"An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked." Proverbs 29:27
A question: When searching for a preacher to teach and lead a congregation, do you choose from the first two resumes or do you take your time and wait for something better? How long would your congregation wait?
For years, I have gone to the polls and voted for the lesser of two evils. I have told myself that even though the Republican candidate wasn't someone I particularly liked, the Democrat would be worse. And so I held my nose and voted Republican. But I have come to a troubling realization: I keep voting for the lesser of two evils, and the world just keeps getting more evil. And this isn't something I've decided overnight. I've watched this same story play out for more than thirty years.
Remember the Republican Revolution of 1994? Newt Gingrich and the freshman Republicans swept into Washington with their Contract with America. They promised smaller government, fiscal responsibility, and an end to business as usual. I remember the excitement. Finally, somebody was going to change Washington! But what happened? Over time, the Republican Party settled back into the same old Washington habits. The promises of fiscal restraint gave way to compromise, spending, and political careers. The revolution became part of the establishment it was supposed to reform.
Then came the Tea Party. Remember that? Taxed Enough Already! Ordinary Americans were fed up with government spending, growing debt, and politicians who wouldn't listen. Once again, I thought something might actually change. But the Republican establishment eventually absorbed much of that movement. Some Tea Party conservatives held their ground, but the movement as a whole lost its independence. Washington kept spending, and the debt kept growing.
Then came Donald Trump. Here was a man who promised to drain the swamp, put America first, and stop getting us involved in endless foreign wars. He was supposed to be different. And now? We're fighting a war with Iran, spending billions of dollars, and running enormous federal deficits. In fiscal year 2026, the federal government spent nearly $7.4 trillion, with a deficit approaching $2 trillion. How is this the fiscal conservatism we've been promised for decades?
First the Republican Revolution. Then the Tea Party. Then MAGA. Three movements promising to change Washington, and Washington keeps changing them instead.
Now we're approaching another election here in Ohio.
I understand the danger of the Democratic Party. I am firmly opposed to abortion, and I believe the party's position on the unborn is morally indefensible. I know what I'm getting with Amy Acton. There is nothing surprising about her political positions. She represents an evil I already know.
But what about Vivek Ramaswamy?
I have serious concerns about his position on H-1B visas. He has defended bringing foreign workers into American companies through a merit-based immigration system that doesn't check their merits. H-1Bs are full of lo skill foreign workers, taking everyday America jobs. This is not what the program was suppose to do. I believe American companies should be investing in American workers rather than looking overseas to fill jobs Americans could be trained to do.
I realize the governor of Ohio cannot issue visas or change federal immigration law. But don't tell me the governor has no influence over Ohio businesses, economic development, or the incentives given to corporations. Those decisions matter. I also have no desire to help establish Vivek Ramaswamy as a future presidential candidate. A victory in Ohio could become another stepping stone toward the White House, and I am not willing to lend my support to that ambition. I don't want a Hindu for President who favors his people over us.
And then there is the Republican Party itself.
At some point, there must be consequences for taking conservative voters for granted.
For too long, Republicans have operated under the assumption that people like me will vote for them regardless of what they do. All they have to say is, "Look how terrible the Democrats are!" Well, I already know how terrible I believe the Democrats are. That's not the question anymore. The question is whether Republicans are entitled to my vote simply because their opponents are worse.
I don't believe they are. If Republican's won't balance the budget, release all the Epstein Files and insist fighting a war for Benjamin Netanyahu, they are just as evil.
Proverbs 29:27 reminds us that righteousness and wickedness are fundamentally opposed. As a Christian, I cannot pretend that choosing between two candidates I cannot support is the same thing as choosing righteousness.
I know some will tell me that not voting is effectively voting for the Democrat. I understand that argument. I've made it myself for years.
But if Republicans can always count on my vote simply because I fear the alternative, what incentive do they have to listen to me?
My vote is not their property. It must be earned.
I'm tired of being told that every election is the most important election of my lifetime, that I must overlook everything objectionable about a candidate because the other side is worse. I've been hearing that since the 1990s. Every new movement promises to save the Republican Party. Every new candidate promises to save America. And every time, we're told to be patient, make compromises, and vote Republican one more time. But how many times can you be disappointed before you stop believing the promises?
After thirty years, I can no longer ignore the pattern. This November, I intend to sit this election out. Not because I don't care about my country, but because I do. I refuse to keep giving my approval to a political system that demands my loyalty while disregarding my convictions.
I'm tired of picking the lesser of two evils and watching evil win either way.
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