With the progressive voter base losing their prized, forward-thinking Democratic socialist, Bernie Sanders, to a decidedly moderate Joe Biden, some are questioning the morality of voting for the Democratic candidate. The choice ultimately comes down to deciding the lesser of three evils: compromising their political principles and voting for Biden, refusing to vote, or voting for a more progressive leader and splitting the Democratic vote. 

     Whether you like Biden or not, it is undeniable that his policies are more favorable than Trump’s in terms of racial equity, climate justice, reproductive rights, and most other progressive priorities. Whatever your arguments against him, consider all the people who will get hurt from another four years of President Trump. 

     Anyone can take the moral high ground and say the two are equally bad, but we owe it to those who will suffer from Trump to vote for the democratic nominee. We owe it to transgender military personnel. We owe it to women who can’t access abortions. We owe it to diabetics forced to ration insulin. We owe it to students and civilians who will lose their lives to semi-automatic weapons. 

     The future of the Supreme Court depends on Trump not being president for four more years. Biden may not be an ideal candidate, but he has vowed to choose a running mate who will be more representative of what the Democratic party stands for and where it should be heading. Like him or not, he is experienced and can bring some dignity to the office and can be trusted to repair some of the damage that has been done to our reputation in the global community.

     Those who refuse to vote, thus increasing Trump’s odds of winning, can only do so because of the privilege that allows them to get through another term of Trump with minimal consequences– be it financial or personal. For many, it is not as simple as compromising or maintaining their integrity. People will inevitably suffer at the hands of a second Trump term, and those who refused to vote will sit atop their righteous high horses and claim ethical superiority without any stake in the matter. 

     We are far past the point of arguing Bernie vs Biden. Our new options are Biden and Trump. If you refuse to vote, or waste it on a third party candidate, then Trump will win. Trump will win, and the next time that you see a picture of children in cages, some part of you must know that you had a chance at something better, and you gave it away