As Election Day looms, I feel compelled to write something seeing that Nov. 5 will probably decide the fate of American democracy, although, if Kamala Harris wins, there will be months worth of Republican vote-counting shenanigans (a nice word for “cheating”) to impede her certification.

But looking through my essays over the past few years, it seems as if I’ve covered all the bases. There isn’t much I can add to my analysis of Donald Trump except that its boggles the mind that half the nation supports this egomaniac. I’ve called out his racism, his deceit and the sheer cult-like behavior of his MAGA tribe ad nauseam only to realize that nobody cares. Despite the blatant misogyny of J.D. Vance, who views women as nothing more than breeders who deserve no personal rights; and Trump’s perverse demonizing of non-white immigrants including those who are legal and the theocratic hypocrisy of the Christian Right, the polls project an even race.

So it’s all been said before. The American people are locked on to the results of this election as surely as a guided missile is being directed by radar to its target. The editorials have been published, the insane amount of money has been spent; the talking heads have repeated the same old blab. The psychics and Las Vegas bookmakers have made their predictions.

My wife and I are pretty much wrung out and I’m sure most Americans share the sentiment. The level of stress we’re all feeling should result in a collective national nervous breakdown. This four-year ordeal of electing the leader of the free world is a freak show that brings out the worst in everyone, and Donald Trump’s threat to end elections once he becomes dictator-for-life might have an appeal for some people.

After Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance in June that ensured Trump’s election, I and my friends had that discussion, voiced many times in the past, wondering if we should leave the country once he takes office. It was no idle thought. Having lectured extensively on the timeline of the Holocaust, I wonder why Jews didn’t flee Nazi Germany when they had the chance.

Many stayed because they fatally believed that Nazism would be a passing movement that would eventually simmer down or disappear completely. Since then, we’ve learned that when a fascist-minded politician like Donald Trump announces that he will imprison political rivals and journalists, and corrupt the justice system while ending personal and constitutional freedoms, he means it.

But even if he wins by means fair or foul (most likely the latter,) I’m staying put. This is my country and I’ll be damned if I’m forced to flee from a gang of freedom-hating reactionaries. My Jewish ancestors came to America from Eastern Europe to flee such oppression, and despite being hated immigrants they overcame the prejudices of the times and became prosperous citizens who contributed to their communities.

As confused as I am that Americans would risk ending 248 years of democratic traditions to save a few hundred bucks annually on grocery bills (which they won’t anyway, according to every reliable economist), I still believe that the majority of Americans will do the right thing. Not that Kamala Harris will wave a magic wand and make the nation and the world a kumbaya paradise. No president has that power.

I support her because her values are more positive and open-minded, and would keep the United States on the right track. While we supposedly know little about her, we know all there is to know about Donald Trump, and it’s undeniably frightening.

My antipathy towards Trump is less political than moral. The man is a sordid human being who easily lies, cheats and degrades others as naturally as he draws breath. His appeal from the beginning has been to promote white supremacy and personal gain.

But to my leftist friends, a warning I’ve felt the need to express every four years. For those planning to vote for that do-nothing egocentric Jill Stein or some other third-party throwaway or declining to vote because of the Israel/Hamas war: You aren’t committing an “act of conscience.”

It’s an act of selfishness because it won’t be white privileged liberals who suffer if Trump wins the presidency. It will be those less fortunate as well as every woman in America. Elections are a chess move, not a love affair. And this particular election has no room for smug self-righteousness. So on Nov. 5, please don’t vote your heart. Vote your brains.

Daniel A. Brown lived in Franklin County for 44 years and has written a monthly My Turn column for over two decades. He lives outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife, Lisa and dog, Cody.