Since I have spent more time the last two years in anywhere from two plus to four plus anxiety, I have learned to identify the tipping points. Those are the points at which I better take some action like talk it out with a friend, do something physical — for me, that is walking fast to the mailbox and back which includes a very steep driveway, write about it or pet Maggie the cat and feel her purr.

I also have the option of holding on to it in a shoebox until I have my appointment with the grief counselor. I have been seeing a grief counselor since September when my family doctor referred me. I was smart enough to know I was not smart enough to manage my grief and anxiety over the death of Paul, my husband, in August on my own, except by having a good cry as in long and passionate weeping.

All this to say … I come by much of my anxiety for good reason due to personal experiences over the last year.

Now in the initial stages of recovery, I really do not want another reason to feel anxious, especially when it is yet again something about which I have no control. Yet here there it is – the anxiety inducing state of the upcoming election.

The election for President of the United States is imminent and it is too close to call.

Too close to call!

Of course, I knew the election was coming and was aware of the drama of Kamala Harris stepping in when President Biden stepped out. I did not expect that Trump would be this close to being elected.

Donald Trump’s signature campaign promise is to round up and deport up to 11 million people — “get these people out” and “deport them so rapidly.” He also proposes putting tariffs of 10-20% on products made outside of our country effectively raising the cost of imported goods for Americans.

In addition, Trump promises to gut the departments of government of all except those more loyal to him than the regulations established to support laws passed by Congress.

Kamala Harris’s signature campaign promises are to take on the pharmaceutical companies to prevent price gauging, to assure the affordability of groceries and pass a federal law that allows women access to abortions.

Both Trump and Harris promise to expand the child tax credit.

Given that the election is too close to call, and if we believe a candidate policies have value to the voter, half of us see deportation of lots of people and an overhaul of government as priorities.

The other half wants a reduction of costs for essentials like drugs and food and access to abortion services as priorities.

Of these policy priorities, the one that worries me the most is the planned deportation of eleven million people.

A big deal

I have a hard time believing many Americans want to see a mass roundup of people who are put in camps built for them while they await deportation.

As justification for mass deportation, Donald Trump claims undocumented immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country,” He says they – people from Asia, Africa, South America – “are pouring into our country.”

A few have suggested “brown” people will be deported first because they are easier to identify and that some will be mistakenly deported just because that happens in a roundup.

Then, of course, there is the impact on the economy of eleven million people forced to vacate their jobs and the real possibility there are not eleven million people standing by to fill those jobs.

Let us not forget the cost of vacant positions to productivity or the cost of building housing for eleven million people. I suppose one could make the case that it is a job creating effort although I read recently the plan is to use local law enforcement for parts of the round up.

We look back at our country’s internment of Japanese and Germany’s internment of Jews during WWII with regret if not horror.

I do not know how a replay of the world’s worst moments can feel good.

We are not even in a war or at war with Africa, Asia, South America, Central America, or Mexico.

Trump’s priority policy of ridding our country of eleven million people makes no sense unless we want our president to use his power for humiliation and cruelty instead of actual problem solving and building processes reflective of our constitution and bill of rights.

Our Senate and House of Representatives had a solution which was nixed by Trump because he wants the “border” as an issue. And apparently, he wants the power to humiliate, to be cruel.

I can think of many priorities more deserving of funding from taxpayers than breaking up families and detention camps.

My guess is that most people can too, such as programs that support our young families – affordable housing, childcare, education, none of which Trump proposes.

My guess is that most people want less turmoil and more peace to allow them to focus on their work and families, none of which Trump supports.

Yet, the election is too close to call.

And I will be anxious along with many of you until at least we know our fate.

Please vote with your head and heart.

Bertha Cooper, an award-winning featured columnist with the Sequim Gazette, spent her career years in health care administration, program development and consultation and is the author of the award-winning “Women, We’re Only Old Once.” Cooper and her husband have lived in Sequim more than 25 years. Reach her at columnists@sequimgazette.com.