I still vote, but I don’t vote a straight party ticket. I thought about it for several months and realized my “big issues” were all caused by one thing: political corruption caused by entrenched career politicians. Now, I don’t listen to speeches or platforms filled with false promises or talking points or campaign ads to decide who I vote for. I look up the resumes of every candidate on the ballot and vote for the person with the least political experience, regardless of where they fall on the political or social spectrum. We need new blood to flush out the corruption at all levels of government.
I follow the people I vote for and most of them do pretty well, but I often end up voting against them the next time they are on the ballot. It’s a strategic choice, and while it can make me emotional sometimes when I vote for somebody I disagree with, if it’s to have any effect over my short lifetime so can let those emotions stand in the way of my larger goal.