I Am The Person Who Votes Poem by Grant House

I am the person who votes
And the one who does not vote
I am the campaign worker
And the indifferent student cooling his heels on the corner downtown
I am the candidate making the case for universal healthcare, compassionate treatment of veterans with PTSD and others struggling alone on the streets with mental issues, for environmental protection, and protection of Social Security and Medicare for seniors, for women's right to make their own health choices, and for fair treatment of migrants and refugees
I am also the one who wants to seal the borders from all comers, who wishes to starve the social safety net of resources, who gives personhood to major corporations, who restricts voting rights, and who thinks their religion is the national religion.
I am the social rights advocate and the white nationalist
I believe in public education and I want to encourage families to take their kids out of diverse schools and put them into private schools.
When I vote
Or don't
The nation shakes
This is how we change
Or stay the same.
Honor me.
I count.