Why Should We Vote in the 2016 Presidential Election?

It's January 2016 and we are just days away from Iowa's first vote in the presidential election. The political season is in full swing.

Ninety-nine caucuses later the candidates will be on to New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada. And so on until November when America will choose a new leader to steer our way into the uncertain future.

So far I'm not impressed.

If Donald Trump was auditioning to be a radio shock jock I might hire him. But his statements on Muslims and immigrants -- in fact just about everyone who isn't a White male billionaire -- terrify me. Who's next? It will be you and me.

Trump's shoot from the lip approach is not just racist it's downright dangerous.

The other GOP candidates are no better. Their answer to everything is to cut taxes, repeal Obamacare and put a gun into the hand of every newborn.

The broadcast companies don't care so long as millions keep on flowing out of donors pockets and into their bank accounts. The ads that ran during the Republican presidential debates cost $250,000 for a 30-second slot.

Yes folks, election season is when Big Media rakes in huge profits from campaign ads and political spots. For them it's all about the money.

It's all about the money for the candidates too. Without big donors they're out of the game. The Koch brothers, for example, now have more than three times as many paid staff as the RNC and plan to spend more than $889 million on this election.

Are you mad yet? If you're not you should be.

As for the Democrats, at least they are talking about the issues. But it's hard to get excited about another Clinton presidency.

And it's just as hard to get behind career politician Bernie Sanders, who, when confronted by the urgency of the Black Lives Matter movement, didn't have the sense to stand back and give those women the mic?

None of this means that voting doesn't matter. It does.

Fewer than 6 in 10 of us actually use our  votes. And that weakens our democracy. If more of us voted our choices would look a lot better.

Your vote should be counted. I promise you mine will be.

Our entire world is in turmoil. We need wise leadership more than ever.

So when two candidates do emerge, I'm going to pick the better one. And I'm going to vote. You should too.