open borders where we have little say about who comes and who goes, rewarding those who jump the line, and also providing easy entry for those seeking to do us harm?

What about America’s economic and energy independence? When it comes to consumer goods, medical supplies, and critical resources such as oil and natural gas, do you want to live in a country that can and is producing those for itself or one beholden to regimes like China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia?

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Do you prefer a country that upholds America’s values on the world stage or one that sells them out to garner approval from international elites at the United Nations or the World Health Organization?

Finally, do you want to live in an America where we honor our founding and our history while learning from our past, or one where monuments are defaced and destroyed and history books are rewritten?

These are the choices you face when you enter the voting booth in November. Don’t think for a moment that your vote doesn’t matter. Or that you can sit this one out. Or that this election is just a personality contest.

You will be deciding which America you want to live in, work in, and raise your family in. Which American you believe in. The question is, which America will you choose?

– Genevieve Wood