They are likely risking their own lives, too, whether or not they know it. But even of they are not, it is their prerogative to vote or not to vote, or to vote for whom they wish, regardless of your opinion, and even if that takes humanity in a direction that means we will have to fight for our freedom again. The cost of freedom has always been paid in blood. Force must be applied to those who attempt to force us, and only to the point that we are freed from their influence, lest we act as they do, and be bound by the consequences of making the same poor decisions.

It's weird watching the Democrats give the government additional powers, and watching the Republicans use those powers for power's sake. And the Democrats seem shocked every time, and then when they have power, and the option to relinquish that power for both sides, they do not.

We have not ceased and will not cease being in a world of tooth and claw, and of animal necessity. If you think you're better than that, you'll overreach, and get bitten. ..and that's the democrats and republicans - the overreach, and the bite, back and forth in different ways, ongoing, cycling like yin and yang until we have enough cultural experience to naturally do better - if we make it that far. ..and that involves reaching across the aisle, and understanding your 'enemy' well enough that you 'get' it, on a visceral level.

But, most people don't do that, because, y'know. Filthy centrists that may as well be the other party, and all. Fortunately, being genuinely rooted in centrist concepts has benefits far beyond the political game.