I voted today. Never have missed a chance to voice my choices in an election. This is my party’s primary election, a chance to say who I prefer as its candidate for president, among other important choices.

U.S. Senator, for one. In North Carolina, we have a lockstep Trump supporter who refuses to listen to us, his constituents. I won’t trouble you with all of my choices on this long ballot, but it is fair to say that I voted for an opponent to this guy in this particular race.

My ballot includes races for my district tin the U.S. House of Representatives, governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor, agriculture commissioner, superintendent of public instruction, state treasurer, state House of Representatives in my district, court judge in my district, and county commissioners.

So yes, it’s a bit of work to prepare oneself to make intelligent choices, but I always do. I can’t think of anything we do that’s more important, particularly now.

If you feel frustrated by what is happening in and around the White House and the Senate, this is how you fix it. Most Americans can’t wait for this nightmare to end.

But the man in the Oval Office and his sycophants in the Senate aren’t the only problem. Today, I walked straight up to the table of workers at the early voting site. No waiting line delayed me.  One worker was idly working on some hand-crocheting while chatting with her coworker. Had to do something to fill the time.

A unbusy voting site is our other big problem. If you aren’t voting, you are giving your stamp of approval to this mess that we all have to live in. You owe it to yourself, your neighbors and friends, and by the way, your entire country and mine, to get out of your chair and vote.

So do it. Do it now, while we still have the chance to make a difference.