We have probably all had it with the election season nonsense that we find in every facet of our lives, especially if you have the misfortune of being connected to social media in any shape or fashion. Even while overseas, I was inundated with political ads and depressing segments on CNN and Fox decrying opposing positions as if the politicians holding them are the reanimated corpse of Adolf himself. Honestly, this shallow and ridiculous mindset propagated by those in power, both in government and in the media, are more than enough to radicalize the uninitiated into extremist views, but no one wants to discuss that unless to take partisan shots at their opponents.

The political parties, their media pundits, and their brain dead followers will have you believe that this is the most important election in American history, and maybe it is, but we have already fucked it up. Like in 2016, we have two exceptionally poor candidates intent on making their opponent into some sort of devil that only they and their followers can defeat. On August 11th, Joe Biden’s Twitter page (obviously a staffer, Joe is probably too senile to post on his own account) posted:

“Don’t forget that in the middle of this pandemic, the Trump Administration is in court trying to eliminate Obamacare and rip health insurance away from millions. It’s heartless. I’ll protect and build on the ACA to ensure everyone gets the care they need.“

On the 8th of August, Donald Trump retweeted one is his classic, eloquently written older tweets:

“Sleepy Joe Biden just agreed with the Radical Left Democrats to raise Taxes by Three Trillion Dollars. Everyone will pay – Will kill your Stocks, 401k’s, and the ECONOMY. BIG CRASH! #MAGA!”

It’s obvious who both candidates are trying to speak to and embolden, their base, but what isn’t so obvious is what those of us who despise not only the parties, but their candidates, are supposed to do about it. I know that somewhere a Libertarian is shouting “You can vote third-party! Vote for Jo!”, in-between rambling on about how the market is the answer to all our problems and massive market cornering corporations aren’t bad for the average American, but when was the last time a third-party was actually a viable option? Sure, Gary Johnson might have been better than Clinton or Trump in 2016, but he didn’t stand a chance in the face of the political veteran Clinton or the silver tongued Trump.

Whats worse, is considering what happens after the election is over, and either Trump stays in office or Biden is elected to replace him. Trump staying in office means that we probably won’t see any forward progress in the following four years, with a likely increase in riots and violence from radical Marxist groups on the streets of large American cities, and a lack of any real social change in regards to how our country interacts with itself. Biden, who is arguably the most mentally deficient candidate ever selected to run by a party in the US, will be essentially an empty shell of a leader, manipulated by his cabinet and his newly selected VP, Kamala Harris, according to their whims and political goals, contrary in many ways to the intent and purpose of the constitution.

No matter who is elected, the opposing party will do everything in their power to claim the election was illegitimate, because Russia/China/Hitler/Soros/Lucifer/(insert boogeyman here) had a hand in either subverting or outright tampering with the election process. Which, in the case of nation-state actors and some nefarious social groups, will probably be half true in that they would love nothing more than to muddy the waters of any election results to increase division for their own purposes (see whats happening in the 2020 election in Belarus). Their foot-soldier supporters, the radically loyal followers on the left and the right will continue to take to the streets, demonstrating and in many cases rioting to show their displeasure. Friends will argue, spouses will fight, and division will continue with no end in sight.

So what of the rest of us? Chances are, if you don’t bang the drum of supposed “social progress” or ignorantly criticize liberals, you’ll be in the same boat as I am. Neither entirely devoted to the ideas of conservatism or liberalism, instead taking the finer beliefs of both without the lesser ones. You are most likely opposed, maybe even violently so, to the equally evil beliefs of Communism and Fascism. What are we to do when this inevitable train wreck occurs?

I’ll tell you what I’m doing; I’m worrying about the things I can actually influence. My own space, and what lay just beyond it, is my only concern. This might be fool-hearty to some, but it makes the most sense to me. Why would I become a mindless drone in one political fight or another, when the end result is the same? I will continue to lose my rights, freedom, and maybe even my life in defense of those ideas, or I will be a part of the stagnation of forward innovation both socially and spiritually. I’d rather not partake, instead becoming a better human being, taking on more responsibility, and setting my life in order. I will continue to train, lead as I can, help others when I can, and be a better version of myself. That way, when the train finally comes off the tracks, I’m better able to handle the chaos that will ensue.