PSA: A heartfelt request for rationality in the 2020 presidential election

February 2019 has only just begun, but already the 2020 Presidential election is looming large in the minds of democracy-minded citizens throughout the U.S. How could it not? As of this writing, we're in the eye of a Trump-made hurricane using federal employees as leverage to get billions of dollars for a largely symbolic, likely ineffective border wall; the Mueller investigation continues to peel back layers of the most rotten onion in history, and the president continues to construct a glass house made of hamberders and his own delusions. The hope that we will elect an intellectually competent, emotionally stable individual (re: non-Republican) who has some qualifications or at least a modicum of respect for the office of the U.S. president is the shining beacon we are crawling towards during this endless waking nightmare.

And so far, even though we are just over a month into 2019, there are a lot of people vying to be that individual. Practically every week since the beginning of the year, someone else throws their hat in the ring, or forms an exploratory committee to decide if they should throw their hat in the ring. Within hours of these announcements, social media is blossoming with posts that are either: A) "Hell yeah, [Candidate X] is running! We're saved! [Candidate x] 2020!" or B) "[Candidate X] is the worst piece of trash to ever hold public office! Never [Candidate X]!"

Look, I'm not saying passion is a bad thing. I get it. I will still fight anyone who claims *NSync is superior to the Backstreet Boys, even though no one (including the bands themselves) have cared about this rivalry since approximately 2002. And it's clear we need more engagement in our elections and political processes, not less. But if 2016 taught us anything, it's that election cycles are long and anything - and I mean anything - can happen. Remember July 2015 when Trump descended that escalator and said he was running for President and we all laughed at this silly publicity stunt and said it would never happen? From that moment, until Hillary Clinton gave her concession speech on November 9, 2016, I don't think Nostradamus himself could have predicted that events would unfold the way they did.

So this is a heartfelt request, a gentle reminder for everyone to just be cool. Stay engaged, absolutely. Learn about the candidates, their platforms and their records. If there is someone who really gets you jazzed, donate or volunteer with their campaign. That will increase the likelihood that your candidate will be the one to face off against Trump in 2020. But also, keep an open mind. A lot of information is going to come out about all of these candidates, and yes, some of it will be unpleasant. It's ok to change your mind, or take your time in deciding who you want to support. This is a marathon, not a sprint, friends.

I know many of us are scared, angry, baffled and exhausted from dealing with two years of a Trump presidency, and desperate for a change to set us on a path not just towards a functioning democracy, but an improved one that corrects many of the problems and injustices that have existed for decades. I am right there with you. I want to believe that can happen next year, but we'll need equal parts fiery passion in our guts and cool pragmatism in our heads to make that happen. Supposedly logic and critical thinking skills are something the left have going for them that the right doesn't, so let's lean into that, shall we? 

There are 638 days until November 3, 2020. Let's just be rational, be open-minded, and take each day as it comes. Because a lot of shit can happen in 638 days.