How My Perspective on Voting Has Changed

DISCLAIMER: Any views expressed are not those of the United States Air Force or the Department of Defense. My opinion is my own.

I've voted in 2018, 2020, and 2022 during all primaries and the general election. I voted during the primaries in 2024 and will do so again in November. I've spent the last several polls voting for the candidates I believe will do what's best for the nation and what would work best for me, my parents, and my siblings. It's always been about doing what I believe is the right thing. Before, this was simple. I knew what my family needed and what I thought the nation needed. All I had to do was find the candidate that would do just that. It was relatively easy, all things considered.

Yet this time, in 2024, there's so much more that weighs on my mind.

I work for the United States Air Force as a meteorologist. Over the last year, I've talked to many different people, each with their reason for working within this branch of the government. I've gotten to know them well. At work, they're business professionals doing what they can to carry out our mission. Some of us are employees directly hired by the federal government. Others of us are contractors. Regardless of who hands us our paycheck, everyone shares the same mindset: we're going to do what we can to aid the mission. Outside of work, they have their own, personal lives doing what they love. Some of them are grandparents and are enjoying time with their kids and grandkids. Others are parents raising their children. Some are just starting in their careers. There's a wide range of people that work on my base.

Working for the Air Force has shown me something: this is so much bigger than myself. Regardless of what branch of the government we're talking about, they all have one thing in common: we all have to rely on the people in Washington D.C. to fund us so that we can be paid. They set the budget. The vote that I cast could very well be the difference between whether or not we receive the funding that we need to keep myself, my coworkers, and even some of my best friends employed. While I single-handedly cannot determine the outcome of an election, I know that if I make a choice that would cause myself or anyone else in the government to lose their jobs, that would weigh on me for a very long time.

When going to the polls this time around, I have a lot to think about. I have my immediate coworkers in the DoD, my friends who work for the NWS, NOAA, the CPC, and various other government organizations, my family, and more to consider. Going through it all is rather complicated. Seeing which candidate is going to do what's best for all of those people is quite difficult. There are so many things right and wrong about every candidate's position.

So what does that mean? It means I'm looking at this with a critical eye. I'm looking at the facts. Based on those facts, I'm going to make a choice that will hopefully do what's best for as many people as possible. All I know is that this time, I'm making a choice that I can only pray benefits us.

I encourage you to do your research into the candidates. Your vote should be an informed one. Do your research, and then make your choice.